Some of the Exhibits

Nelson the Lion

Nelson the stuffed African lion which was a must see for every party of school children when I were a nipper is back on display in the children's play area. Which reminds me of a old joke which was very funny when I first heard when I was about the age of ten. Hey ho for those innocent days!

Party of Infants visiting the Rotherham Museum with their teacher:-

Teacher:

Now gather round boys and girls. The exhibit in this cage is Nelson, an African Lion.

Little Johnnie:

Is it dead, Sir?

Teacher:

Of course it's dead.

Little Johnnie:

'ow did they kill it, Sir?

Teacher:

They shot it.

Little Johnnie:

'ow did they shoot it, Sir?

Teacher, somewhat exasperated:

With a rifle, Johnnie.

Considered pause before Little Johnnie replies:

That's not what I meant, Sir. 'ow did they shoot it through t'glass?

Now that's culture for you! However Nelson came from Regent's Park Zoo in London where I sincerely hope that he died of old age before the taxidermists got him.

There's a stuffed bear, but I don't know any jokes about him, which is probably just as well. The Victorians were big on taxidermy but personally I find it rather ghoulish.

Rockingham Galleries

There are two Rockingham Galleries containing examples of pottery and porcelain made by the Rockingham Factory at Swinton. This is the famous Rhinoceros Vase; a virtuoso piece made to show the finest quality and style produced by the factory. It is none the less very ugly, and doubtless as valuable as it is ugly. It has pride of place in the displays but there are much prettier pieces to admire.

Roman Remains

The remains of the Roman fort at Templeborough are on display at the museum. In the park at the rear of the museum is a reconstruction of the fort's granary. Inside is a wealth of detail about the fort and its inhabitants. The engravings on the three early Roman tombstones excavated from Templeborough survived whilst others did not because they were used as drain covers during later rebuildings of the fort. More about Rotherham in Roman times can be found onsite at The History of Rotherham >> Roman Rotherham.

Roman Remains behind the Museum

Two of the three early Roman tombstones

More details here

Museum Photos

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Portrait of Anne Verelst by George Romney
Roman Auxilliary Soldier
The Rotherham Plough

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