Yearbook 2010

Ashwell Village Museum

For the Ashwell Yearbook 2011

You should all be aware now of our ‘Local and Family History Resource Centre’ and an on-line ‘Community Archive’.  The Heritage Lottery Fund part of the project ended in April but there is still an enormous amount of work to do to make everything fully available to the public. Evan now there are not enough computers on a Thursday afternoon to keep everybody working.

A leaflet promoting the new facilities was delivered by the ‘Friends’ to every house in the village. They also included a copy of the museum guide and an invitation to our launch day on 12th June.

In the morning we entertained and informed over 200 villagers. Many had their portraits taken, brought in local finds to be recorded and asked lots of questions about Ashwell history.

Photos of finds etc

In the evening we had a film show that concentrated on material from the last 30 years much of which had not been seen before. This had to be repeated by popular demand in November.

The Resource Centre will be gathering as much available information about Ashwell and the surrounding area as possible to form a library of books, map, images and data files to promote further research. It will also act as a porthole to the hidden treasures in the museum’s collection.

The on-line Community Archive is attracting more contributions. Several strands of enquiry have been set up in addition to the First World War Veterans there is now information about the old Pubs and House histories (from the Ashwell Alive Blue Plaque Scheme) If you go to www.ashwellmuseum.org.uk you will be able to add comments and corrections and also ask your own questions.

You will also be able to see the documentation of the museum’s collection, including over 4,500 pictures of Ashwell in all shapes and forms.

kick start it by uploading most of the museums documentation and digital images but we need you comments and memories now. We will include portraits of people and places, genealogical notes but also subjects that would not find a place for discussion elsewhere. I’m sure you have a question or a fact to share about the village.

We will be holding special events and be open longer hours to allow all this to happen. There will be plenty of opportunity to record and research the byways of past and present Ashwell on our plush new facilities.

All this could not be accomplished without the team of volunteers and the Friends who form the heart of the museum and keep it clean and running throughout the year. There are work groups on Monday evenings and Thursday afternoons when we document, display and preserve the collection. It takes all sorts of skills to run the museum to modern standards and we have room for many roles to be filled including: IT manager, web editor, Display Designer, Temporary Exhibition Officer, Publicity and publications coordinator! 

Peter Greener

Honorary Curator

enquiries@ashwellmuseum.org.uk

Ashwell 742956