American Museum in Britain

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American Museum in Britain
American Museum in Britain (Somerset)
American Museum in Britain
Shown within Somerset
Established July 1, 1961
Location Claverton, Bath, England
Website American Museum

Coordinates: 51°22′37″N 2°18′40″W / 51.3768, -2.3110

The American Museum in Britain [1] is based at Claverton Manor, near Bath in a house, designed by Jeffry Wyatville and built in the 1820s[2] on the site of a manor bought by Ralph Allen in 1758.[3] It is now a grade I listed building.[4]

It was founded by two antique collectors, an American, Dallas Pratt (Aug 21, 1914May 20, 1994) [5] and a Briton, John Judkyn (1913July 27, 1963) [6] and opened to the public for the first time on July 1, 1961.

The exhibits cover every period of American history. Because John Judkyn was a peace-loving Quaker, the museum contains no militaria.

Included are 200 quilts and coverlets.

The garden is set into the valley of the River Avon and has fine views over the valley and the Kennet and Avon Canal. The American Museum employed Lanning Roper to design a mixed border. There is a Colonial Herb Garden and a Mount Vernon Garden, which is a re-creation of George Washington's garden. The arboretum has a collection of American trees [2]

[edit] Artists in the Collection

[edit] References

  1. ^ American Museum in Britain website
  2. ^ a b Garden Visit website
  3. ^ Scott, Shane (1995). The hidden places of Somerset. Aldermaston: Travel Publishing Ltd, 16-17. ISBN 1902007018. 
  4. ^ Claverton Manor (The American Museum). Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-12-16.
  5. ^ Biographical notes on Dallas Pratt
  6. ^ Personal recollections of John Judkyn by Dallas Pratt