17th February 1927. Jerome is made
an
Honorary Freeman of Walsall
l to r: Mrs Jerome, Councillor Leckie
(Mayor of Walsall), WW Jacobs, JKJ
Belsize House, a Grade II Listed building at Bradford Street, Walsall has been largely converted to office accommodation but two ground floor rooms have been retained to house a small museum.
As a result both of gifts from the Jerome family over the years and of a Centenary Exhibition in 1959, a considerable collection of photographs, books, letters and personal items connected with Jerome was acquired. This collection, which is still growing, forms the basis for the exhibition itself. The displays seek to portray Jerome, the man and the author, largely through his own words. The nature of the collection itself precluded chronological treatment. Rather, a magazine approach has been adopted with various aspects of Jerome's life and works being highlighted. Indeed, the design layout of the panels was partly based on the magazine 'To-Day' of which Jerome himself was the editor.
The other room in the museum has been refurbished to give the impression of a parlour of the 1850s. This can be no more that an impression but provides an insight into the status of the Jerome family when they were living in Walsall.
The Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council in its wisdom has now withdrawn its grant to the Jerome Birthplace Museum. The Museum, as a result, is now closed until further notice. The Society is currently arranging for contact numbers of some of its members to be posted on this website so that anyone wishing to visit the Museum can do so by appointment. In addition, the JKJ Society is arranging for a short virtual tour of the Museum to be produced. This will be posed on the website within the next month or so.
For further information on the closure and WMBC please visit the JKJ Forum.
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