The ‘Mystery Object’ table
The Town Crier looking at our Samian ware
The stall in Hitchin
Today North Herts. Museum and the British Schools Museum joined forces running a stall in Market Place, Hitchin. The event was organised by our grant-aided Volunteer Development Officer Jade Taylor (who is based at Stevenage Museum, but also works at both museums in Hitchin). Jade has been running the Museum Champions Scheme, which is encouraging new volunteers at all three sites. It was lovely being able to see people enjoying museum objects at close quarters; something we’ve missed recently. It was also good to hear how excited people are about the new museum, and a great opportunity for us to tell people about it.
I have been working in the new museum recently and it is looking fantastic – and it will get even better when the objects for display start appearing in the cases!
Some of these will be recognised from previous displays in Hitchin Museum and Letchworth Museum and others will be on view for the first time.
There will also be many objects in store but we can look forward to seeing some of these in special exhibitions and displays.
From time to time I reflect on some of the items I have worked with(cleaning/photographing/packing) and which I hope to see amongst the wonderful displays we will be treated to!
This smock was worn by a shepherd in Wallington (Hertfordshire) and each side (front and back) is the same.
Smocks were worn as protective outer garments and were made from rectangles and squares of fabric. Some of these pieces were smocked to give the garment its shape but the smocking was also decorative.
I can imagine the shepherd out in the fields, wearing this comfortable smock, which as well as covering his clothes also hopefully gave him some protection from the elements.
It’s exciting to see the new museum taking shape, as contractors install cases and measure objects ready for mounting. As part of the work to get the new displays ready, museum staff have been busy putting the finishing touches to labels, and moving some of the larger objects on to site.
This week, the large Lucas painting that hung on the stairs at Hitchin Museum was taken down and moved, ready to be mounted in its new display position early next year.
Hitchin Marketplace, oil on canvas, Samuel Lucas Snr (1805-1870), 1840
Some of the other things we moved included a wheel pattern, a mangle, a Polyphon, a door, a ‘Penny farthing’ bicycle and a large dolls’ house.
Dolls’ house, 1860-1880
The old display galleries at both of the former museums are now full of boxes of packed objects as we continue to pack the stored collections ready to move, and staff have recently been packing boxes of books and files from the offices of each museum. At the new museum, objects and graphic panels are starting to go into cases, and everything is taking shape. We can’t wait to welcome the public into the amazing new museum when it’s finished!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at North Hertfordshire Museum!
A romantic view of eighteenth century Hitchin by F.L. Griggs