The Collection, Local authority museum in Lincoln, England
The Collection is a local authority museum in Lincoln housed in a complex made up of two connected buildings: the Usher Gallery and a newer purpose-built wing. The older gallery building holds art collections while the newer wing focuses on archaeological finds from the Ice Age through to the medieval period.
The Usher Gallery opened in 1927 thanks to a bequest from James Ward Usher, a local jeweller and collector who left his collection and funds to the city. In 2005, a new building was constructed next to the gallery to house the collections of the former City and County Museum, bringing both institutions together.
The museum brings together archaeological objects from Lincolnshire and contemporary art shows under one roof, which creates an unusual contrast as you walk from one gallery to the next. Visitors often move between cases of ancient objects and modern paintings within just a few steps.
Both buildings are fully accessible for wheelchair users, so moving between the galleries is straightforward for everyone. Guided tours are available during opening hours, which can be a good way to get your bearings on a first visit.
The Witham Shield, held in the collection, was pulled from the River Witham in the 18th century and is one of the rarest examples of early Iron Age metalwork in Britain. It is so thin and finely worked that experts believe it was never used in battle but served a ceremonial purpose instead.
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