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Haynes International Motor Museum, Somerset

 

 

The Haynes International Motor Museum is the biggest motor museum in Britain. The museum has a collection of over four hundred cars and motor bikes, dating from 1886 to the present day. 1886 was an important year in the history of the motor car. Alphonse Beau de Rochas had designed a four stroke internal combustion engine back in 1862, but a dispute over copyright with Nikolaw Otto had the happy consequence of allowing any manufacturer to use the four stroke engine. It is perhaps a bit like the situation in 1989 when Tim Burners-Lee decided not to patent his idea for the internet. People had an unusual opportunity to exploit a revolution in communication. De Roches new type of engine was put into an effective vehicle in 1886 when Gottlieb Daimler is credited with building his first car. This is the year of the Haynes Museum's earliest exhibit.

The motor car has been both utilitarian and exotic, a symbol of exclusivity and democracy. Cars allowed ordinary people unknown freedom of movement. Cars were also one of the first commodities to be built with conscious styling thus encouraging people to climb their way up a ladder of desirability. A family's car was almost their second home, and in these familiar surroundings, many would focus their dreams for the future on a better car. The collection at the Haynes Museum covers the whole range of the motoring experience. Memories of family motoring are well catered for in a huge collection of production cars. There are also plenty of examples of expensive high performance cars.

The invention of the motor car led to the creation of the new sport of motor racing, which began with a reliability run between Paris and Rouen in 1894. Motor racing is well represented at the museum, with a collection of racing cars.

Education packages are available for schools.

There is a large shop selling motoring related merchandise, and a cafe. Faciltiies for MOT and servicing of any car of any age are available at the site.

 

 

Address: Haynes International Motor Museum, Sparkford, Yeovil, Somerset BA22 7LH

Opening Times:

2nd March to 31st October, open daily 9.30am - 5.30pm. Open until 6pm during school summer holidays.

1st November to 1st March, open daily 10am - 4.30pm.

Closed 24th to 26th December and 1st January.

Directions: The Haynes Museum is just off the A303 in Sparkford near Yeovil in Somerset. Click here for an interactive map centred on Haynes International Motor Museum.

Access: There is level access to all areas, and provision for escorted visits. Adapted toliet faciltieis are available. All service dogs welcome, and water bowls provided. Hearing loop in conference hall.

Contact:

telephone: 01963 440804

fax: 01963 441004

web site: http://www.haynesmotormuseum.com/home/index.html

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