History of the Tudor House and Gardens
Where to begin? This grand house has seen it all! At the end of the 1800s it was going to be demolished but, thankfully, Victorian philanthropist William Spranger took matters into his own hands and saved it. It was his idea to turn it into the museum it is today and he opened it as one on the 29th Jul 1912 by the Mayor of Southampton.
The house itself has an imminently interesting history and has changed a lot over the centuries. Many people have lived in it and made their mark on this grand house and all this is apparent on visit. The main periods of history shown are Tudor, Victorian, and Georgian. Also able to view is a real air raid shelter converted from the house's cellar. This exhibition was very moving.
Tickets and prices
As you may expect the price of a ticket varies depending on the person- Adult, senior, student and child. They are not too expensive and allow you as much time as you want to look around the whole museum. Children under seven are given free admission to the house and family tickets can also be purchased. Ticket prices and upcoming events can be found here.
The opening times are Monday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm.
Something else of note here is that the reception area of the gorgeous Georgian room may be used for wedding receptions, parties and other private events. Also the cafe is open to those who do not wish to see the museum. For information on the venue hire click here.
The Museum
An introductory show begins your adventure through the house- and be aware, it is bigger than it looks! After this you are free to explore the many rooms and gardens at your own pace. There are various different exhibitions including my particular favourite, Memories of the Tudor House Museum. Comments from the first visor’s to the old museum are shown here and an advert for the house as a museum when it first opened.
Different technology has been used to bring the breadth of history to life like a audio tour guide and guida rotate (a virtual tour guide on a stand that turns around the room) which shows the rooms you stand in from different eras.
Children’s Explorer Room
For children many different activities are available here with a number of puzzles and quiz sheets, colouring baskets, toys and books, seats and a doll house. Children are allowed to take these items around the museum but are reminded to return them to the Explorer Room after they have finished with them.
Cafe
However one of the best things about the house is that you do not need to pay this to simply come for a tea and admire the beautiful gardens it overlooks- the cafe is open to all and this includes those who are not visiting the museum.
The cafe serves a range of food and beverages, like traditional afternoon tea and coffee, and hot soups and cakes. It is open from 10am to 4:45pm and tables can be reserved by calling 02380 833 532.
Gift Shop
There is a lot to be found in this quaint little shop. Children’s books and toys can be bought here as well as the usual historical books and gifts like mugs and tea towels. A wide selection of meads was also available to purchase!
Tina Poole - A Southampton based Writer with a passion for history, travelling and learning about other cultures.
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