Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum is an independent charitable trust located in the King's House, a Grade I listed building situated opposite the West Front of Salisbury Cathedral. Eight galleries for permanent displays show the Museum's Designated archaeology collection as well as extensive art, social history, costume and ceramics collections. Three galleries reserved for temporary exhibitions enable us to show a changing programme of exhibitions throughout the year. The formation of the Museum in 1860 was based on the Drainage Collection – a group of finds from the medieval water channels that used to run through the streets of Salisbury. Today, the Museum continues to collect objects with local relevance. The majority of our art collection comprises historical pieces. In particular, we hold some of the earliest known depictions of Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral, and works by J. M. W. Turner and John Constable. Much of the collection has been acquired through gifts and bequests, or enabled by the generous support of individuals and grant aid bodies. It continues to grow in this way. More recently, we have begun expanding the opportunities for showing and acquiring contemporary art. This has seen both local artists and artists-in-residence working with our collections, opportunities to show contemporary art through affiliations with other art organisations, and additions to the collection through commissions and gifts.