Tuesday 26 January 2010

"You can get it at Nicol's" - talk about Pewsey's Department Store

Pewsey Heritage Centre are holding at talk about Nicol's Department Store on Saturday 27 February at 7.30pm at Pewsey Methodist Church. The talk is being given by Richard Giles, and the cost is £4.

Thursday 21 January 2010

Wiltshire Council approves Stonehenge Visitor Centre Plans

English Heritage has welcomed the news that Wiltshire Council have approved the Planning Application for the new Stonehenge Visitor Centre. For details - see the article on the Visitor Centre website, along with news of a consultation on the closure of by-ways in the World Heritage Site.

Monday 18 January 2010

Wednesday lunchtime lecture - Stonehenge and latest developments

The Lunctime lecture is being held this week, following the snow last week! David Dawson will be talking about the latest developments at Stonehenge, including the Vistor Centre and some new reseach. Bring your sandwiches along - talk starts at 1.15 and costs £2.50 with a free coffee and biscuit 9or two!).

New AFG newsletter now online

The latest AFG newsletter about work on the line of a Roman road at Donhead St Mary is now online.

History of the World - 10 objects from Wiltshire Museums

Today sees the launch of the BBC Radio 4 series - A History of the World. Told throught he stories of 100 objects, the series focusses on 100 objects from the British Museum. Here in Wiltshire, 10 objects have been chosen to tell the story of Wiltshire from its museums, including the Bush Barrow lozenge.

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Monday 11 January 2010

Wiltshire museums join forces to tell story of Stonehenge

English Heritage, the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, and the Wiltshire Heritage Museum have agreed to collaborate on presenting and interpreting the story of the Stonehenge World Heritage Site.

The two museums will make loans from their collections to English Heritage for display in the proposed new visitor centre, while English Heritage will assist the two museums with their own displays and enhancing their archives to support the co-ordinated approach.

For the first time, the proposed new visitor centre at Airman’s Corner would have dedicated exhibition space, opening up great opportunities for making the story of Stonehenge and its setting accessible and engaging for everyone, whatever their age and interests.

Recent discoveries and research will also add to the complexity and richness of the information to be presented and interpreted.

Loraine Knowles, Stonehenge Project Director at English Heritage, said: “The future exhibition at the proposed new visitor centre will be part of an overall experience that will draw on all the senses and lead people to a greater understanding not just of Stonehenge but the generation of the people who built it.

"The knowledge and collections that local museums can contribute to creating this experience is considerable and I am very pleased that we are working together.”

Adrian Green, director of the Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with English Heritage and Wiltshire Heritage Museum.

"We look forward to supporting the development of the visitor centre, and also redisplaying our own nationally important collections from the World Heritage Site to complement the new exhibition at Stonehenge.”

David Dawson, director of the Wiltshire Heritage Museum in Devizes, said: “This is an exciting development that means that together we can present the full story of Stonehenge, and encourage visitors to explore Wiltshire.”

Saturday 9 January 2010

Sunday 10 Jan - MUSEUM CLOSED

Due to the weather conditions, we have decided to close the Museum on Sunday 10 January. Our apologies.

Friday 8 January 2010

9 Jan - Sam Moorhead lecture POSTPONED

Unfortunately the lecture by Sam Moorhead due to take place this Satuday has been canceled because of the weather conditions. We will be arranging a new date shortly, and tickets will be valid for the new date.

Museum open Saturday 9 Jan, but closed Sunday 10 Jan.

The Museum will be open from 10-3 this Saturday, but will be closed on Sunday.

Trip to British Museum Moctezuma exhibition cancelled!

We have decided to cancel the trip to the British Museum Moctezuma exhibition that was to take place on 12 January, because of the travel conditions. We will be refunding the cost. Unfortunately, as the exhibition is due to close soon, it will not be possible to re-arrange the trip.

Museum open as normal today! Friday 8 Jan

Thursday 7 January 2010

Thursday 7 January - free entry today only!

As the schools are closed, the museum is open free today for adults, as well as children. A great chance to see our WW2 exhibition!

Sam Moorhead talk on Saturday 9 Jan - update to be posted on Saturday

We are still hoping that the lectue on Saturday will be on, if Sam Moorhead of the British Museum is able to get here!. We hope that we will be able to confirm if the lecture is going ahead by 10.30am on Saturday morning on the Blog.

Wednesday 6 January 2010

Devizes Literary and Scientific Institution - new history!

We have just received copies of a new brief history of the Devizes Literary and Scientific Institution by Elizabeth Gibbs. The Institution has a fascinating history, and was founded in 1833, and moved to the present building on Northgate Street in 1907.
You can order the book online from our website!

Monday 4 January 2010

Museum cat name chosen!


Our new museum cat's name has been chosen by Luke! Our cat, a cuddly toy who has been sleeping on the reception desk, is called Fuzzy.