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The Egyptian Collection
West Park Museum boasts a collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities which were in the main acquired by Marianne Brocklehurst while visiting Egypt between 1873-74, 1882-83 and 1890-91. She left the collection to her great niece, Lady Yarborough, who later presented it to the Museum.
Journey through life in ancient Egypt. Discover how children lived, what sort of food they ate, what they drank an what was considered fashionable clothing. Explore the afterlife, gods and Pharaohs. The display includes a mummy case and a copy of Miss Marianne Brocklehurst's diary of her travels in Egypt during 1873-74.
Miss Marianne Brocklehurst formed the Egyptian collection and with the help of her brother, Peter Pownall Brocklehurst, built and endowed the Macclesfield Museum, which now houses the collection. Miss Marianne and her companion, Miss Booth, went on many trips to the Continent, however the most adventurous trip was to Egypt in 1873 which Miss Marianne recorded and illustrated in her diary. While on this trip, the heart of the collection was formed, as they travelled up and down the Nile.
The collection expanded through her later trips in 1882-83 and 1890-91, though these travels centred around Cairo. Significant additions have also been made by the Egypt Exploration Society, Flinders Petrie and Amelia Edwards, a very good friend of Miss Marianne, who travelled up and down the Nile with them in 1873-4.
Among the collection are cartonnage masks, mummified crocodile, ibis, hawk, cat and human arm, jewellery, shoes, make-up, shabti figures, statues, steali, canoptic jars and a wooden boat from a tomb. A detailed catalogue compiled by Dr. Rosalie David of Manchester University is available.
For school activities linked to this collection click here.