Day one of this week’s @Heritage_NGOs#SouthernProgress in Sussex and I had the chance to return to the wonderful @WealddownMuseum for the first time since the pandemic. Great to catch up with @heritage_notes & chat to volunteers. Here’s a little tour 👇
Firstly big ups to the education team @WealddownMuseum - some great & engaging activities around the site. This week there’s a model railway & chance to create mini medieval buildings, vintage hobby activities & games. Activities vary each week. More here wealddown.co.uk/whats-on/famil…
It’s a working site where visitors can try their hand at traditional techniques & the team farm, cook Tudor meals & use the environment to provide materials (such as for the stove). I love that @WealddownMuseum is a place where traditional skills are practiced & passed on.
Bayleaf farmstead was a favoured house when I visited as a child - we loved the fire & the early in-house toilet.
I also love the Medieval shop from Horsham @WealddownMuseum - reconstructed, how it was found & what replaced it.
Here’s the Bayleaf Privy by the way & the nearby Tudor kitchen where you can (when it’s open) sample Tudor cooking
Here’s my perennial 80s vibe pictures of me as a child visiting @WealddownMuseum - so it’s great to bring my girls & pass on the memories - definitely an inspirational place.
This visit I popped into a new archaeological reconstruction of a Anglo-Saxon house I hadn’t seen before. It’s fabulous - separate sleeping compartment areas, tiny holes in the wall for light & pre-Norman techniques of tree wrighting. Here’s the project wealddown.co.uk/buildings/angl…
Workshop, chapel, schoolhouse & mill in the Victorian village area
And I’ve always liked the Toll Cottage
The new cafe & shop area is transformational for the entrance with great views across the site
So interesting to hear about what’s going on, challenges & projects. Thanks for having me today @WealddownMuseum@heritage_notes
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Something a little different today. Joining the @ifrauk & @odeuropa for a day looking at #olfactoryheritage and why our intangible olfactory heritage matters. Also context of ratification of the convention on intangible cultural heritage. Great to share a table with @chattyplatty
A call for better storytelling about the history of smell & why olfactory heritage matters. We will be looking at the value of UK ‘smellscapes’ & importance of aroma in museums & heritage venues. We will be looking at perfume heritage in the U.K. #olfactoryheritage
First session this morning - #olfactoryheritage & why it matters with @UniOfYork & @ucl - you can access one of Will’s books here library.oapen.org/bitstream/hand…
Good morning from an exciting day ahead celebrating architectural heritage from 1975 to 2025 & ahead to 2075. Hosted by @HTF_ @Historic_Houses @SAVEtoReuse with @ArchHFund Europa Nostra UK @KingsFdn & @Heritage_NGOs - our morning kicks off with Dan Cruickshank. 🧵
Dan says 1975 was an astonishing year for conservation. Council of Europe statement & @SAVEtoReuse report on state of architecture. There were student led riots demonstrating against politics & the established order, big business, big development. General strike. Age of protest.
People mobilised around things they believed was right. This included buildings & places. Public support crucial in unlocking change. Battle to save Covent Garden. Both market & the working communities. Protests on streets. Success. Buildings are able to adapt. Look at it now.
Kicking off a day with @Historic_Houses at @Sothebys celebrating & reflecting on the 75th Anniversary of the Gowers Report & the formation of the Waverley Committee. Looking at lessons for today. 🧵
Our keynote, shadow Heritage Minister, Lord Parkinson reflects on the need for more sense of history in decision-making. The departure to America of the Blue Boy in the 20s led to public emotion & 90k visitors to its farewell - there was a need to tackle the issue: Waverley
Part of the challenge - acquisition budgets to save items for the nation. Inventive thinking including recent sharing of a Reynolds will be needed in the future. bbc.com/news/entertain…
Out and about today for @Heritage_NGOs in Bath & Bristol. Our first stop of the day - @FairfieldHouse_ home to Emperor Haile Selassie I & now a lively, sacred & historic place of importance for many communities including Ethiopians, Rastafari & Bath residents. 🧵
We chatted to a local charity group who work at Fairfield each fortnight, sewing bags to sell for good causes. A great example of heritage hosting creativity & wellbeing activities. Also on site is the Windrush Centre with an exhibition of community donated items.
So many fascinating connections from WW2 to Selassie to Pankhurst. @FairfieldHouse_ is gradually amassing collections including Selassie’s pianola
Here at the @ACEnterprises awards this evening. It was a real privilege to be a judge this year. First up - great to see our member @DelapreAbbey win catering initiative of the year & @nationaltrust win best e-commerce initiative
Next @The_Globe win best event with inclusive Anthony & Cleopatra. Best publication to @britishlibrary with @ShakespeareBT running up. Best venue hire is @glasgowlife & best ticketing initiative @FoundlingMuseum. Best licensing initiative @nationaltrust for collab w/ Craghoppers
Good also to see @AshmoleanMuseum & @EnglishHeritage running up. The best visitor experience is @GrimmAndCo, the best retail initiative is @MuseumoftheHome, the marketing campaign of the year goes to @CastleHowardEst
Emma & I explored @Heritage_NGOs member via @unibirmingham @winterbournehg today. An arts & crafts house & botanical garden. Come & have a look inside…