{{Short description|Museum in Luton, Bedfordshire, England}} {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox museum | name = Wardown House Museum And Gallery | image = File:Wardown Park Museum 2025.JPG | caption = Wardown Park Museum | established = 1931 | dissolved = | type = Crafts of Bedfordshire | location = Wardown Park, Old Bedford Road, Luton, England | coordinates = {{coord|51.896|-0.418|display=inline,title|region:GB_scale:5000}} | visitors = | director = | website = {{URL|https://www.culturetrust.com/venues/wardown-house-museum-gallery|Wardown House, Museum & Gallery }} | map_type = Bedfordshire | map_caption = Shown within Bedfordshire }} '''Wardown House Museum and Gallery''', formerly '''Wardown Park Museum''' and, before that, the '''Luton Museum & Art Gallery''', in Luton, is housed in a large Victorian mansion in Wardown Park on the outskirts of the town centre. The museum collection focuses on the traditional crafts of Bedfordshire, notably lace-making and hat-making. There are samples of Bedfordshire lace from as early as the 17th century.
== History == thumb|left|Wardown Park Museum and just part of its extensive grounds Robert How built the first property within the park, called Bramingham Shott, which is the current home to the museum.<ref name=he>{{NHLE|num=1001445|desc=Wardown Park|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> In the early 1870s the estate was taken over by local solicitor, Frank Chapman-Scargill, he rebuilt much of the earlier house in 1879 for a total cost of £10,000. Scargill left Luton in 1893 and the house and property was acquired by lime burner Benjamin John Harfield Forder, who renamed the estate Wardown, after the hill (War Down) behind his family home at Buriton, Hampshire.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Benjamin_John_Harfield_Forder |title=Benjamin John Harfield Forder |publisher=Graces's Guide |access-date=7 March 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927180259/https://gracesguide.co.uk/Benjamin_John_Harfield_Forder |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 1903, Forder and his partners, Halley Stewart and Sir Malcolm Stewart, who later acquired the London Brick Company, decided to sell the house and {{convert|11|acre|ha|adj=on}} park, and placed the property up for sale. The property was bought by Luton Council in 1904.<ref name=he/> Over the next few years extensive improvements were implemented, many new trees were planted, as well as new footpaths and bridges being constructed. The layout of the park today is very much as it was in this period. A bowling green was built in 1905.<ref name=he/>
During the First World War Wardown House was pressed into service as a hospital, firstly by the Royal Army Medical Corps, and then the Voluntary Aid Detachments of the British Red Cross Society.<ref name=vad>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldwar1luton.com/wardown-vad-hospital |title=Wardown V.A.D. Hospital | Great War Stories |publisher=Worldwar1luton.com |access-date=2 June 2018 |archive-date=21 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221183434/http://www.worldwar1luton.com/wardown-vad-hospital |url-status=live }}</ref> Mrs Nora Durler and Mrs Mary Green were the Joint Commandants.<ref name=vad/> The Luton Museum was transferred to the house in 1931.<ref name=he/>
== Description == The museum has a collection of circa 700 hats and pieces of headwear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lutonculture.com/wardown-house/galleries-and-exhibitions/luton-life/hats/|title=Hat Industry and Headwear Collection|publisher=Luton Culture|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180410183706/http://www.lutonculture.com/wardown-house/galleries-and-exhibitions/luton-life/hats|url-status=live}}</ref> The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment gallery, produced by the Imperial War Museum, explains the history of the local regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lutonculture.com/wardown-house/galleries-and-exhibitions/hertfordshire-and-bedfordshire-regiment-gallery/|title=The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Gallery|publisher=Luton Culture|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143308/https://www.lutonculture.com/wardown-house/galleries-and-exhibitions/hertfordshire-and-bedfordshire-regiment-gallery/|url-status=live}}</ref>
The first floor galleries were refurbished and opened as the Luton Life displays in February 2003. This was partly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The museum displays explore stories of Luton people over the past 150 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aboutbritain.com/WardownParkMuseum.htm|publisher=About Britain|title=Wardown Park Museum|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107180531/http://www.aboutbritain.com/WardownParkMuseum.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
The ground floor displays include the Living Landscape gallery which displays local archaeology and natural history, including the Shillington Roman coin hoard<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artfund.org/artwork/7624/shillington-coin-hoard|title=Shillington Coins|publisher=Art Fund|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-date=27 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927112502/http://www.artfund.org/artwork/7624/shillington-coin-hoard|url-status=dead}}</ref> and an Iron Age mirror.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artfund.org/artwork/8532/shillington-mirror-brooch|title=Shillington Brooch and Mirror|publisher=Art Fund|access-date=2 June 2018}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
== The Wenlock Jug == thumb|right|The Wenlock Jug {{main|Wenlok jug}} The jug is a rare surviving example of an English bronze jug from the 15th century, with great significance for the study of bronze working in medieval England. It was nearly sold to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art for £750,000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artfund.org/artwork/9685/wenlock-jug|title=Wenlock Jug|publisher=Art Fund|access-date=2 June 2018}}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> but was export-stopped in October 2005 by culture minister, David Lammy, based on a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, run by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. Instead it was bought by Luton Museums Service for 300 times its normal annual acquisitions budget to equal the offer of the Metropolitan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/history+%26+heritage/art35047|title= Wardown Museum In Luton Pips New York Met To Wenlock Tankard|date= 9 March 2006|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> On 14 May 2012 it was reported<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-18056773 |title=Wenlok Jug stolen from Stockwood Discovery Centre|date=14 May 2012|publisher=BBC|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref> that the jug had been stolen following a break in at the Stockwood Discovery Centre in Luton. It was recovered after being found in a lock-up garage in Epsom on 24 September 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-21804946|title=Man jailed over theft of £1m Wenlock Jug from Luton museum|date=15 March 2013|publisher=BBC|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925222009/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-21804946|url-status=live}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{official site|http://www.wardownparkmuseum.com/}}
{{Luton}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Museums in Bedfordshire Category:Art museums and galleries in Bedfordshire Category:Regimental museums in England Category:Textile museums in the United Kingdom Category:Fashion museums in the United Kingdom Category:Local museums in Bedfordshire Category:Museums established in 1930 Category:1930 establishments in England Category:Culture in Luton Category:Listed buildings in Luton Category:Grade II listed buildings in Bedfordshire