Mummers, Maypoles and Milkmaids

 Events, History
Apr 142013
 

A journey through the ritual year

Opens 27 April
Costumed processions, symbolic dramatisations, traditional dances and fire ceremonies mark the changing seasons and celebrate nature’s bounty. Many of these customs claim ancient origin. This exhibition brings together 50 photographs of regional rituals performed throughout the year in England and is supported by objects from the Museum’s collection.
Oxford Museum
Fletcher’s House, Fletcher’s House
Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX201SN
United Kingdom

A brilliant day out

 Events, History
Apr 142013
 

Open House at The Museums Resource Centre
Sunday 12 May
Through guided tours and talks discover more about our collections, what we collect, why we collect it and how we use the collections for research, education and conservation. The day will showcase recent work on our collections by staff and volunteers in addition to behind the scenes look at the museum store and conservation labs. Discover some fascinating facts about a newly acquired banner and a collection of items from Longworth. Archaeology volunteers will also be on hand to share the results of some of their recent work.
10am – 4pm – Free admission
Location and contact details of Museums Resource Centre

Soooo

 Events, Fun, History, Life, Personal
Feb 242013
 

I’ve been getting about a bit these days

Indulging my passion for History by volunteering at the Ashmolean and the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock.

It all started at the Ashmolean’s Arty Party family fun day ;)

http://www.davidfisherphotography.co.uk/galleries/ashmolean090213/

I helped to man the table in the Asian art area taking the children’s inspired drawings and making them into pendants using coloured card string and sticky back plastic ;)

Was brilliant fun with some lovely people and was good to learn that I can cope with loads of children

Then my first day volunteering at the Oxford Museum had me getting the lay of the galleries, tidying up and being surrounded by children in their amazing Dinosaur room.

Then in the afternoon Claire Cadwaladr and other volunteers and I got a guided tour of the Museum Warehouse over at Standlake. I was a very very happy bunny ;) . I’m back for more this week, helping out at Reception and in their lovely cafe.

On Friday night was another Ashmolean Live event, this one about Music:

“Working in partnership with the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Music the evening will explore the relationship between music and technology over the last century through free workshops, demonstrations, and performances.”

We lurked about the Museum handing out programs, floor plans and helped the visiting public find their way and enjoy the event.  The Theremin artist, Lydia Kavina overlooking the Atrium was magical. You might remember it’s sound from the theme of Midsomer Murders. Also captivating was the fascinating science lab Ethometric Museum created in The European Art Gallery by Ray Lee.

Ray Lee at the Science Museum a few years ago

The Live events are a wonderful and free way to wander around the museum til late after work, stumbling upon the unexpected or guided by the program. As volunteers we got to look around and take part in the event ;)

 

Weald and Downland Museum

 History, History, Life, News, Personal
Jul 012012
 
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Weald and Downland Museum, a set on Flickr.<— Click for more pics

I had a lovely day yesterday down in peaceful sussex at this beautiful venue amongst ancient houses.  The Open Air Museum contains many old houses rescued from demolition, taken down piece by piece and rebuilt to make a little village.

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/

It was a Herbs for Health course given by the lovely Christina Stapley

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/Traditional-Rural-Trades-and-Crafts/Herbs-for-health-1-July-2011-FULL

The course was given in the hall of one of the most beautiful medieval buildings I’ve ever had the pleasure to walk into.

After gathering from the nearby garden we used the stone hearth in the centre of the floor to concoct ointments and honeys while the smoke rose lazily up into the rafters.

Was a wonderful magical and unforgettable day.

Lincoln Tweetup

 Events, History, Life
May 282012
 

Having been to the Coventry Tweetup I had planned on heading up to Lincoln last weekend but due to well not having a job nor any money I wasn’t able to ;(.

It sounds like Jonathan Foyle organised another treasure of an event though

Follow the Hashtag #lincolntweetup to see what they got up to http://lmgtfy.com/?q=%23LincolnTweetup

On Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=%23Lincolntweetup

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23lincolntweetup

Here is a sample of some of the Tweets:

“@nif78: Lincoln Cathedral timelapse for you evening twitter dwellers http://t.co/kQuJ6Y2k #lincolntweetup”

“@nif78: Lincoln iphonography from Friday and Saturday #lincolntweetup http://t.co/u866E322″

“@MarkBeecham: “What a hoot we had at the #LincolnTweetup …” http://t.co/4YLuWvLl”

“@JonathanFoyle: Now the late C12 Chapter House, and a perspective much loved by @fotofacade #Lincolntweetup http://t.co/OrOzaikM”

“@noelene: Lincoln Cathedral, May 2012. #lincolntweetup t.co/fnmd651p”

“@fotofacade: iPhone stereographic view of the crossing at Lincoln #lincolntweetup http://t.co/Fw6BA9Fw Glorious Lincoln Cathedral.”

and it looks like there will be more:

“@JonathanFoyle: Looking at a Peterborough Cathedral and Canterbury Cathedral tweetup later this year. Some great photos from the #Lincolntweetup on Saturday”

Follow Jonathan for future events and well cos he is a seriously cool dude
https://twitter.com/#!/JonathanFoyle
http://www.built.org.uk/

CEO World Monuments Fund Britain http://www.wmf.org.uk

Renovating your period property: Whats lurking up your chimney? – Country Life

 History, History, Life
Jan 102012
 

   As recently as the early 20th century homeowners were warding off witches and evil spirits by placing shoes, and even dead cats in the walls, which can surprise owners carrying out renovations The Museum at Northampton, historically the centre of shoe manufacturing in England, has an Index of Concealed Shoes, which registers all footwear [...]

BBC News – Bronze Age boats discovered at a quarry in Whittlesey

 History, History, Life, News
Dec 092011
 

Bronze Age boats, spears and clothing dating back 3,000 years and described as the “finds of a lifetime” have been discovered near Peterborough. Archaeologists from the University of Cambridge have unearthed hundreds of items at a quarry in Whittlesey. The objects, discovered at one of the most significant Bronze Age sites in Britain, have been [...]