A Trip Down Memory Lane (Milestones Museum (Basingstoke))

Member Name: deb10

Product:	Milestones Museum (Basingstoke)
Date:	10/05/07 (2674 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: All under one roof, ideal for bad weather, not rushed, pleasant staff.

Disadvantages: closed on Monday's

Milestones Living History Museum


Come and discover your past inside a make believe town that never rains or has traffic congestion. Milestones was built to house over 21,000 objects either made or used in Hampshire and dating back to as far as the Victorian era. Milestones is managed by Hampshire County Council and also Basingstoke and Deane .
On approach to the museum, the building looks more like an aircraft hanger. You wouldn’t think that this ultra modern steel and glass building would house so many old and ancient artefacts. Milestones has been in Basingstoke since November 2000 and was opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.

******Directions:******

By car - Milestones is only 3 miles from the M3 on the Basingstoke Leisure Park site and is clearly sign posted on approach. There is ample parking and it’s free. Disabled bays are situated at the front entrance.
If you are coming from Junction 6 (M3) follow the brown tourist signs for 'Leisure Park', driving clockwise around the ring road. At the Thornycroft Roundabout you will see Milestones ahead of you. Take the first exit into Churchill Way, go all the way round the next roundabout. Enter the Leisure Park at entrance B and turn right. The museum lies straight ahead. If you take the turn off at point A, don’t panic. You can still get to the museum. Drive past the Bowlplex and Gala Bingo, keep going straight until you see the KFC Drive Through. From this point you can see the building and just keep going straight on.
From Junction 7 of the M3 take the A30. Follow signs to Basingstoke town centre and brown tourist signs for 'Leisure Park'. At Winchester Roundabout, follow the brown tourist signs for 'Leisure Park', driving clockwise around the ring road, to the Thornycroft Roundabout.
By train and bus - Basingstoke Station is just two miles from Milestones. This is a reliable and frequent single deck bus service that runs during the day between the station, town centre and Leisure Park stopping outside the museum. The “Leisure Park” name is prominent on the reader above the driver. I have never used this service so I cannot comment on how much it will cost.

*****Entrance Lobby:*******

As you walk through the automatic double doors, you will be greeted with a bird’s eye view of the museum via the gallery. The receptionist seated on the left by the desk takes your payment and gives you details of what to do if this is your first visit. It’s worth having a look at the leaflets situated by her desk as these inform you of forthcoming activities inside and outside of the museum in the main field.

On the right hand side is a gift shop. Full of lots of interesting memorabilia that will no doubt take you back to your youth. You will find items ranging from fridge magnets to a laminate poster showing the original Ford Cortina and its hairy chested owner in flared trousers. Prices here start at £1. It is worth taking a look even if you do not make a purchase. Credit cards, debit cards and cash are taken as payment.

Next to the gift shop is a cafeteria. With its darkened glass windows, this is a great place to sit down for a cup of earl grey and a cheese sandwich and just watch the world go by. Prices are reasonable but to be honest, as there are so many grassy areas surrounding the museum, take a picnic and enjoy the views. You can park quite close to the building so leave your cool box inside the car. Food is not allowed to be eaten inside and there is no smoking.

To gain access to the museum you have to enter the lift and go down levels. The lift is easy to operate but once inside it is quite dark and stifling. Fortunately it does not take too long to reach the lower floor. There is also a staircase if like me, you find elevators claustrophobic.

The middle floor is for educational purposes and is mainly used by schools. It is on this floor that school children are allowed to eat their pack lunch, sitting at tables and chairs with excellent cleaning facilities for little hands. The museum caters for all ages from primary school right up to KS2 and provides set tasks for the pupils to complete. I thoroughly enjoyed my time there with my son as a parent helper going around in set groups with a clip board.

The cost as of 2007 is as follows:

Day ticket
Adult £7.25
Disabled, Students and OAP £6.50,
Child £4.25
Family (2 adults & 2 children): £21,
Under 5s free

Discounts for schools and groups, please call the staff for details

Annual Pass for unlimited free visits during the year is Adult £14.50
Disabled/Students, OAP’s £13
Child £8.50
Family £42

Payment can be made by credit, debit card or good old reliable sterling.

***** Opening Times *****

Open all year, Tuesday to Friday
Bank Holiday Mondays 10am to 5pm
Weekends 11am to 5pm
Last admission 4pm.

Closed Mondays, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

***** Audio guide*****

When you reach the lower level, situated in front of the lift doors is a large desk. A member of staff is always present and will offer you a large handset. This is your audio guide and it is worth taking with you if this is your first visit. Though quite long, it isn’t heavy and cumbersome and comes with a wrist strap for your convenience. If you don’t want it, then you can refuse, it is not compulsory to have this. The audio guide is included in your entrance price, you will not be charged any extra.

Though they look clean and well maintained, I am not sure how often these grey handsets are sterilised, if at all. I always carry baby wipes with me and always give them a good swipe over. After all, you never know just how much bodily deposits are in that ear piece.

The set is easy to operate. All you do is look for the numbered label by the displays and type it in using your keypad. Press the big arrow button to play. You will then hear a commentary on that specific display which lasts around 5 minutes or less. There is a volume control on the lower left panel with + and – and also a pause button. When you have finished your tour, remember to return the guide to the same desk by the lift doors.

For those hard of hearing, there are video screens all around with subtitles.

***** The Museum *****

The majority of the floor is cobbled, so high or spiky heels are not recommended. Flats or trainers are perfect for a stroll around each display. You are a given a map when you pick up your audio guide and this shows the complete layout of the floor and the relevant numbers for your handset.

There are so many points of interest and pictures are allowed to be taken. The way in is via “Taskers Works” and its introductory gallery. There is no specific route to this museum, roam and visit at your will but this is the only way in and the only way out.

There are too many exhibitions to review in detail but a brief selection consists of the following: Taskers Works, Mottisfont Paint Works, Chesil Street Station, Wallis and Stevens, Agricultural Showground (it’s here you will find the stuffed Jack Russell relieving himself against the vegetable stall), Finches Yard, Sawmill, Council Yard, Victoria Place, The Thornycroft Works , Collections Corner, Gas Works, Tram Shed and Exhibition Court.

My favourite selection has to be Collections Corner and the Fire Station. If like me you grew up in the 70’s, the amount of memorabilia here is amazing. It is like going back into your childhood. Everything from hairdryers with hats attached to a Tricity top loader washing machine that my mum used to own. I saw the original Chopper Bike, the first Cindy doll and even the slot meter for the electricity. How I hated that machine, you had no idea when it was going to turn off the electric and plunge the house into darkness. Money was tight in those days and mum couldn’t afford to keep filling it up with 50 pence pieces so she would always wait for it to go off before adding more. It always seems to happen in the middle of Crossroads or Starskey and Hutch.

The Fire Station has a large display of Fire Fighters outfits from 1930 onwards and there is even a fireman on the roof. My late grandfather, who I regard as quite a hero of his time, was a fireman in 1940 and a replica of his suit is inside one of the cabinets. There is also a selection of oxygen tanks they had to wear, alongside the horrific gas marks that everyone had during the war.


At lunchtime on weekends and bank holidays there is a pub called The Baverstock Arms and its open for customers. You can drink a glass of real ale in a reproduction Edwardian pub. The pub itself is very small and dark and the seats very uncomfortable. Wheelchair users might find it hard to manoeuvre inside. I have never had a drink in this “establishment” so cannot comment on the prices or the types of ale available.

Opposite the Baverstock Arms is a sweet shop and just like the pub, is open on specific times selling the good old fashioned confectionary such as Rhubarb and Custard, Sherbert Lemons and Gob Stoppers. The sweets are placed in a paper bag just like they used to and charged according to the weight you have, on old fashioned scales.


**** Dressing Up *****

Close to the Agricultural Showground is a marquee where there is a good selection of children’s dressing up outfits mainly from the 1930’s era. Children are allowed to try on and take pictures of their new clothes, but please remember to return them and not walk out of the reception door. On busy times the clothes are always taken, so if possible avoid peak days. Children love to dress up and it’s good fun but on the negative side, the clothes really could do with a bit of a laundry service.


**** Toilets ******

These are situated on the lower floor by the audio desk. The toilets are immaculate and well maintained. There is baby changing facilites here and disabled toilets.

**** Disabled Facilities*****

This place is so easy to get around as everything is on the one floor. There are no steps to climb, no ramps to tackle, just a cobbled high street near to the stuffed Jack Russell. The lift is a good size and takes seconds to reach the displays.

Wheelchairs and motorised scooters are available free of charge, all situated on the same floor by the audio guide desk. This really is an access friendly attraction.

**** Staff****

Members of staff are plentiful and all wear the same polo shirt with “Milestones” logo on the front. From the employee’s I have met during my few visits here, the staff are very friendly and always willing to stop for a chat and share their knowledge of the displays and the history. If a child is lost, they will broadcast the details via their walkie talkie’s to the main reception and are always on hand.

**** Conclusion *****

I personally feel this is great value for money. Once inside you are not rushed to leave, you can walk around at leisure. The place is friendly with a fun atmosphere. It is like walking into a time warp. Every one of all ages will enjoy an afternoon or morning here, but to be honest you couldn’t spend a whole day here. You can cover the majority of it in a few hours. It is easy to get to and with ample parking, a motorists dream.

During the year they have various activities such as on May 28th 2007 there is a large vintage steam rally in the field outside. If the weather holds, this a great day out. You can spend the morning around the steam engines and vintage cars, then the remainder inside the museum. On June 23rd there is Festival of Fire Engines and in December there is usually a Victorian Christmas evening complete with Santa and carols.

On the same site is a KFC and McDonalds Restaurant and Drive Through, Bowlplex, Gala Bingo, an indoor Aqua Drome with splash pool and an ice rink, all within easy reach.

*** Contact Details*****


Milestones - Hampshire's Living History Museum
Leisure Park
Churchill Way West
Basingstoke
RG21 6YR

Telephone Milestones on 01256 477766.

http://www.milestones-museum.com

Hope to see you there.

Summary: A great way to spend time with all the family