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Museum News
2010 News
SPELTHORNE MUSEUM CELEBRATES 30TH BIRTHDAY
On Saturday 1st May, the Mayor of Spelthorne, Cllr Caroline Spencer, will open an exhibition at Spelthorne Museum marking the 30th Anniversary of the opening of the Museum in May 1980.
The museum was originally housed at the Old Fire Station next to the Old Town Hall in Staines Market Square, and was opened in response to public pressure to provide display space for the many archaeological finds being made in the town at the time. The museum quickly expanded to include social and industrial history of the whole borough, including such valued objects as the original Staines hand-pumped fire engine, dating from 1738.
Throughout its life admission to the public has been free of charge, and has been run on an entirely voluntary basis by members of Spelthorne Archaeological Field Group, assisted since 1996 by the Friends of Spelthorne Museum. Both groups have recently merged to form Spelthorne Archaeology and Local History Group. A move was made to the current site adjacent to Staines Library in 2005, followed by extensive refurbishment and the creation of new professionally designed displays, which were opened by Michael Aspel in October 2006.
The new displays and extended opening hours have proved very popular with the public, as have the special themed open days (a recent Second World anniversary even saw a display of military vehicles in the adjacent car park) and the museum welcomes 1,000 visitors through its doors each month.
The Museum Chairman Nick Pollard commented: “It is no small achievement for a group of volunteers to have created and maintained a museum for the people of Spelthorne for the past 30 years, but we are pleased to have the support and help of Spelthorne Council, and are delighted with the museum we have now, and our close relationship with Staines Library”.
Several of the original volunteers are still involved with the running of the museum, but new volunteers are always welcome, contact us on 01784 461804 or at staff@spelthornemuseum.org.uk.
Contact: Nick Pollard 07981 112965
2009 News
WORLD WAR TWO 70th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION AT SPELTHORNE MUSEUM ON SATURDAY 12th SEPTEMBER
In conjunction with Heritage Open Days, and to mark the 70th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War, the most destructive war in history, Spelthorne Museum is holding an all day event on Sat 12th September. Displays will include a replica of an Anderson shelter, (an air raid shelter erected in many local back gardens), part of a model of the Staines area built for the Home Guard to help plan the defence of the district in case of invasion, and artefacts such as gas masks, ration cards, and photos of wartime damage in the Borough.
The Home Guard model has been on public display on only one previous occasion since the end of the war.
Although not in the front line as such, Spelthorne was the recipient of many bombing raids, flying bombs and rockets, due to its proximity to London, nearness to major aircraft factories, and strategic targets such as the reservoirs supplying the capital with water. Factories such as Staines Linoleum and Lagonda were turned over to the production of war materials, metal railings were taken for scrap, and rationing affected everyone. Kempton Park Racecourse became a giant Prisoner of War camp.
The museum feels it is important that younger people in particular understand what an impact the war had on everyday life, like no war before or since has done, and is inviting local veterans of the war along to share their experiences. To add to the wartime atmosphere, there will also be a display of military vehicles accompanied by re-enactors in period uniforms, in the Riverside car park, on the opposite side of Thames Street to the Museum.
The World War Two Commemoration at Spelthorne Museum will run from 11.00 am to 3.00pm, with the museum closing at 4.00pm, although the Home Guard models plus other artefacts will be on display for the rest of September. Spelthorne Museum is entered through Staines Library and entry to the event and museum is free.
Contact: Nick Pollard 07981 112965 npollard@pageaerospace.co.uk
Stone Age Secrets at Spelthorne Museum
On Saturday 1st August, Spelthorne Museum will be sharing ’Stone Age Secrets’ with its visitors. To celebrate National Archaeology Week, the museum will be hosting a special free event focusing on how Stone Age people would have lived in the Spelthorne Area. Activities for all the family will include story-telling, painting, spinning wool, making pots and making necklaces. All activities are free and all materials are provided, and visitors may take away their handiwork. The activities will take place between 11.00am and 3.00pm.
Another feature of the day will be a visit from David Williams, the Finds Liaison Officer for the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Surrey. David will be identifying finds that people have made in their gardens or when out metal-detecting, and adding the information to a database which is building into a picture of archaeological finds across the county and nationally. Visitors are encouraged to bring in their mystery items for identification and recording, and again there is no charge for this. David will be at the museum from 11.00am until 2.00pm.
Museum Chairman Nick Pollard commented: “Spelthorne has a rich prehistoric heritage which is unknown to many people locally. One of the first things visitors see at the museum is the reconstructed head of a woman who lived in Shepperton over 5000 years ago, and the event will look at how she and her neighbours lived. The recording of finds which people make is also vital if the information is not to be lost to the public record.”
Spelthorne Museum is free to all and is entered through Staines Library in Friends Walk (near the Bus Station).
Spelthorne Archaeological Field Group/
Friends of Spelthorne Museum
Talks Programme 2009-2010
Thursday 3rd September 2009 - ‘Staines in Old Postcards’ by Nick Pollard
Thursday 1st October - ‘Neolithic Spelthorne’ by Phil Jones
Thursday 5th November -‘History of Egham’ by Richard Williams
Thursday 10th December - Christmas Social at Spelthorne Museum (members only)
Thursday 7th January 2010 - ‘History of Sunbury Regatta’ by Nick Pollard
Thursday 4th February - ‘Old Ashford’ by Bob Calder
Thursday 4th March - ‘Excavations at Hampton Court’ by Ben Ford
Thursday 1st April - ‘Two Local Artists: Mary Stella Edwards and Judith Ackland’
by Alice Eden
Thursday 6th May - SAFG Annual General Meeting
Unless otherwise stated, all talks take place in the upstairs meeting room at Staines Methodist Church, Thames Street, and commence at 8.00pm.
Free to members, non-members welcome @£1.00 per person.
Further details from Nick Pollard on 01932-564585.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN SPELTHORNE MUSEUM
Saturday 1st August 2009 11am – 3pm for the Festival of British Archaeology Spelthorne Museum presents:
‘Spelthorne’s Stone Age Secrets!’
Family activities in the Museum with a Neolithic theme. Includes pottery, cave painting, jewellery, drop spinning and story telling.
David Williams from the Portable Antiquities Scheme will be there from 11am to 2pm to record archaeological objects found by the public.
Saturday 12th September 2009 Heritage Open Day
From 11am – 3pm ‘Spelthorne at War’ will have displays to commemorate the start of World War Two. Includes a display of military vehicles in the nearby car park and a rare chance to see the Museum’s Home Guard model.
Saturday 26th September 2009 1pm – 3pm
Come to the Museum for a Knap!
A visiting craftsman will be giving demonstrations of ‘Flint knapping.’
This fascinating skill shows how early man turned stone into useful tools.
Thursday 3rd September Start of the winter talk season. Talks are in the Methodist Church, Thames Street, Staines and start at 8pm. A varied selection of archaeological and history based talks.
2008 News
SPELTHORNE MUSEUM PRESS RELEASE
“HELLO DOLLY!” – The Victorians are coming!
Spelthorne Museum invites to you to visit on National Heritage Open Day, Saturday 13th September 2008, between 11am and 3pm.
“Hello Dolly!” is an introduction to life, leisure and laundry in the 1890’s.
There will be activities for all ages, including writing on a slate, making decorated boxes and playing old-fashioned board games.
See the laundry maid wrestle with the mangle!
Try on Victorian style clothing!
Further information from Nick Pollard, 01932 564585
Talks Programme 2008-2009
Thursday 4th September 2008 - ‘The Hundred of Spelthorne’ by Nick Pollard
Thursday 2nd October - ‘Excavations at Horton’ by Paul McCulloch
Thursday 6th November - ‘Staines Bridge’ by Joan Gardam
Thursday 11th December - Christmas Social at Spelthorne Museum (members only)
Thursday 8th January 2009 - ‘Excavations at Yateley’ by Carol White
Thursday 5th February - ‘Windsor, the Garrison Town’ by Brigitte Mitchell
Thursday 5th March - ‘The History of Walton Bridge ’ by Nick Pollard
Thursday 2nd April - ‘The History of Archaeology’ by David Underwood
Thursday 7th May - SAFG Annual General Meeting
Unless otherwise stated, all talks take place in the upstairs meeting room at Staines Methodist Church, Thames Street, and commence at 8.00pm.
Free to members, non-members welcome @£1.00 per person.
Further details from Nick Pollard on 01932-564585.
Are you a slave or an Emperor?
On National Archaeology Day Spelthorne Museum will be transformed into a giant board game where you can try to achieve the ultimate goal of ruling the Roman Empire . This family-friendly game includes hands-on activities such as dressing up in Roman costume, making a slave tag and testing your Latin language skills. By progressing through the Museum, trying the activities and gaining Roman money, the goddess Fortuna may smile on you so that you can improve your status from lower class to ruling class.
“Keeping up with the Caesars – the Ultimate Roman Board Game” was invented by the members of SPARCS, the Spelthorne branch of the Young Archaeologists Club, who will be on hand to ensure the game runs smoothly.
Activities run from 11am to 3pm on Saturday 12th July, at Spelthorne Museum , Elmsleigh Road , Staines . The Museum entrance is in Staines Library in Friends Walk.
Suitable for all ages. FREE!
Contact:Nick Pollard
Museum Chairman
01932 564585
Spelthorne Museum earns Accreditation
20 years of dedication and hard work by Spelthorne Museum has led to the award of ‘Accredited’ status by The Museums Libraries and Archives Partnership (MLA), the government agency responsible for museums.
The status is a recognition of the high standards achieved by Spelthorne Museum, with particular regard to the extent and display of collections, visitor information and services available and the way the museum is governed and managed. The scheme acts as a benchmark for museum standards, enabling bigger and better funding to be acquired.
With around 1000 visitors every month to Spelthorne Museum this status will further ensure that the high standard of visitor information and services continues, safeguarding its valuable collections for future visitor enjoyment.
Nick Pollard, Chairman of Spelthorne Archaeological field Group (Trustees of Spelthorne Museum), said: “The whole museum team are delighted that the hard work involved in bringing the museum up to the latest professional standards has paid off. The Accreditation procedure itself involves a lot of form-filling and updating of procedures, and we are one of the few independently run museums to have achieved this standard. The award reflects the high level of service we offer to people of the Borough. We would also like to acknowledge the help of Spelthorne Borough Council in guaranteeing security of tenure of the museum building, a key part of the requirements.”
Cllr Denise Grant, portfolio holder for children and young people, said: “The Council is delighted that the Museum has achieved full accreditation. They have worked for 25 years to achieve this and it is truly deserved as the volunteers all are so committed and work so hard. The Council believe that the new location of the Museum net to and linked with Staines library has given a wonderful showcase to Spelthorne’s rich history. It is well done to all involved with Spelthorne Museum.”
More information in regard to the Accreditation Scheme is available to download from www.mla.gov.uk
For further details, contact Nick Pollard npollard@pageaerospace.co.uk
07981 112965
From 19th March 2008 'Window on Spelthorne' will feature the Lagonda car works which was sited near Staines Bridge.
Window on Spelthorne is now showing some of the history of Staines Moor.
Spelthorne Museum Roman Day: 20th Feb 2008 10.30 - 12.30 and 2 - 4 pm
Get some hands-on experience of Roman times making lamps, helmets and dressing up while discovering what the Romans got up to in your area. To book a place call 01895 839855 – Free (Organised by Colne Valley Visitor Centre)
On 12th January the Spelthorne Young Archaeologists Club (SPARCs) are putting up their display called 'Middle Age Spread' the result of their research into Medieval Feasting. This means the Museum will not open to the public until 1.30pm on that day. The display will be in the Temporary Display area in the Thames Room until Easter.
'Window on Spelthorne' has items from the archive of Staines Afternoon Women's Guild which held its last meeting in 2004. By preserving records like this Spelthorne Museum is helping future historians discover how we live today.
For September there is a history of the Majestic House and fairfield avenue, a part of Staines which is about to be redeveloped.In October there will bea display of some of the new aquisitions by Spelthorne Museum such as such as a horseshoe dated between 1700 and 1815 with a very unusual dish shape.
Heritage Open Days Heritage Open Days celebrates England's fantastic architecture and culture by offering free access to properties that are usually closed to the public or normally charge for admission. Every year on four days in September, buildings of every age, style and function throw open their doors, ranging from castles to factories, town halls to tithe barns, parish churches to Buddhist temples. It is a once-a-year chance to discover hidden architectural treasures and enjoy a wide range of tours, events and activities which bring to life local history and culture.
Free of charge and literally on people's doorstep, Heritage Open Days is an event for everyone, whatever their background, age and ability.
Co-ordinated nationally by the Civic Trust in partnership with English Heritage, the event thrives on the enthusiasm and expertise of local people. Thousands of volunteers from all walks of life share their knowledge and memories with some 850,000 visitors every year, making Heritage Open Days England's largest voluntary cultural event.
Spelthorne Museum Is holding an exhibition of photos of buildings in Spelthorne by Graham Sweed a local photographer on Saturday 8th September.
More information can be found at http://www.heritageopendays.org/
TALKS PROGRAMME 2007-2008
Thurs 6th September - ‘Local Photos from the Graham Smeed Collection’ by Nick Pollard
Thurs 4th October - ‘Waynflete’s Tower, Esher’ by Penny Rainbow
Thurs 1st November - ‘Roman Gardens’ by Sheelah Davison
Thurs 13th December - Xmas Social in the Museum (Members only)
Thurs 3rd January - ‘Exploring a Medieval Landscape – Chattern Hill’ by Bob Calder
Thurs 7th February - ‘Exploring Surrey’s Past’ by Giles Carey
Thurs 6th March - ‘Construction of the Queen Mary Reservoir’ by Nick Pollard
Thurs 3rd April - ‘Excavations at Syon Park’ by Bob Cowie
Thurs 1st May - S.A.F.G. A.G.M + ‘Archaeology of Scilly’ by Christine Mitchell
Scouts Centenary
Spelthorne Museum hosted a display to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Boy Scout movement by Lord Baden-Powell.
People Places and Landscape.
Running throughout July and August, this display looks at how human influence has brought about the landscape we live in today, from Neolithic farmers to Roman road builders and town planners and medieval church builders.
On Saturday 14th July, to launch National Archaeology Week, there will be a special event at the museum.
At Home in Historic Spelthorne
What was it like living in Spelthorne 1000, 2000, even 3000 years ago? What would your home have looked like? What would you have seen when you stepped outside your front door? Come to Spelthorne Museum during National Archaeology Week to find out. If you pop into the museum any time between 11 and 3 on Saturday July 14th you can find out more about home life in Iron Age, Roman and Saxon Spelthorne. You can make your own roundhouse model, handle the remains of Staines ’ Roman houses, create a Roman style mosaic, and work out the landscape of Saxon Spelthorne from its place names. All activities are free of charge and suitable for all ages.
May is Museums and Galleries Month at Spelthorne Museum
A new exhibition at Spelthorne Museum will encourage members of the public to contribute to our knowledge of the History of the Borough.
"Mapping Memories" opens on Wednesday 2nd May to coincide with Museums and Galleries Month, a nationwide celebration of the rich heritage of this country.
The exhibition will consist of a large map of the Borough, illustrated with images of important sites and events in the area. Visitors will be encouraged to add their own memories of places and events to the map, building up a mosaic of information about Spelthorne’s history as seen by its inhabitants.
You can add your own memories, for example on:
or any other day-to-day memories that stick in your mind by filling out a "Memories Sheet" available at the museum and posting it in the box provided or by emailing them to info@spelthornemuseum.org.uk
Nick Pollard, Chairman of the Museum’s Trustees, commented: “It’s a fascinating reversal of the usual process in which a museum decides what to put on display to the public – instead we ask the public what they remember and think is important about their history. The information we receive will be added to our archives, but also help plan how we present history to visitors in the future.”
Spelthorne Museum is entered through Staines Library and is open during normal library opening hours from Monday to Saturday. Admission is free.
Special Opening Arrangements
Spelthorne Museum will not be open as usual between Monday 30th July and Wednesday 1st August because the normal access through Staines Library is not available. However, special arrangements have been made for opening both parts of the Museum on Wednesday 1st August between 2pm and 4pm with access from the Elmsleigh Road door. Normal arrangements will resume on Thursday 2nd August.
Staines Library Closure
5th to 20th March 2007 During Staines Library's Closure from 5th to 20th March inclusive, Spelthorne Museum will be making special arrangements for opening. Opening times will be Wednesday and Friday afternoons from 2-4 and Saturday afternoons 1-4. Access will be via Elmsleigh Road, opposite the Community Centre. We will be putting A-boards out to help visitors find us.Normal service will be resumed on Wednesday 21st March.
For further enquiries please ring Julia Gibbs on 01276 855380 or contact us at info@spelthornemuseum.org.uk
Saturday 21 October 2006
On Saturday 21 October 2006 the newly refurbished Spelthorne Museum was opened by Michael Aspel.
The Museum is entirely run by volunteers, if you are interested in volunteering behind the scenes, on the education team or front of house dealing with visitors please get in touch. Telephone: 01784 461804 or e-mail info@spelthornemuseum.org.uk The nearest car parks are the Tothill multi storey or the Riverside Car Park in Memorial Gardens. SPELTHORNE MUSEUM RE-OPENS IN 25th ANNIVERSARY YEAR
Spelthorne Museum will re-open on Saturday 30th July, after being closed for 18 months following the sale of its former home at the Old Fire Station. The Museum will be opened by the Mayor of Spelthorne, Councillor Pat Weston, and will be open to the public from 1.30pm on that day. The new site for the Museum is in the former Car Park offices, adjoining Staines Library. The entrance is in Elmsleigh Road, opposite Staines Community Centre, and initial opening hours will be Wednesday and Friday 2.00pm to 4.00 pm, and Saturday 1.30pm to 4.30pm. Admission is free, as it has been since the Museum first opened to the public in 1980. Opening displays will include Prehistoric Spelthorne, Romans in Staines (including a fine model of Staines, the Roman Ad Pontes in AD155), the Staines Linoleum Industry, and a large display of old photographs of the towns and villages of Spelthorne. The Museum is run on an entirely voluntary basis by members of Spelthorne Archaeological Field Group and The Friends of Spelthorne Museum, supported by Spelthorne Borough Council, and volunteers to help at the museum are always welcome. Chairman of the Museum Trustees, Nick Pollard said "We are tremendously pleased to be re-opening the Museum in this, our 25th Anniversary year, and to be able to present the history and archaeology of the Borough to its inhabitants. The past 18 months have been very difficult for the Museum volunteer staff, but hopefully the problems are behind us now, and we look forward to working closely with the Borough to achieve a really first rate Museum. This opening is the first stage towards a larger, professionally designed museum which will do justice to the long history of our area."
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