The Bakelite Museum
About The Bakelite Museum
The largest collection of Bakelite and Vintage plastics in the world! Currently closed to the public. Watch this space for news.
The Bakelite Museum Description
Bakelite is the pioneer of plastics, invented in 1907, and so immensely successful that its products touched every aspect of the twentieth century life from the cradle to the grave. The Bakelite Museum shows a huge collection of Bakelite and other early plastics, in a wonderful array of forms and colours, along with non-plastic items of the Bakelite era. It's a design museum of the 20th century, displayed among the workings of a historic watermill in the beautiful Somerset countryside.
Reviews
2018 has fluttered by. Happy New Year!
It wasn't the cough that carried him off...
As the museum empties, hidden mysteries are revealed. Some visitors love it so much they just can't bear to leave...
Delia and Alan give a bit of polish to the proceedings.
Peter Allan, a Bakelite Museum fan.
Huge thanks to our noble helpers at the grand packing-up of the Bakelite Museum. Here are Valentine Abbot, Alan Davis and Julian Orbach with Imogen Smith. They all travelled miles to come and help and worked like troupers. We are enormously grateful!
The amazing Amy Yon - packing organiser extraordinaire - getting the dog in, as our beautiful 1932 Bertram Hutchings Winchester caravan is made ready to leave.
The Packing of the Bakelite Museum collection proceeds apace. Huge thanks to all the lovely friends who've come to help with it.
Last day today of the Bakelite Museum at Orchard Mill.
FINAL FEW DAYS! The Bakelite Museum at Orchard Mill will be open until this Friday, 14 September, and then we will be packing it up to move elsewhere. Come now to catch it in this beautiful 18thC watermill in the heart of the Somerset countryside.
1st Newbury Scouts or maybe 3rd Newbury Scout Group at The Bakelite Museum, enjoying the vomiting tie-press, the cigarette dispensers (what's a cigarette?) and a hand-held clockwork fan. Hope you had a fab holiday.
We'll be chuffed if we can get to this!
Lucite enjoying a an Art Deco chair.
It's picnic weather at the Bakelite Museum!
The museum is open every Thursday to Sunday, and usually from Monday to Wednesday too (ring to check first), come rain, shine or football. Worzel Gummidge and Aunt Sally say "Do pop along!".
The museum will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday 26th. It's open every Thursday to Sunday in the summer but if you'd like to come on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday it's best to give us a ring first. Toodle-pip!
Plastic cow on the M5!
Wonderful place - so much to see and learn about. Really nice, friendly owners too.
What a gem of a place!! Visited yesterday, and, can't wait to go and visit again!
This place is amazing! Well worth a visit. We would thoroughly recommend it!
The most wonderful welcome so interesting I have never visited Somerset without a visit
Remembered some of the items from way back when, especially the reel to reel tape recorder. It's a must visit for all.
My partner and I came a while back and absolutely loved everything about the Bakelite Museum. It was like a magical step back in time. We both really hope a new premises is found before the season ends and wish we could do more as this is a treasure that would be an incredible shame to see lost
Mum and I had a lovely morning here, beautiful surroundings and fascinating contents. We were greeted by Patrick, a very friendly and knowledgeable man who let us in and left us to our own devices. Almost all of the items on display are out and can be looked at closely, touched and picked up, rather than tucked away in dusty glass cases. We spent a considerable amount of time walking slowly around, looking at all of the pieces but I'm sure there were still drawers and shelves of things we missed. Would definitely visit again, definitely worth the entrance fee.
It sounds a 'Dull' place to visit but you will be very pleased you did! Enjoy
It is my favourite museum in the whole world, they should all be like this.
I think it is an amazing place, and Patrick is such a character.
Had a lovely time with the family and enjoyed Patric's hospitality and company ���
Had a lovely afternoon with Patrick, the Bakelite Museum is a fascinating "Aladdin's Cave" of nostalgia, a real hidden gem ... we will definitely be back for another visit!
Great place with a great host. Will pop in again soon. Cream tea was good too!
Fantastic day. Snuffling around this museum was such a brilliant experience. The tearoom was great too. Well worth a visit
Fab place and a amazing collection. A must to see.
Fab day out! everyone should visit here so much to see, lovley people and a great little cafe! �
Absolutely charming museum and owner. Chock full of wonderful things.
A lovely treasure trove so relaxed and friendly.I was greeted by the delightful Imogen and met Patrick a charming man and we had a great chat about Art Deco .The scones are to die for (.Perfected I beleive by Patrick )I have just posted a photo of the Bandalsta table lamp in my FB group
Wonderful place - so much to see and learn about. Really nice, friendly owners too.
What a gem of a place!! Visited yesterday, and, can't wait to go and visit again!
This place is amazing! Well worth a visit. We would thoroughly recommend it!
The most wonderful welcome so interesting I have never visited Somerset without a visit
Remembered some of the items from way back when, especially the reel to reel tape recorder. It's a must visit for all.
My partner and I came a while back and absolutely loved everything about the Bakelite Museum. It was like a magical step back in time. We both really hope a new premises is found before the season ends and wish we could do more as this is a treasure that would be an incredible shame to see lost
Mum and I had a lovely morning here, beautiful surroundings and fascinating contents. We were greeted by Patrick, a very friendly and knowledgeable man who let us in and left us to our own devices. Almost all of the items on display are out and can be looked at closely, touched and picked up, rather than tucked away in dusty glass cases. We spent a considerable amount of time walking slowly around, looking at all of the pieces but I'm sure there were still drawers and shelves of things we missed. Would definitely visit again, definitely worth the entrance fee.
It sounds a 'Dull' place to visit but you will be very pleased you did! Enjoy
It is my favourite museum in the whole world, they should all be like this.
I think it is an amazing place, and Patrick is such a character.
Had a lovely time with the family and enjoyed Patric's hospitality and company ���
Had a lovely afternoon with Patrick, the Bakelite Museum is a fascinating "Aladdin's Cave" of nostalgia, a real hidden gem ... we will definitely be back for another visit!
Great place with a great host. Will pop in again soon. Cream tea was good too!
Fantastic day. Snuffling around this museum was such a brilliant experience. The tearoom was great too. Well worth a visit
Fab place and a amazing collection. A must to see.
Fab day out! everyone should visit here so much to see, lovley people and a great little cafe! �
Absolutely charming museum and owner. Chock full of wonderful things.
A lovely treasure trove so relaxed and friendly.I was greeted by the delightful Imogen and met Patrick a charming man and we had a great chat about Art Deco .The scones are to die for (.Perfected I beleive by Patrick )I have just posted a photo of the Bandalsta table lamp in my FB group
Wonderful place - so much to see and learn about. Really nice, friendly owners too.
What a gem of a place!! Visited yesterday, and, can't wait to go and visit again!
This place is amazing! Well worth a visit. We would thoroughly recommend it!
The most wonderful welcome so interesting I have never visited Somerset without a visit
Remembered some of the items from way back when, especially the reel to reel tape recorder. It's a must visit for all.
My partner and I came a while back and absolutely loved everything about the Bakelite Museum. It was like a magical step back in time. We both really hope a new premises is found before the season ends and wish we could do more as this is a treasure that would be an incredible shame to see lost
Mum and I had a lovely morning here, beautiful surroundings and fascinating contents. We were greeted by Patrick, a very friendly and knowledgeable man who let us in and left us to our own devices. Almost all of the items on display are out and can be looked at closely, touched and picked up, rather than tucked away in dusty glass cases. We spent a considerable amount of time walking slowly around, looking at all of the pieces but I'm sure there were still drawers and shelves of things we missed. Would definitely visit again, definitely worth the entrance fee.
It sounds a 'Dull' place to visit but you will be very pleased you did! Enjoy
It is my favourite museum in the whole world, they should all be like this.
I think it is an amazing place, and Patrick is such a character.
Had a lovely time with the family and enjoyed Patric's hospitality and company ���
Had a lovely afternoon with Patrick, the Bakelite Museum is a fascinating "Aladdin's Cave" of nostalgia, a real hidden gem ... we will definitely be back for another visit!
Great place with a great host. Will pop in again soon. Cream tea was good too!
Fantastic day. Snuffling around this museum was such a brilliant experience. The tearoom was great too. Well worth a visit
Fab place and a amazing collection. A must to see.
Fab day out! everyone should visit here so much to see, lovley people and a great little cafe! �
Absolutely charming museum and owner. Chock full of wonderful things.
A lovely treasure trove so relaxed and friendly.I was greeted by the delightful Imogen and met Patrick a charming man and we had a great chat about Art Deco .The scones are to die for (.Perfected I beleive by Patrick )I have just posted a photo of the Bandalsta table lamp in my FB group