See what is happening at the Museum in the run up to re-opening at the Town Hall in 2015.
On
Friday 24th May 10am-11am
Thursday 13th June 10am-11am
Friday 19th July 10am-11am
To book please ring 01462 434476
or e-mail hitchin.museum@north-herts.gov.uk
Tours are FREE but must be booked in advance as places are limited.
Work has started at Hitchin Museum, on taking down the Hertfordshire Yeomanry Displays, and selecting what material we will be showing in the new North Hertfordshire Museum. We are very lucky to have Col John Sainsbury assisting us in this task.
The top photograph shows the Full Dress Tunic of Sergeant Thomas Taylor. Below that is a very poignant item; a handmade set of dominoes made in a Japanese Prisoner of War Camp in Thailand in 1945. Other gems include a flag captured from the Ottoman army after the seige of Tyre in 1918 and an early twentieth century regimental drum. We are trying to make sure that the new displays represent all the ranks of the army, not just the officers, and to tell personal stories as well as the overall history of the Yeomanry.
On 27 March, eight of us plus David Sims went by minibus to visit the National Football Museum in Manchester, all funded by our football grant.
The team outside the Football Museum
The museum was originally based in Preston, and opened in its glossy new town centre home last year. First of all we were shown round by Laura, a lovely enthusiastic member of their front-of-house team. After a pie and mash lunch, Laura plus their Education Officer and Sally, the Curator, spent most of the afternoon with us, explaining how they had had to move all the objects from Preston, how they thought of the different themes for the new displays, and gave useful tips on working with museum designers.
It was great to see the enthusiasm of all the staff for their museum, even those who hadn’t really known much about football before working there. We hope to continue the relationship, lending them items from our Football Collection and taking back some loaned items when the new museum opens.