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Museum Design: The Priory Re-visited: Stage C Museum Display Design
The design proposals will deliver imaginative and innovative displays
presenting the history of the Borough of Bromley through a
combination of museum objects and personal experiences. People
focused stories will connect with collections to deliver a museum visit
that is engaging and relevant to visitors.
Each gallery space will be different, responding to the stories and collections and creating a series of identifiable
offers within the museum.
The detailed design of the display areas with the museum spaces will work hand-in-glove with the architecture,
maximising the opportunities presented by the building and exploring the potential for connections between
the museum and the external environment. Where it is appropriate, and does not conflict with conservation
requirements, natural light will be used to support the object displays and stories.
The displays and interpretation will be accessible and will engage with the broadest possible audience.
• We will maximise opportunities for impact and intimacy using images, lighting and object displays.
• We will create a variety of stimulating spaces with their own identity from the Victorian styled Lubbock
gallery to the more contemporary style of the Bromley Gallery.
• By utilising a consistent ‘voice’ for the interpretation we will create a cohesive visitor experience that will
bring the whole site together.
Museum Design: Location of Museum Spaces
GROUND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
GREAT HALL
WELCOME &
ORIENTATION
LUBBOCK GALLERY
TEMPORARY EXHIBITION
BROMLEY GALLERY
COMMUNITY SPACE
PRIMARY EXHIBITION SPACES
PRIORY INTERPRETATION
COMMUNITY SPACE
Museum Design: Visual Representations
Images of the Collection
Museum Design: Temporary
Exhibition Gallery
The Temporary
exhibition gallery will
provide a flexible
environment that will
allow the museum
to display a range of
changing exhibitions.
Visual Representations
The design for this gallery will
focus on delivering a flexible
space that can accommodate a
range of exhibitions in the future.
Adjustable lighting, demountable
showcases and a flexible hanging
system will help to ensure that
the gallery can be quickly reconfigured by museum staff.
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Exhibits and interpretation will be developed to meet the
needs of different learning styles.
The displays will include opportunities for visitors to feedback
and engage directly with themes and content.
Collections will support themes and provide an opportunity
for the museum to increase the number of objects on display.
Because the gallery is situated
within it’s own space exhibition
change-overs and installs can
occur with a minimum of impact
on other galleries.
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Click Netherfield ‘Vision’ demountable
showcase
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Click Netherfield ‘Tess’ demountable showcase
3Concord ‘Beacon Muse’ adjustable & flexible
LED light fittings
Bromley Museum: The Priory Re-visited: Stage C Museum Display Design
Museum Design: The Bromley Gallery
The Bromley Gallery is on the ground floor of the 1959 Library extension, this space has a more contemporary
feel and includes a double-height area.
The double height area will be exploited to create visual links between the upper
and lower floors of the building. We propose a series of suspended graphic boxes
that may combine images, colours and text, acting as an engaging feature that
articulates the space and the subject matter of the themes in the gallery below.
The exhibition space will sit within a part of the building that is on a key circulation
route between a range of facilities that include; cafe, toilets, historic building and
vertical circulation. This will be a dynamic, active space and the displays within it will
respond to the environment. We will also seek to engage potential visitors who may
be en-route to other locations or enjoying the cafe facilities.
The displays will focus on key themes that will be supported by collections and
allow the story of the Borough to be told in an engaging fashion. Each theme will
be interpreted through a focused ‘cluster display’ that will incorporate objects and
interpretation.
Theme One: Bromley’s Past
Sub themes: Home Settlement, War & Conflict, Work & Local Industry
Starting thousands of years ago from prehistoric times to the arrival of the Romans then up to the
present day and the newer Black and Minority Ethnic communities.
How Bromley’s been affected by conflict, including Civil War, WW1, WW2, and conflict caused by
political movements, such as Suffragettes.
WW2 first and last bomb dropped on Orpington. Biggin Hill airport. Chislehurst Caves (shelter
during war), and evacuees and residents that are still alive today. VC winner at Green St Green,
Napoleon III’s son’s “heroic” death in Zululand campaign (Boer war). Funeral in Chislehurst
(attended by Royalty).
William Pitt The Younger at Holwood and abolition of slavery.
How the borough has been impacted by the changes to industry. History of commuters (C13th to
C15th) Industrial Revolution in St Mary Cray. Arrival of railway line initially in St Mary’s Cray
Museum Design: Visual Representations
Theme Two: Innovation & Creativity
Sub themes: Famous People
Supporting the growth of industry and scientific innovation throughout
the borough.
Examine how recent/ current innovations are shaping and changing our
lives and what people think will change over the next 25 years.
Bromley is an interesting place, more creative and innovative than people
think, with a fascinating history.
Thomas Crapper in Anerley
Joseph Swan in Bromley and first lightbulb.
The arrival of the railway, and paper mills making rag paper for Bank of
England in St Mary Cray.
Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace.
Darwin; HG Wells, Enid Blyton, David Bowie, Richmal Crompton.
Muirhead and x-ray machine in Beckenham.
Gilbert Tomes’ 20th Century Electronics.
Baird Television in Crystal Palace.
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A central island display will provide a platform for exploring
clustered themes.
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The double-height space will be used to signpost the displays
and engage with the architecture.
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The collections will displayed to maximise impact and support
the themes and stories.
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Bromley Museum: The Priory Re-visited: Stage C Museum Display Design
Museum Design: The Lubbock Gallery
John Lubbock is a forgotten innovator of the Victorian era. A contemporary of Charles Darwin he was an
intriguing individual who claimed to have a pet wasp, now in the collection of the Natural History Museum.
Bromley Museum holds part of his archaeological and ethnographic collection which comprises more than
1500 objects.
There is an opportunity to create a gallery that focuses on Lubbock, celebrating his life
and work as well as exploring his relationship with Darwin. This will allow the display
and interpretation of the museum’s extensive collection of related objects and provide
a unique offer within the museum. Although the Priory was never the home of John
Lubbock it’s historic interiors will provide an appropriate backdrop for the museum’s
unique collection.
We intend to designate one room within the historic house for this theme, the design
of which will echo the nature of a Victorian collectors study, a space stuffed full of the
collection objects, like a ‘Wunderkammer’ or Cabinet of Curiosities.
At the entrance of the gallery we will introduce John Lubbock, describing his work,
passions and importance. Sub themes within the rest of the space will allow the
interpretation to focus on specific aspects of his life and work.
Finishes and detailing will reflect the historic nature of the space and the Victorian
period in which Lubbock lived. Showcases will provide opportunities for the display of
the collection within grouped sub themes and areas of the wall space will display dense
groupings of images and documents.
Theme Three: John Lubbock
Sub themes: Famous people, Evolution and links to Darwin
Father of heritage movement. Led the act which led to English Heritage and National Trust being
created. Relationship with Darwin and contribution to understanding of evolution. Researched and
commissioned first artwork depicting prehistoric man and the environment. Victorian collector
who gathered items from other cultures. Invented Bank Holidays, introduced other laws to improve
working life and led Protection of Ancient Monuments Act.
Museum Design: Visual Representations
Collections
The Lubbock Collection is of particular importance for Orpington and
Bromley, on account both of the Lubbock family connection with
Orpington and of the outstanding contribution of Sir John Lubbock, 1st
Lord Avebury, to the study of archaeology, ethnography and science.
Highly regarded for his scientific work on insects, he was also an
important politician.
There are 238 Lubbock ethnographic items in the collection.
There are 1223 Lubbock Archaeology items, like the Palaeolithic flint
handaxe from Lyell to Lubbock, Obsidan spear head, Shell Axes from
Barbados, Mammoth Tusk.
The 19 Ernest Griset paintings he commissioned showing what prehistoric
man might have looked like – the first of their kind.
Moth collection and egg collection (both very fragile)
Notebook by son who died in WW1, with paintings of plants in High Elms,
dedicated to his father.
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Display structures will reflect the Victorian origins of Lubbock.
Small-scale reconstruction could add focus and personality.
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Sir John Lubbock
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Gallery walls will display two dimensional material; images and
archives.
Bromley Museum: The Priory Re-visited: Stage C Museum Display Design
Museum Design: The Priory
Throughout the historic portion of
the museum there will be elements
of interpretation that tell the story
of the building and it’s inhabitants.
A timeline in the great hall will provide a single
overview of the building’s history. Additional
graphic interpretation located throughout the
museum will focus on individual rooms and
locations. Where possible the interpretation will
be located in accessible positions so that less
mobile visitors will still be able to explore parts
of the building they are not able to physically
access.
The interpretation will be low-key and in keeping
with the nature of the historic building. Archive
images will provide a window into the museum’s
past.
PROPOSED LOCATIONS FOR PRIORY INTERPRETATION
Theme Four: The Priory
Sub themes: Period decoration, Residents of the Priory, History of the building and its changing footprint.
The story of the site and the people who lived here from 1032 to present day.
Eadsy (chaplain of King Canute) owned the land in 1032; Hugh De Mortimer 1270;,
Used by clergymen on journeys from Lambeth to Canterbury in C13th, expanded by Prior Selling in 1471. Thomas Wilkinson 1475-1511.
Rare pre-reformation Rectory – why did it survive? John Bancroft 1608-1640
Honourable Richard Spencer during Civil War (ancestor of Diana Spencer and Winston Churchill); Gee and Carew family (connected to Lubbock family?); Benjamin Green Lake imprisoned for
embezzlement; Schletters who emigrated to Africa; Hughes who put in arts and Crafts garden.
The narrative throughout the building should demonstrate the cumulative historic significance of the post Reformation alterations over the centuries, showing how the Medieval building was
converted to family use, Georgianised and then re-Medievalised. It was eventually opened to the public under municipal ownership.
Museum Design: Visual Representations
Collections
Photographs showing historical interior of the house.
Will of Hon Richard Spencer online (family discord with daughters).
Artwork showing exterior of house over last 200 years.
Tudor Rose from an outbuilding.
Clay pipes from Georgian building.
Domestic items found on site, assumed to be from the Priory, e.g door
bells.
Victorian crucifixion stained glass scene.
Victorian replica Delft tiles from office.
George Rose 1942 plans for the Priory (showing building before
demolished and library built)
Local studies may have floor plans of out buildings on old site.
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Interpretation will be simple and sympathetic to the historic
architecture
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Images of the historic building will tell the story of it’s changing use