Friends of the Centre for West Midlands History Visit to the Avery
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Newsletter Issue 17 Friends of January 2014 the Centre for West Midlands History Sharing the Past with the Future Visit to The Avery Museum Nowhere links us to one of the greatest periods of our Empire revealed that all commerce is based on weights history more than the site on which the Soho Foundry and consequently so are all currencies, with most of them stands. Nothing more appositely captures the lifeblood have names derived from the words used for weights. of the commerce that was stimulated here than the The means used to establish weight are all represented, history of weights and measures contained in the from primitive balances, based on the yoke, to strain outstanding collection of the Avery Museum. gauge measurements used dynamically to determine the The visit started with a tour of the site. The Foundry weight of vehicles passing over them. Trading standards, itself is being restored by English Heritage but there is postal history and employment law are some of the areas much more that deserves to be preserved. The cottages in which weighing has been an essential tool and means associated with William Murdoch are Grade II listed and have always been found to meet each demand. Tracing the original retort used by Murdoch remains but is its origins back to 1728, The Avery has been involved in not accessible. many of them and has played a leading part in new tech- Entering the museum one was struck by the great quantity nologies, such as computing. As Andrew pointed out, on of artefacts. Once our guide, Andrew Lound, started his this site the Industrial Revolution has not stopped. account of 6000 years of weighing history, the displays Andrew’s presentation was so full of detailed and became the props for a captivating performance that kept fascinating information that it deserves at least a second members spellbound. Items from ancient Egypt, from hearing and it is to be hoped that the Centre will repeat primitive societies in Africa and from the Roman this visit in the future. Sue Tungate Friends of the Centre for West Midlands History An Insider’s View of the by Sue Tungate Staffordshire Hoard Members of the ‘Friends’ of the Centre for West No-one has yet been able to say why the hoard was Midlands History packed the lecture theatre on Monday deposited where it was, near Watling Street. This was one 11th November 2013 to listen to a fascinating talk from of the major thoroughfares of Roman Britain, and was Dr David Symons about the Staffordshire Hoard, the probably still in use when the hoard was buried. The Hoard largest collection of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver contains a rare Christian item, a folded cross with an metalwork ever found, anywhere in the world. inscription in Latin, misspelt in two places, which reads ‘Rise up, O Lord, and may thy enemies be dispersed and those David Symons, who has been involved with the find since it who hate thee be driven from thy face.’ was uncovered in a field near Lichfield on 5 July 2009, gave a fascinating account of an insider’s view of the discovery. Since the find, a research and conservation programme, The Staffordshire Hoard consists of more than 3,500 items, led by experts, has been launched and will be underway made from 5 kilograms of gold, and nearly 1 ½ kilograms for many years. A Mercian Trail is being developed to tell of silver, and 3,500 garnets. Nearly all the items are the Anglo-Saxon history of the region, bringing together martial or warlike in character, with an amazing number of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, The Potteries Museum sword pommel caps and hilt plates, many of which feature & Art Gallery, Lichfield Cathedral, Lichfield District Council, beautiful garnet inlays or animals in elaborate filigree. The Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire County pommel cap is the tip of the hilt of a sword that anchors Council. Watch this space for more news on the Hoard! the hilt fittings to the sword blade, and to find 97 together is unprecedented. The red garnets in the hoard came from All members of the ‘Friends’ are welcome to attend the as far away as India or even Sri Lanka. Scientific analysis is People, Places and Things’ seminars, which are held at being carried out to discover more. 4.30pm on Mondays, as listed in events. The artefacts may have come from the 7th or 8th centuries, originating perhaps in the Kingdom of Mercia. Birmingham History Day November 2013 The 2013 history day attracted a large enthusiastic audience, building to the community throughout the twentieth century. who heard a wide range of excellent talks about Birmingham. James Dixon talked about Birmingham politician George Dixon, These included the children of the Ladywood news team, led by who made a major contribution to the education of children at Norman Bartlam, who showed their film of recent events in the the end of the nineteenth century. area, including the opening of the new Library of Birmingham. ‘Fresh out of the archives’, led by Mandy Ross and Pyn Stockman, Current projects described were Charlotte Clarke’s history of showed how art and drama can be used to bring local history the cerebral palsy community in Birmingham, the research about to life, while Rachel MacGregor, from the Library of Birmingham, printer Baskerville by Malcolm Dick and Caroline Archer, plans illustrated her talk on the Birmingham Repertory archive with for a major heritage centre for Handsworth led by Aftab wonderful drawings of costumes. Henrietta Lockhart showed Rahman, and the history of St. George’s Edgbaston, by Jane photos of some of the new acquisitions, added to the social Darnton and Jim Berrow. history collection, at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. With thanks to Malcolm Dick and the Friends of the Centre for Mike Hodder talked about his new book on Sutton Park, and West Midlands History for organising the day. demonstrated how recent archaeological research has improved our understanding of the area. Steve Béauchampe’s photographs Lorna Brown of Moseley Baths demonstrated the significance of the Sharing the Past with the Future MA in West Midlands History – a Recollection by Guy Sjögren There are twelve of us altogether - well, thirteen them - all coming with a ‘Government Health if one includes Dr Malcolm Dick, the course Warning’ about the strengths and weaknesses director, which of course one must. Sitting of individual sources. Equipped with this new round a large table on a Saturday morning. Late knowledge, we begin to think about a suitable September 2008. Induction day for the nine new topic for our 15,000 word dissertation that forms boys and girls about to embark upon the MA the grand finale of the course. But before we get course in West Midlands History. Well, not exactly too involved in that, we must apply ourselves to ‘boys and girls’; more a mix of mature men and the subjects that take us from the Lunar Men to women from a diverse range of backgrounds, the industrialization of Birmingham and the Black bringing an equally diverse range of knowledge Country; and via female education in the and skills to the party. Although they don’t realise nineteenth century, urban development, health, it as they sit around the table sizing each other and the impact of the two world wars to the up, the experience and experiences of this demise of the Coventry motor industry in the disparate ‘gang of nine’ will be the glue that will 1970s. By the time we reach that point, we have quickly bond them together into an enthusiastic listened to stimulating lectures from a broad self-supporting group; nine people with a range of expert speakers. We have discussed common aim and a shared interest in the regional ‘Civil War garrisons’ and ‘civic gospels’; ‘glebe history of the West Midlands. closes’, ‘castles’ and ‘the Co-operative movement’; ‘immigrant communities’ and Introductions over, we are briefed on the ‘political change’ - all within the context of the programme that stretches before us – a West Midlands region. All we have to do now is programme that, during the first of our two to immerse ourselves in various archives - years of part-time study, will introduce us to the dusty or otherwise - while we research our lords and peasants of the twelfth- and thirteenth- dissertation topics. Where did that summer go? century West Midlands, and will help us to Then it’s gowns and caps on, shake hands with understand the regional upheaval - religious, the Vice Chancellor, and have a plastic cup of social and political – caused by the Reformation wine to celebrate the conclusion of a thoroughly and the Civil War. enjoyable, energising and inspiring two years. When we launch into the second year, we carry on from where we left off in the summer – historical sources. If one element of the programme is learning about the history of the region, another is learning about the range of source materials available to the local historian: what they are, how to find them and how to use Friends of the Centre for West Midlands History Biography, History and the Shaping of Birmingham 21st October 2013 by Sue Thomas The Library of Birmingham and the Oxford Dictionary of awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1947 on behalf of the National Biography collaborated in organising this event Society of Friends. which marked the ODNB’s release of 70 new biographies of men and women who shaped the city of Birmingham. Professor Peter Marsh told the story of the daughters of The event was held in the new Studio Theatre which Joseph Chamberlain, who left the town but continued serves both the Rep and the Library of Birmingham and their educational and social work, taking the model of the audience enjoyed the comfortable surroundings as Birmingham’s civic gospel to the wider world.