Blaise Castle Museum: We visit the stunning mansion with a unique display I’ve never seen at any other museum

By Adriana Amor

Published 13th Aug 2024, 16:15 GMT

Set in the backdrop of a 650-acre parkland in an 18th-century mansion in Henbury, Blaise Castle House Museum is home to the social history collection.

The stunning museum explores how people lived through time, what they wore, the toys they played with and how they managed their household chores.

Spread across two floors, Blaise Castle House Museum is divided into four main sections: The Picture Room, Toys, Costume and Bristol at Home.

The Picture Room was added to the house in 1832/3 and hosts pictures from the fine art collections of artists William James Müller, James Curnock, Charles Branwhite, James Baker Pyne and Henry Hewitt.

Help support journalism in Bristol - get the BristolWorld newsletter

The toy collection ranges from the 1800s to the present and includes a beautiful rocking horse, a variety of dolls house furniture, puzzles and games, and some tin toys.

Whilst the costume collection includes around 10,000 items dating from the 1730s to the present day, along with textiles such as quilts and banners, and the entire contents of a Bristol haberdasher’s shop.

Cooking, lighting, washing and other household equipment used in Bristol homes over the last 300 years are displayed in the Bristol at Home galleries.

The museum is free to visit and is open Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

Scroll through for photos from our latest visit.

The stunning museum explores how people lived through time, what they wore, the toys they played with and how they managed their household chores. The museum is free to visit and is open Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm. If travelling from the city centre, the 3 and 4 Citylines stop a minute away from Blaise Castle, the 76 an 11-minute walk away and the 1 and 2 Citylines a 3-minute walk away.

1. Blaise Castle House Museum

The stunning museum explores how people lived through time, what they wore, the toys they played with and how they managed their household chores. The museum is free to visit and is open Thursday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm. If travelling from the city centre, the 3 and 4 Citylines stop a minute away from Blaise Castle, the 76 an 11-minute walk away and the 1 and 2 Citylines a 3-minute walk away. | National World

There are arts and crafts activities for children on the ground floor of the museum.

2. Arts and Crafts

There are arts and crafts activities for children on the ground floor of the museum. | National World

The family tree of the three generations of the Harfords who lived at Blaise Castle House is on display on the ground floor.

3. Family Tree

The family tree of the three generations of the Harfords who lived at Blaise Castle House is on display on the ground floor. | National World

Three generations of the Harfords and their many servants lived at Blaise Castle House. The display on the ground floor discusses what living in the house as a servant would have been like.

4. Live at the family home

Three generations of the Harfords and their many servants lived at Blaise Castle House. The display on the ground floor discusses what living in the house as a servant would have been like. | National World

People Museum Bristol Toys Puzzles Artists Cooking

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.