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Newbury, Berkshire / United Kingdom

Newbury is a historic market town in the county of Berkshire, England, which is home to the administrative headquarters of West Berkshire Council. The town centre around its large market square retains a rare medieval Cloth Hall, an adjoining half timbered granary, and the 15th-century St Nicolas Church, along with 17th- and 18th-century listed buildings. As well as being home to Newbury Racecourse, it is the headquarters of Vodafone UK and software company Micro Focus International. In the valley of the River Kennet, 26 miles south of Oxford, 25 miles north of Winchester, 27 miles south east of Swindon and 20 miles west of Reading. Newbury lies on the edge of the Berkshire Downs; part of the North Wessex Downs Area of outstanding natural beauty, 3 miles north of the Hampshire-Berkshire county boundary. In the suburban village of Donnington lies the part-ruined Donnington Castle and the surrounding hills are home to some of the country's most famous racehorse training grounds . To the south is a narrower range of hills including Walbury Hill and a few private landscape gardens and mansions such as Highclere Castle. The local economy is inter-related to that of the eastern M4 corridor, which has most of its industrial, logistical and research businesses close to Newbury, mostly around Reading, Bracknell, Maidenhead and Slough. Together with the adjoining town of Thatcham, 3 miles distant, Newbury forms the principal part of an urban area of approximately 70,000 people.

West Berkshire Museum

Newbury, Berkshire / United Kingdom

The West Berkshire Museum is located in Newbury, Berkshire. Established in 1904, the museum holds various artworks and collections. The museum is housed in two of Newbury's most historic buildings. The Cloth Hall was built in 1627 by Richard Emmes, a master carpenter of Speenhamland for the Newbury Corporation as a cloth factory. Originally part of a larger range of buildings with a courtyard in the centre, the building was subsequently used as a workhouse, hospital and school before being used for storing corn from 1829 until its conversion to a museum.The museum itself has exhibition galleries, café and a local history library, along with a Conference room which can be hired. Opening hours are Wednesday - Sunday 10am - 4pm, and some Bank Holidays A permanent exhibition tells the story of West Berkshire. From the geology to the stories of people who have lived in West Berkshire; early ancestors, to well known characters like Jack O'Newbury: the people who have created the towns and villages, roads and canals, fields and farms, industries, pastimes and organisations that forms West Berkshire today. The second floor galleries feature a series of special exhibitions, along with Gallery 5 which can be hired to display original artwork, sculpture and craft. Entry is free but donations are most welcome and go towards adding to and conserving the collections and maintaining the historic buildings. The museum underwent a £2.2m renovation in 2014 to update its exhibition areas and visitor facilities. The funding came from the Heritage Lottery Fund , and West Berkshire Council, Greenham Common Trust and the Headley Trust .