Downstairs has a lovely display of Derbyshire pottery and sculptors dating back to the 17th Century. I am not usually very interested in this sort of art, however i did find myself drawn towards the colourful circus collection and the farm animal section.The detail of the figures was incredible and the beautiful porcelain crockery of the 18th Century made me feel as though I was back in the Victorian times. This section would usually not be very interesting for children, however Derby Museum have introduced a children's activity area in this room where puzzles can be solved and simple facts about the Elizabethan gentry can be learnt. I learnt that most Elizabethan upper class women used a fan to hide their rotting teeth at the dinner table, due to the excessive consumption of sweets at that time!
There is also an Egyptian section where one can see the mummified body of one of the King's priests during (I think) the 6th dynasty.
I think the visual presentation of a mummified human (above left), an Egyptian casket (above right) and a mummified cat (left) in Derby help adults and children learn about history from close to home.
There are other sections including past and modern military uniforms and information on warfare, the fossils of a rhino and the wildlife of Derby. Each section is interactive and child friendly. The picture below shows part of the interactive dinosaur section.
The wildlife section contains a children's library of nature books and tables where they can colour pictures and draw animals. The picture below shows one of the many children's interactive areas; this section has a dress-up wardrobe where the children can become their favourite animals.
The astronomical section is small but interesting and the contemporary art section was a highlight for me. The image of a bible with a mirror inside it was very effective!
The only negative comment about the day was inside the 'viking boat' room. There was no sign to say what the room was about, there was no information on what the displays were and generally it looked like a random assortment of objects including glass and bone. If this room had more information it would have probably made sense, however without it the room was mediocre.
Overall the day was interesting and a great place to take the family. This free day out proved a lovely, educational trip which had a bit of every thing a museum should have.
