Queen and Country – an exhibition at Chippenham Museum for the Jubilee

This summer the country celebrates Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee as she becomes the first British monarch to spend 70 years on the throne. This year also marks the 380th anniversary of the start of the English Civil War.

Pitting the monarchy against parliament, the civil war divided the entire country and ended with the execution of a king. To mark these anniversaries Chippenham Museum is holding a dual exhibition ‘Queen and Country’ from 14 May – 23 July.

Highlights in the exhibition include rare examples of 17th century gloves. One pair on loan from Dents Museum in Warminster are believed to have been belonged to King Charles I. The second pair have recently been acquired by Chippenham Museum with support from the Museums Association Beecroft Bequest. They are thought to have been worn by a member of the Talbot family of Lacock.

The exhibition will tie in with the Chippenham Town Council’s wider Jubilee celebrations in June, and the Civil War Re-enactment coming to Monkton Park 23-24 July. The exhibition will be joined by re-enactors from the English Civil War Society on Saturday 4 June.

Chippenham Museum, a Chippenham Town Council facility, is free to visit and openMonday to Saturday, including Bank Holidays, 10am to 4pm. Located in the Market Place, the museum tells the story Chippenham from its prehistoric origins to the present day.