Where was Dudley Museum & Art Gallery?

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery was on St James's Road and Priory Street, Dudley, DY1 from 1883 until 2016.

 

In brief

This was the public museum and art gallery in Dudley, that opened in 1883, until the site closed in 2016. Some of the museums collections were relocated to The Archives on Tipton Road. It's opposite the Dudley Town Hall and Dudley Council House. Was Grade II listed in 2022.

The now closed Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (December 2022). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery - history

The building was originally going to be a Free Library and School of Art by Dudley Borough Council, the foundation stone was laid in July 1883.

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

But it didn't open for another five years until August 1888 as an Art Gallery.

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

In 1906 Dudley Council took over the collection of fossils and other materials to be displayed in a museum in the town from the Dudley Geographical Society.

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

By 1911 that collection had been installed in what had been the lending department of the Free Library in view of displaying them to the public from 1912.

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Brooke Robinson collection, was originally in a purpose built room in the Town Hall next door, but was moved to the museum in 1979.

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Museum and Art Gallery was permanently closed by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council in December 2016 as part of cost cutting efforts.

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Part of the museum collection was later moved to the Dudley Archives on Tipton Road under the name Dudley Museum at The Archives, this opened to the public in September 2017.

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The building was later Grade II listed by Historic England in September 2022, and the building is still up for sale.

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Permanent exhibitions used to include Geology, Return of the Dinosaurs (from 2007), The Brook Robinson Museum (from 1911), Duncan Edwards and local heroes, and a Fine art collection.

Dudley Museum & Art Gallery (January 2011). Photography by Elliott Brown