Museum of Cider

The museum was set up as a Trust in the 1970s by Bertram Bulmer, Norman Weston and the Director of Long Ashton Research Station, John Hudson.

Initially, the aim was to represent the international history of cider-making, but the majority of the collections have been drawn from England and the West Country.

It undertook oral histories and did a survey of all cider mills in Herefordshire whilst searching for suitable premises.

To make a better entrance, the Beam Press Gallery was added in the 1980s and was built from bricks and timber from the old Godwins Cider Factory in Hereford.

The original exhibition design idea started with the orchard area, then followed through the process with the farmhouse mill display, finally covering the history and science of cider making from the 16th century onwards.

The museum was never the Bulmer Heritage Centre which was indeed formerly part of the factory site, but is an independent charity which raises money from admissions, events, the shop, tearoom, grants and meeting rooms.