Museums and heritage

North West Leicestershire is home to some wonderful museums and heritage sites. Find out more at a number of small museums:

Ashby Museum                                                                 

North Street, Ashby
Tel: 01530 560090                                                                                         
Website: www.ashbymuseum.org.uk  
Email: ashbydelazouchmuseum@live.co.uk

Exhibits telling the story of the market town from prehistoric times to the early 20th century. Extensive archive of local material, books, documents, photographs, maps and artefacts.

Castle Donington Museum

Apiary Gate, Castle Donington
Tel: 01332 812711 / 07854 689399
Website: www.castledoningtonmuseum.org.uk

Ground floor of a 17th century farmhouse, exhibits various aspects of the local history from prehistoric to modern day.

Diseworth Heritage Centre

Ladygate, Diseworth, DE74 2QE
Tel: 0778 539 3578

Web  site: www.diseworthcentre.org
Email: info@dhtrust.org

A grade 2 listed former Baptist chapel, totally restored. A mix of heritage exhibitions and modern facilities for family history research.

1620's House & Garden  (Donington-Le-Heath Manor House)

Manor Road, Donington le Heath, near Coalville                                                                  
Tel: 01530 831259
Website: www.doningtonleheath.com/

Email: ddlhmanorhouse@leics.gov.uk

The manor house, built about 1280, is one of the few domestic buildings of the 13th Century to survive more or less intact. Styled in 17th century style gardens see displays of medieval life and exhibitions. Classics tea room also on site.

Grace Dieu Priory

Thringstone, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 5GJ   

Tel:  01530 223 201

Website: www.gracedieupriory.org.uk                                             

Grace Dieu Priory was an Augustinian priory near Thringstone in Leicestershire. It was founded around 1235-1241 by Roesia de Verdon and dissolved in October in 1538. Guided walks and Ghost walks take place throughout the year.

Kegworth Museum

52 High Street, Kegworth
Tel: 01509 670137
Email: info@kegworthmuseum.org.uk
Website: www.kegworthmuseum.org.uk

Housed in a restored 19th century barn exhibition of Kegworth's history. Memorabilia of the Royal British Legion is also on display. Educational visits by arrangmeent.

Measham Museum

Station Building, Manning Terrace, Measham, Derbyshire DE12 7HU
Tel: 01530 273956

Website: www.meashammuseum.btck.co.uk/
Ring for opening times

A small museum about the history of Measham. Significant permanent display of Measham Ware pottery, local mining artefacts and the Hart Collection (collected by father and son who were local doctors, it provides an insight into local health care over a period of one hundred years).

Moira Furnace

Furnace Lane ,Moira, near Ashby, Leicestershire, DE12 6AT                                                   

Tel: 01283 224 667

Website:http://www.moirafurnace.org/

Ring for opening times

Moira Furnace 'a blast from the past' is a 19th Century blast furnace and lime kilns next to the Ashby Canal which has been re-watered and a new lock built. Also at the Furnace is a craft village, tea rooms, childrens adventure play area and a woodland plantation called 'pit prop wood'. The Canal Boat Joseph Wilkes is used for trips in the summer months. Enjoy finding out about it's fascinating history, with woodland walks and trails to explore.

Enjoy a day of fishing by Moira Blast Furnace on the canal, season / day tickets available. 

Swannington Hough Mill

Swannington

LE67 8QW

Tel: 01530 222330, 01530 832704 or 
email: info@swannington-heritage.co.uk

Website: http://www.swannington-heritage.co.uk

Swannington Trust's Heritage Centre is found at Hough Windmill, an 18th century windmill recently restored, located in the middle of a mediaeval coal mining site. Hough Mill, it's ancillary buildings and five heritage sites house the Trust's museum with five themes: Farm to Food, Milling, Mining, Railways and Social History

Opening details

Open Sundays beginning of April to end of September between 2pm and 5pm. Also open Bank Holiday Mondays and by special arrangements for parties. Any other times please call to make arrangements.

Prices

Free entry

Donations

Check out our places to visit page to see the full list.