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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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British Museum
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(London WC1) The national collection of antiquities and one of the great museums of the world. Founded in 1753, initially to house the collection of Hans *Sloane, it was opened to the public in 1759 in Montague House. The present museum was built on the same site in 1823–47 to a design by *Smirke. The rapidly expanding collection covered all areas of knowledge, and was particularly strong in printed books and manuscripts. A magnificent domed reading room was built in 1852–7 in the central courtyard, to create the British Museum Library in which Karl *Marx and scores of other famous writers have worked.
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In 1994 the museum launched a £100m scheme by Norman Foster to reclaim this central courtyard after the *British Library moved out. In the same development the *Museum of Mankind returned to the parent museum; but an earlier offspring, the *Natural History Museum, long ago achieved independence. Among the best known of the British Museum's treasures are the *Elgin marbles, the *Portland vase, the *Rosetta stone, the *Mildenhall treasure, the *Sutton Hoo ship burial, the Lewis chessmen (see *Lewis with Harris) and, a very recent addition, *Lindow man.
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