MUSEUMS in west Cheshire are giving residents free access to collections and educational support during the current coronavirus lockdown.

Enthusiastic staff from Northwich’s Lion Salt Works and Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse are determined to connect with audiences through social media and online while doors are temporarily closed.

West Cheshire residents will also have access to resources from Chester’s Grosvenor Museum and South Cheshire’s Stretton Mill.

Using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the museum’s website, visitors both young and old can enjoy pictures from the collections, craft activities and learning support material linked to the national curriculum.

Cllr Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council and cabinet member for wellbeing, said: “These are unprecedented times, and I am delighted that museum staff are finding imaginative ways of using digital platforms to stay connected to visitors and the wider community.

“While museum doors are closed, being reminded of the beautiful things in our collections raises spirits and gives us all something to look forward to visiting when restrictions are lifted.

“I know that this is a challenging time for people confined to their homes, especially those who are struggling to juggle work and engage their children in schoolwork and long hours of indoor leisure time.

“I hope that the range of activities and educational resources available on West Cheshire Museum’s website and on its social media will help lift the load as well as spirits.”

Northwich Guardian:

Here are some of the activities planned by West Cheshire Museums in the coming weeks:

  • On Facebook, visitors can enjoy regular posts and pictures from the Weaver Hall Museum and Lion Salt Works archives, giving a fascinating insight into the town, industry and people of Northwich.
  • Twice a week, new activities for children will appear on the West Cheshire Museums website, such as colouring templates for a dinosaur mask, ‘cut and colour’ fashion clothes and information on how to make a paper plate bunny hat.
  • During children’s traditional Easter holiday period (April 13 to 24), there will be imaginative, twice-weekly Easter activities for parents and carers to engage their children indoors.
  • From April 21, parents or carers teaching children from home can access films and work packs that tie in with the national school curriculum.
  • Weekly adult activities will be uploaded to the West Cheshire Museums website, including crochet and sewing projects.
  • Information and pictures from successful previous exhibitions such as The Vikings, Motherhood, Watercolours of Chester and the Secrets of Eternal Youth are now available.
  • Every week, children can download and colour an outline of a new building in the historic city of Chester, with the aim of eventually having their very own model of the city.

Visit westcheshiremuseums.co.uk to see what activities are available, head to Twitter @cwacmuseums or to the Weaver Hall and Lion Salt Works Facebook pages.