The National Motor Museum (originally the Montagu Motor Museum) is a museum in the village of Beaulieu, set in the heart of the New Forest, in the English county of Hampshire.
At first, the museum consisted of just five cars and a small collection of automobilia displayed in the front hall of Lord Montagu's ancestral home, Palace House; but such was the popularity of this small display that the collection soon outgrew its home, and was transferred to wooden sheds in the grounds of the house. The reputation and popularity of the Beaulieu collection continued to grow: during 1959, the museum's "attendance figures" reached 296,909.[1]
By 1964, annual attendance exceeded the half a million mark and a decision was taken to create a purpose-built museum building in the grounds of the Beaulieu estate.[2] A design committee chaired by the architect Sir Hugh Casson was created to drive the project, and the architect Leonard Manasseh was given the contract for the design of the building[2][3] which was primarily the work of his partner Ian Baker.[4]
By 1972, the collection exceeded 300 exhibits.[5] In a ceremony performed by the Duke of Kent the new purpose-built museum building in the parkland surrounding Palace House was opened on 4 July 1972:[6] the name was changed to the "National Motor Museum", reflecting a change of status from a private collection to a charitable trust and highlighting Montagu's stated aim to provide Britain with a National Motor Museum "worthy of the great achievements of its motor industry".[6] The opening of the museum coincided with the UK launch of the Jaguar XJ12 which made it an appropriate week for celebrating the UK motor industry.[6] The museum is run by the National Motor Museum Trust Ltd, a registered charity.[7]
Today, in addition to around 250 vehicles manufactured since the late-19th century, the museum has a collection of motoring books, journals, photographs, films, and automobilia of the world and is affiliated to the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust.[8]
The "On Screen Cars" exhibit has a display of TV and film cars including Del Boy's Reliant Regal as featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, Mr. Bean’s lime green Mini and Doctor Who's Bessie.[9]
The museum also hosts a collection of the well-known Rolls-Royce radiator mascot – the Spirit of Ecstasy – also known as the Flying Lady. The collection includes The Whisper, a figurine commissioned by John Walter Edward Douglas-Scott-Montagu, the 2nd Baron to his friend Charles Robinson Sykes who sculpted a personal mascot for the bonnet of his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. Sykes originally crafted a figurine of a female model, Eleanor Thornton, in fluttering robes, pressing a finger against her lips – to symbolise the secret of the love between John and Eleanor, his secretary. The figurine was consequently named The Whisper.
Additional attractions include the National Motor Museum Monorail, veteran bus ride, playground, restaurant and a substantial part of the Palace House and grounds, including the partially ruined Beaulieu Abbey. Among the monastery buildings to have been preserved are the domus (now used for functions and exhibitions), and the refectory, which is now the parish church.
Beaulieu attractions
The National Motor Museum is one of several attractions on Lord Montagu's Beaulieu estate which are marketed jointly as "Beaulieu". One admission ticket includes the following attractions:
^"British Motorcycle Charitable Trust". Retrieved 29 November 2009.
^"On Screen Cars". beaulieu.co.uk. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Motor Museum, Beaulieu.
Beaulieu website
The National Motor Museum Trust website
May 17, 2023
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Not to be confused with National Motor Museum Birdwood or National Motorcycle Museum The National Motor Museum originally the Montagu Motor Museum is a museum in the village of Beaulieu set in the heart of the New Forest in the English county of Hampshire National Motor MuseumLocation within HampshireEstablished1952 71 years ago 1952 LocationBeaulieu Hampshire EnglandCoordinates50 49 22 7 N 1 27 12 8 W 50 822972 N 1 453556 W 50 822972 1 453556 Coordinates 50 49 22 7 N 1 27 12 8 W 50 822972 N 1 453556 W 50 822972 1 453556TypeAutomobile museumWebsitewww beaulieu co ukwww nationalmotormuseum org uk Contents 1 History 2 The museum today 3 Beaulieu attractions 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit Lord Montagu with one of his classic MGs in March 2007 The museum was founded in 1952 by Edward Douglas Scott Montagu 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu as a tribute to his father John 2nd Baron Montagu who was one of the pioneers of motoring in the United Kingdom being the first person to drive a motor car into the yard of the Houses of Parliament and having introduced King Edward VII then the Prince of Wales to motoring during the 1890s At first the museum consisted of just five cars and a small collection of automobilia displayed in the front hall of Lord Montagu s ancestral home Palace House but such was the popularity of this small display that the collection soon outgrew its home and was transferred to wooden sheds in the grounds of the house The reputation and popularity of the Beaulieu collection continued to grow during 1959 the museum s attendance figures reached 296 909 1 By 1964 annual attendance exceeded the half a million mark and a decision was taken to create a purpose built museum building in the grounds of the Beaulieu estate 2 A design committee chaired by the architect Sir Hugh Casson was created to drive the project and the architect Leonard Manasseh was given the contract for the design of the building 2 3 which was primarily the work of his partner Ian Baker 4 By 1972 the collection exceeded 300 exhibits 5 In a ceremony performed by the Duke of Kent the new purpose built museum building in the parkland surrounding Palace House was opened on 4 July 1972 6 the name was changed to the National Motor Museum reflecting a change of status from a private collection to a charitable trust and highlighting Montagu s stated aim to provide Britain with a National Motor Museum worthy of the great achievements of its motor industry 6 The opening of the museum coincided with the UK launch of the Jaguar XJ12 which made it an appropriate week for celebrating the UK motor industry 6 The museum is run by the National Motor Museum Trust Ltd a registered charity 7 An unusual feature of the new museum building in 1972 is the National Motor Museum Monorail 6 passing through its interior This was inspired by the light railway running through the US Pavilion at the Montreal World s Fair Expo 67 The museum today Edit National Motor Museum Beaulieu main hall One of the exhibits 1910 Bugatti Type 15 See List of vehicles at the National Motor Museum BeaulieuToday in addition to around 250 vehicles manufactured since the late 19th century the museum has a collection of motoring books journals photographs films and automobilia of the world and is affiliated to the British Motorcycle Charitable Trust 8 An exhibition of James Bond vehicles appeared in 2012 The On Screen Cars exhibit has a display of TV and film cars including Del Boy s Reliant Regal as featured in the BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses Mr Bean s lime green Mini and Doctor Who s Bessie 9 The exhibit World of Top Gear has cars created by former Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson Richard Hammond and James May The museum also hosts a collection of the well known Rolls Royce radiator mascot the Spirit of Ecstasy also known as the Flying Lady The collection includes The Whisper a figurine commissioned by John Walter Edward Douglas Scott Montagu the 2nd Baron to his friend Charles Robinson Sykes who sculpted a personal mascot for the bonnet of his Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Sykes originally crafted a figurine of a female model Eleanor Thornton in fluttering robes pressing a finger against her lips to symbolise the secret of the love between John and Eleanor his secretary The figurine was consequently named The Whisper Additional attractions include the National Motor Museum Monorail veteran bus ride playground restaurant and a substantial part of the Palace House and grounds including the partially ruined Beaulieu Abbey Among the monastery buildings to have been preserved are the domus now used for functions and exhibitions and the refectory which is now the parish church Beaulieu attractions EditThe National Motor Museum is one of several attractions on Lord Montagu s Beaulieu estate which are marketed jointly as Beaulieu One admission ticket includes the following attractions Beaulieu Abbey National Motor Museum Beaulieu Palace House World of Top Gear Secret Army Exhibition an exhibit about the Special Operations Executive SOE training at Beaulieu during World War II Gardens National Motor Museum MonorailSee also EditList of motorcycles in the National Motor Museum Beaulieu List of vehicles at the National Motor Museum BeaulieuReferences Edit News Summary Practical Motorist 6 68 782 April 1960 a b Bulmer Charles 24 May 1969 Expansion at Beaulieu Motor No 3492 p 64 Architect Leonard Manasseh at age 100 Blog Royal Academy of Arts www royalacademy org uk Retrieved 25 June 2017 Brittain Caitlin Timothy 15 April 2017 Leonard Manasseh The Guardian London p 44 Garnier Peter ed 27 April 1972 News National Motor Museum Autocar 136 3967 9 a b c d Garnier Peter ed 13 July 1972 National Motor Museum Opened at Beaulieu Realisation of a dream Autocar 137 3978 36 37 National Motor Museum Trust Ltd registered charity no 1107656 Charity Commission for England and Wales British Motorcycle Charitable Trust Retrieved 29 November 2009 On Screen Cars beaulieu co uk Retrieved 31 December 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Motor Museum Beaulieu Beaulieu website The National Motor Museum Trust website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title National Motor Museum Beaulieu amp oldid 1145988126, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
