Local History Centre

I was in Poole with my family, and visited Poole Museum - and the very impressive Local History Centre. It shows what can be done to bring a local history collections and old building to life! Something to aim for ...

A fantastic place!

More comments from the visitors book! Particularly impressive is the comment about the reception that the visitor had at the museum - they really weren't a friend or relation!!!

WANHS Library cataloguing trial using Google Books

I have just catalogued a sample of WANHS library books using Google Books. The results were pretty comprehensive, I could find most books, except for one printed in 1643, a theatre programme and one particular edition of a book published in small runs.

However, using Booksearch across the collection reurns a Server error - not great news.

I have added an RSS feed of newly catalogued books to the blog, and it might be possible to add it to the main website.

Seeking Roman Calne - the Hunt is ON

The Archaeology Field Group are just starting a new project to identify the location of the settlement thought to lie under modern-day Calne. the first stage is to ask people to bring pottery from their back gardens to be identified, and then we go form there.

The project was launched at the Calne 'Party in the Park', with over 150 people visitng the Museum's sand, many attracted by the chance to strike a Roman coin. One person was so interested, he came back with a small 9ct gold disk, which we both had a go at striking. Gold is, however, rather harder than the alloy we use! No wonder the romans used full-scale sledge-hammers to strike coins ...

200th birthday of Devizes Town Hall

Devizes Town Hall is 200 years old this year, and the event is being celebrated by a Ball, with the lucky people that got a ticket dressing, acting and dancing like those that went to the launch party! We hope that the museum will be helping with education activities, and also by having a Georgian- themed Family Day on the day following the Ball. It should be great fun - and some of my colleagues are already thinking about costumes ...

Comments of the week

Just a few of this comments in the visitors book this week. The alliteration of 'wonderful warren of Wiltshire and the World' takes some beating!

Devizes Carnival

The Devizes carnival procession was a great success! The judging was very hard, and I have to say that my favourite was the Silbury Hill Cottage. Unfortunately it came second in its category, but the combination of Fred Flintstone and Phil Harding characters was brilliant!

Carnival Queen's Crown

In the 'Object of the Month' case in the entrance to the museum, we have the crown of the Carnival Queen on display. It was last used a few years ago, and it was lent to us by the family of the last Queen to wear it. We will have it on display until after the Carnival Procession on Saturday.

I have just been asked to be a judge for one of the categories in the procession! I have no idea what I am doing (that makes a change then!) but it should be fun ...

Bush Barrow

We are starting to get into the detailed planning for the Bush Barrow weekend - with the title and design for the exhibition having been chosen. Just a bit more to do, and we will be starting to get the message out!

Devizes Carnival Street Festival

I spent Bank Holiday Monday on the museum stall in the market place, surrounded by all the events that had been laid on by the Carnival! The museum had its regular tombola, which created a lot of interest, especially as old friends dropped in for a chat with the people manning the stall.

I was striking Roman coins, and this proved to be pretty popular, as I spoke to 355 people during the day! No wonder that my voice was a little hoarse by the end of the day. As ever, I met a lot of very interesting people, from someone who is in the English Heritage aerial photo unit, detectorists who will hopefully bring their finds to the museum for recording and even the Carnival Queen! (Un)fortunately, Doug didn't have a camera on him, so we are saved having the event recorded for posterity.

Stonehenge Centre Puts Town On Map (from The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Stonehenge Centre Puts Town On Map (from The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

The Stonehenge Consultation exhibition at the museum was picked up by the Gazette and Herald, with a good interview of Peter Carson, Stonehenge Director. best of all was that the article picked up that the development at Stonehenge could help encourage visitors to come to Devizes and Avebury, which would be good for the town.