Cliffe Castle Museum Museums

Cliffe Castle Museum was originally the spectacular mansion of the local Victorian millionaire and textile manufacturer, H I Butterfield. It stands in attractive hillside grounds with greenhouses and garden centre, aviaries and a childrens play area.

The house is now a large museum with a wide variety of displays. These include an array of glittering minerals, local rocks and fossils (including a 2m long fossil newt!), mounted birds and animals, original furnished rooms with chandeliers, William Morris stained glass, old dolls, toys and domestic items and a programme of temporary exhibitions.

Learning activities and events take place throughout the year in the InSight room. Groups of all kinds can be catered for, from schools to senior citizens, and activities can be tailored to your needs.

Permanent displays include the spectacular Reception Rooms, furnished with some of the original contents, including magnificent chandeliers and a monumental French clock topped by a bronze statue.

Other displays include the 'Bygones Rooms', a wide variety of domestic, social and agricultural bygones, including dolls, toys and games; Staffordshire pottery and stained glass including William Morris's 'Tristram & Isoude'.

In addition to the permanent displays, Cliffe Castle runs a broad programme of exhibitions.