The History and Origins of The Tullie
The Tullie has been a presence in Carlisle, England, since its establishment in 1893. Opened by the Carlisle Corporation, the institution was founded to serve the community through a combination of a museum, library, art school, and technical school. This multifaceted beginning established a foundation for the diverse collections that reside within its walls today.
The institution has undergone a recent evolution in its identity. While long known by its full title, it has been officially known as Tullie since July 2024. This change reflects a modern chapter for a site that has been part of the local landscape for over a century. As an Arts Council England Major Partner Museum, it maintains a significant role in the regional landscape, preserving the specific histories of the area.
The Architecture of the Historic Building
The structure is a Grade I Listed building, originally constructed in 1689. What began as a converted Jacobean mansion has evolved through various stages of expansion. These extensions were added during the building's conversion, allowing the site to adapt to its changing functions over the centuries. The physical presence of the mansion provides a sense of historical weight to the site.
The architecture presents a magnificent example of Victorian Gothic Revival. This style is evident in the imposing façade, which features intricate detailing and towering chimneys. The design of the building is attributed to Sir Charles Barry. Inside, the scale of the architecture is felt through soaring ceilings and ornate plasterwork. The use of sandstone, quarried from nearby Llanthony Priory, grounds the construction in the local landscape.
The Diverse Collections at The Tullie
The collection comprises almost 1,000,000 objects, spanning the breadth of natural and human history. A designated natural science collection includes significant zoological, botanical, and geological material. These specimens exist alongside a human history collection that reaches back to a 10,000-year-old hand axe. Archaeological finds from burial sites at Ormside, Hesket-in-the-Forest, Aspatria, and Cumwhitton provide a physical connection to the region's past. These include Neolithic tridents and the Langdale Axes.
Fine and decorative arts are represented by Japanese prints and Chinese ceramics. The museum also holds a collection of over 300 years of Cumbrian women’s history within its costume galleries. These items offer a specific perspective on the social evolution of the area.
Masterpieces and Notable Artworks
The fine and decorative arts collection at The Tullie contains significant works from the Pre-Raphaelite movement, including pieces by Burne-Jones and Arthur Hughes. These paintings exist alongside the contributions of Stanley Spencer and Winifred Nicholson. The presence of Sheila Fell and Phil Morsman further defines the breadth of the holdings, offering a varied perspective within the gallery's walls.
Specific canvases offer moments of quiet contemplation. Henri Fantin-Latour’s The Model, dating from about 1870, holds a steady presence in the collection. Nearby, Narcisso Díaz De La Peña’s Bohemiennes mendicantes, from about 1850, provides a different tonal quality. Adolphe Joseph Thomas Monticelli’s Fête champêtre completes this selection of significant paintings, allowing for a direct encounter with the textures and light of these specific eras.
