Ann Denham’s History of Huddersfield’s Tolson Museum is so good it should be read far beyond the town
Huddersfield Civic Society member Ann Denham’s book about the history of Tolson Museum in Huddersfield has received wonderful praise from a national museums organisation.
The British Association of Friends of Museums says Ann’s book called ‘The History of Tolson Memorial Museum, how Ravensknowle Hall became the Museum of Huddersfield’ captures a vital part of museum history, not only in Huddersfield but nationwide, and so should be read far and wide.
Tolson house in Ravensknowle Park has been the town’s museum for more than 100 years, showcasing Huddersfield’s history and culture along with local wildlife, flora and fauna.
The review states: “Ann Denham has written an excellent history of the Tolson Memorial Museum in Huddersfield which is a fine example of private and public philanthropy.
“The specific history of this particular museum will be of importance to those living in and around Huddersfield. However, it is of much greater interest as much of its history is similar to that of museums throughout the country in that it touches on the general development towards municipal museums throughout the nation and, as such, is a useful volume for anyone who wants to understand the 19th and early 20th museum movement in Britain.
“There is also included the rise of the textile industry, specifically that centred on Huddersfield, and a number of the individuals involved, railway development, the political impetus for local museums and the individuals who were responsible for the founding, designing and gathering of the collections for the Tolson Memorial Museum.
“For such a concise book it covers much ground, combining the specific with the general. Therefore, it should be read far beyond the confines of those interested in the Museum of Huddersfield. There is a bit of the history of all of our museums in this fine book.’’
The museum’s full title is Tolson Memorial Museum as it was donated to the people of Huddersfield out of tragedy.
The house and extensive grounds were given to Huddersfield by Legh Tolson in memory of his two nephews, 2nd Lt Robert Huntriss Tolson and his brother, 2nd Lt James Martin Tolson.
Robert, 31, from Dalton was killed on July 1, 1916 – the first day of the Battle of the Somme – while leading troops from the 15th Bn West Yorkshire Regiment over the top.
James joined the 74th Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery in April 1916 but was wounded near Ypres in February 1917 and returned to England for hospital treatment.
He went back to France but was gassed in June 1918 yet returned to his battery in July 1918.
He was just 20 when he was killed near Cambrai on October 20, 1918, just weeks before the war finished.
The brothers were two of six sons and daughters of Whiteley and Jessy Tolson, of Oaklands on Greenhead Lane in Dalton.
In 1919, Whiteley’s brother, Legh Tolson, who was living at Ravensknowle Hall, made a gift of his house to Huddersfield Corporation as a tribute and lasting memorial to his two nephews.
This become the Tolson Museum which was officially opened in 1922.
Ann said: “I knew that there was no written history of the museum. That got me thinking so I set about to remedy this omission.
“The museum was established during a period when Huddersfield was growing rapidly and was created through the enthusiasm, knowledge and generosity of local people.”
Dr Thomas Woodhead, a lecturer at Huddersfield Technical College, was invited by Huddersfield Town Council to draw up a scheme for a local museum and his detailed plan was accepted.
He organised the first collections, set up a research department, got schools involved and persuaded experts to write and illustrate publications on local issues.
He became the museum’s first director and one of the keenest groups to support the museum was Huddersfield Naturalists Union which held collections and put on exhibitions to show what they had found when studying and collecting in the countryside.