Saturday 15 October 2011

Autumn Sale - 22 October

10am to 2pm. Come along and find an early Christmas present amongst the plants, produce, gifts and books available.

Plus bric-a-brac and tombola. Refreshments will be available.

Open 10am to 2pm.

Donations welcome - please bring along to the Museum on Friday 21 October between 2pm and 5pm.

All funds raised support the work of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society which owns and administers the Wiltshire Heritage Museum and Archive and Library - holding unique collections preserving Wiltshire's history.

Free Entry.

Romans vs Celts Family Day - 30 October

It's AD43 and the Roman armies have invaded Britain. Join us for an action-packed day, and find out how the Celtic Warriors responded to the invasion. Which side will you take?

There will be activities for all the family including Celtic pattern making, mosaics, pottery making, Roman helmet making and an opportunity to meet Roman soldiers and discover their daily routine. There will be a magical Celtic storyteller, face painting and and opportunity to decorate a Roman sword, try on costumes, strike an Iron Age coin, dig for Roman objects and meet a Celt to find out if they were as fearsome as history tells us. The day is free for children, £2 for adults and a small charge for some of the activities, including the Celtic Storyteller.

11am to 4pm.

Half-Term Holiday Activities at Museum

Workshops are being held on three days during the half-term holidays, and taking inspiration from our own collections, there is a different theme for each day.

On Tuesday 25 October children can be inspired by some of the Museum’s oddest objects to make their own Witch Bottle and engraved talisman for protection at Halloween! Mythical Creatures is the theme on Wednesday 26 October and, to celebrate The Big Draw, children will be able to meet a curious creature from the Museum’s own collection and create their own mythical creature. Parents can join in the fun on Thursday 27 October and be Rock Detectives, discovering more about rocks and fossils through a variety of activities.

Two workshops are held each day, starting at 11am and 1.30pm, the morning workshop is suitable for under 7s and the afternoon for ages 8 and over. Both workshops last approx 1½ hours. Cost is £3.50 per child and prior booking is essential - contact the Education Officer, Rebecca Warren on 01380 727369 or e-mail us.

Tuesday 4 October 2011

WEST KENNET LONG BARROW - Lecture

West Kennet Long Barrow - Investigation and Reconstruction is the title of the AGM lecture to be given by Julian Richards at Devizes Town Hall on Saturday 8 October.

This is the story of one of Wiltshire's most iconic prehistoric monuments, West Kennet Long Barrow, and of its investigation and subsequent restoration during the 1950s. This is also the story of its excavators, Stuart Piggott and Richard Atkinson, the stars of a pioneering TV documentary - archaeologists who are now almost as iconic as the monument itself. You will never look at West Kennet in the same light again.

Please note, the lecture is open to non-members (cost £5) and is scheduled to start at approximately 4pm. However as this follows the Annual General Meeting of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (start time 2.30pm), the start time may vary to that advertised.

Cost £5 (free for WANHS members). Contact the Museum for tickets.

YATESBURY FIELDWALKING

The beans are in and the dig/field walking in the trench and POW camp areas at Yatesbury is on for this weekend 7/8 Oct.

Meet at the village hall car park 10:00 Saturday and Sunday.

Due to the delay this now coincides with the WANHS AGM and lecture on Saturday 8th and the Downland Walk in memory of Shaun Ogbourne on Sunday 9th. This means that for once there is plenty of choice to suit everyone's tastes.

If you wish you can go to Yatesbury for just a morning or one day or both that will be fine. If you are going please let Dan Miles know by email arqueotrad@yahoo.es.

Tuesday 11 October - Archive & Library Closed (PM)

Tuesday 11th October - The Archive & Library will be closed from 1pm for staff training. We apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused.