Melton Carnegie Museum

The Melton Carnegie Museum was built in 1904 but has not always been a museum. From 1847, the Bede House on Burton Street previously held the museum and ‘…contains a fine collection of shells, and various objects of interest.’ The Melton Carnegie Museum was originally opened as a public library, partly funded by Andrew Carnegie who donated £2000.

Andrew Carnegie was a wealthy Scottish-American industrialist who gave money to set up libraries across Britain and America. There is also a literary prize named after him and winners include C.S. Lewis in 1956 for his book The Last Battle.

The Town Estate purchased the site on Thorpe End for £800 over a site on Burton Street which would have cost £1400. William Willcox’s name, a member of the Town Estate who pioneered the building of the library, can be seen in a stone by the entrance to the Museum.

The building remained a library until 1978 when it turned into a museum and tourist information centre. Since then it has been refurbished and has many quality exhibitions. These include buildings from this tour such as items from Rowell’s the boot maker and a recreation of Attenburrow’s the Chemist. Have a look around to learn more about Melton Mowbray and the surrounding area.