Public Document Pack
AGENDA
NOTE: In the case of non-members, this agenda is for information only
Committee - BRECKLAND AREA MUSEUMS COMMITTEE Date & Time - FRIDAY, 14TH OCTOBER, 2011 AT 2.00 PM Venue - THE LARGE COURT, THE GUILDHALL, MARKET PLACE, THETFORD, IP24 2BA
Persons attending the meeting are requested to turn off mobile telephones
Committee Members:
Breckland Council Norfolk County Council
Mr P.J. Duigan (Chairman) Mr M.A. Kiddle-Morris (Vice- Mr C S Clark Chairman) Mr P R W Darby Mr M Brindle Mr R.G. Kybird Mrs D.K.R. Irving Mrs P.A. Spencer Mr C.R. Jordan Mr J.D. Rogers
Co-optees Substitutes
Mr R. Key Mr J. Joyce Mr D. Blackburn Ms C Walters
Ex-Officio Cllr J Bracey
Member Services Elizabeth House, Walpole Loke, Dereham Norfolk, NR19 1EE
Date: Monday, 3 October 2011
Please ask for Helen McAleer: Telephone (01362) 656381 email: [email protected]
Page(s) herewith 1. MINUTES 1 - 6 To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 17 June 2011.
2. APOLOGIES To receive apologies for absence.
3. CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
4. URGENT BUSINESS To note whether the Chairman proposes to accept any item as urgent business, pursuant to Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.
5. DECLARATION OF INTEREST Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests which they may have in any of the following items on the agenda.
6. ANCIENT HOUSE MUSEUM OF THETFORD LIFE 7 - 10 Report of the Curator, Ancient House.
7. GRESSENHALL FARM & WORKHOUSE 11 - 14 Report by the Western Area Manager.
8. BRECKLAND COLLECTIONS REVIEW 15 - 26 Report by the Head of NMAS.
9. NEXT MEETING To agree a date and venue for the next meeting.
2 Public Document Pack Agenda Item 1
BRECKLAND COUNCIL
At a Meeting of the
BRECKLAND AREA MUSEUMS COMMITTEE
Held on Friday, 17 June 2011 at 2.00 pm in Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse, Gressenhall
PRESENT Mr P.J. Duigan (Chairman) Mr M Brindle Mr P R W Darby Mr M.A. Kiddle-Morris (Vice-Chairman) Mr R.G. Kybird Mr J.D. Rogers Mrs P.A. Spencer Mr C S Clark
Also Present Mr W R J Richmond Mr R R Richmond
In Attendance Dr Robin Hanley - Western Area Manager Melissa Hawker - Learning Officer Teresa Smith - Committee Officer (Scrutiny & Projects)
Action By
9/11 CHAIRMAN
Mr P Duigan was elected as Chairman for the forthcoming year.
10/11 VICE-CHAIRMAN
Mr M Kiddle-Morris was elected as Vice-Chairman for the forthcoming year.
11/11 MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2011 were agreed as a correct record.
12/11 APOLOGIES
Apologies were received from Cllr D Irving, Cllr C Jordan, Mr D Blackburn, Mr Oliver Bone, Ms V Trevelyan, and Cllr J Bracey.
13/11 CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Chairman welcomed Cllr Carl Clark onto the committee and also welcomed Cllr R Richmond and Cllr W Richmond to the meeting.
14/11 URGENT BUSINESS
None.
1 1 Breckland Area Museums Committee 17 June 2011
Action By
15/11 DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Mr M Kiddle-Morris and Mrs C Walters declared a personal interest in the Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse report by virtue of being Friends of the Museum.
16/11 ANCIENT HOUSE MUSEUM OF THETFORD LIFE
Melissa Hawker presented the report which covered the period from January to May 2011.
The Young Volunteers at the Ancient House were the winners of the 2010 East of England regional award for Museum Learning. The Volunteers were aged between 16 – 24 and were very excited to be going to London to receive the award.
During March, Ancient House had been involved in two art projects. The first focussed on creating a portrait of Thetford over a 24 hour period. Images could be viewed on the website www.thetford24.org.uk .
The second was called the Thetford Travelling Menagerie and was run by a team of Canadian artists called DodoLab. The artists used animals that had lived in Thetford over the past to explore what local residents thought of Thetford today. As part of this, the Museums knitting group created knitted versions of the animals which were used in window displays during the project.
The museum worked with the Youth Inclusion Support Panel to create a film exploring the life and death of Boudicca and created a CSI-style film. This had been shown to an audience of friends and relatives and had been really well attended. Discussions were taking place about this film being included in Thetford Festival later this year.
Thetford’s painting collection, illustrated in Norfolk’s catalogue of Oil Paintings in Public Ownership, would be shown in a documentary to be screened on 26 June on BBC1 at 6pm. The documentary looked at the portrait collection and the connections with Prince Frederick Duleep Singh and his family. Filming took place at Ancient House and other locations in and around Thetford, and included time at Gressenhall where some of the paintings were on display in the public board room.
As well as the oil paintings collected by Prince Frederick, there was an extensive collection of works on paper, mainly prints. Work was being undertaken to add this collection to a computerised catalogue.
The Stitch in Time sewing group based at Ancient House was fully engaged in their interpretation of the portrait of Lady Littlebury of the 1600’s. The group visited Oxburgh Hall to view embroideries there, and were progressing well with their bench cushion.
The Extended Schools History Club met each Wednesday during term time, and this term they had been looking at historic food. They had
2 2 Breckland Area Museums Committee 17 June 2011
Action By
seen a range of food cooked from the Roman times through to the 1980s microwave chocolate cake. Staff and parents had been invited to attend a meal which had been well attended.
Friends of the museum had agreed to continue to support the museum’s history club and uphold the programme of social events. Mr Robin Hanley had recently done a talk on the Seahenge display.
The Committee was informed that Ancient House would be hosting the WWII exhibition on local secrets and stories. It was looking to hold a wartime tea and cakes day on the 26 th June.
School visits had increased compared to 2010 figures which was encouraging.
The Chairman asked how long it would take for the portraits to be uploaded onto the website. Mr Hanley informed the Committee that the Museum Service website was continually updated, so the public would be able to access the portraits as soon as they had been uploaded.
The Chairman thanked Melissa for the report.
17/11 GRESSENHALL FARM AND WORKHOUSE
Mr Hanley presented the report which covered the period from January to May 2011.
Gressenhall opened on 13 March 2011.
Copies of the site leaflets and events programme were circulated to the Committee. Mr Hanley explained that the new style booklet worked well and two versions had been printed to market test which leaflet worked with the public.
There was a busy event programme scheduled for 2011, with Big event days and smaller themed days called ‘Days with a difference’. These would be farm-based days following the farming year.
The smaller themed days this used a smaller complement of staff therefore reducing costs. The events during 2011 would cost less than those held in 2010.
The first event had been held on Sunday 3 rd April which included demonstrations of heavy horses working in the fields. The day attracted 625 visitors, an increase from the previous year.
The first big event was the Easter Fair which took place on Monday 25 th April. This featured the traditional Easter Bonnet procession, and a range of craft and food stalls. There had been a reduced number of visitors from the previous year.
The May Day celebration event had been held on Sunday 1 May and was a new ‘Day with a Difference’ event for 2011. This coincided with
3 3 Breckland Area Museums Committee 17 June 2011
Action By
the Royal Wedding so children had been encouraged to make King and Queen garlands. A procession had been held together with may- pole dancing; 653 people attended which was encouraging.
The main History Fair took place on Sunday 29 May. In the past this had been held on the Bank Holiday Monday, but this year it was held on the Sunday as a trial basis in order to reduce costs. There had been large number of stalls manned by local history societies, museums and other related organisations. The event also included costumed characters and members of the Norfolk and Norwich medieval Association.
Gressenhall boasted a lively events programme and included: § Sunday 19 th June Day with a Difference - Father’s Day, promoting big boy’s toys. § Friday 8 th July – Day to Remember – event for 55+ § 28 th and 29 th August - Village at War event.
Public attendances were being closely monitored at all events, and were expected to grow in numbers during the school holidays.
Final work was taking place on the Women’s Land Army Gallery which was scheduled to open at the end of June.
The Board Room had been re-displayed and featured some of the oil paintings from Thetford and Norwich collections. The Thetford collections had been the subject of a BBC programme, as mentioned earlier. The improved Board Room was being increasingly hired out for meetings, providing the museum with additional income.
Carbon reduction works funded by Norfolk County Council’s Carbon Energy Reduction Fund had now seen the replacement of most gallery display lighting with low LED units, therefore providing a reduction in energy costs. A Biomass boiler had been installed which would provide heating to the office wings.
The marketing of Gressenhall for the Board Room and conference hire were ongoing. This continues to generate additional income to the facility.
A feasibility study was underway relating to the current shop arrangements to enhance visitor spend per head.
The Playground area accounted for significant visitor growth in encouraging families to attend the museum. County Council funding became available to support the investment in the playground and a new designated toddler play area had been created in time for the museum opening.
A range of farm improvements had been made that aimed to minimise the risk of E-Coli infection and to ensure they were in line with government recommendations. Additional hand washing facilities had
4 4 Breckland Area Museums Committee 17 June 2011
Action By
been installed and information cards were being handed out to all visitors explaining the sensible precautions they should take.
Gressenhall had now joined the Village Screen movement and had launched the Workhouse Cinema. This was another avenue which raised awareness and generated income.
The Friends of Gressenhall had continued to provide huge support to the site and had held fundraising events. The Friends had recently purchased two Suffolk Punch horses who were working very well.
The New Wildlife garden had been opened recently by the Friends. This had been a very successful project which had transformed part of the site.
There were 120 active volunteers who underpinned the activities ran at the site.
Gressenhall was continuing to benefit from funding through the Renaissance in the Regions Programme that came under the 2011-12 East of England Hub Business Plan. A new project ‘Building Resilience’ would focus on aiming to reduce energy consumption, reduce revenue costs and increase income.
School visits were continually being sustained and were expected to reach 10,000 school children this year. The Learning team continued to deliver a creative learning programme to all schools, from reception to secondary.
A new day event called ‘Once Upon a Time’ was being held whereby the museum would open up a gallery of fairytales.
A Night-time murder mystery event recently held had been very successful. This had been a pilot event which once advertised had been sold out within two weeks. 80 members of the public attended the evening where they toured round the site encountering dramas to piece a story together.
Gressenhall continued to host a Renaissance-funded 18 month Farm Apprenticeship post in partnership with Easton College.
The Skills for the Future Project was now recruiting its first trainees and would deliver accredited training in traditional skills. The £680,000 project ran over 3-years and would support volunteer and staff development.
Mr Hanley reported that there was evidence that the recession was beginning to impact on the museum, but was only fractional compared to last year. They were continuing to market the museum pass for visitors and monitor visitor trends.
A member asked if the weather had an impact on visits. Members were informed that in 2010 there had been a slight impact in the
5 5 Breckland Area Museums Committee 17 June 2011
Action By
summer holidays due to the weather conditions.
Another member asked how much funding had been given for the toddler playground. It was confirmed that £30,000 had been awarded which had been crucial for the development of the site. The new area had been enclosed for toddlers to run around, and was next to the picnic area for parents.
The Chairman thanked Mr Hanley for his report.
18/11 NEXT MEETING
The next meeting would be held on Friday 14 th October at 2 pm in Thetford. Venue to be confirmed.
The meeting closed at 3.07 pm
CHAIRMAN
6 6 Agenda Item 6 BRECKLAND AREA MUSEUMS COMMITTEE
Item No. 6
Ancient House, Museum of Thetford Life
Report by the Curator, Ancient House
This report outlines work at the Ancient House from June to Sept 2011.
1 Opening of latest exhibition: World War Two, Local Secrets and Stories
The World War Two exhibition was opened in June by Thetford’s Mayor Derek Mortimer who spoke of his recollections of the town during the war. Head of Museums, Vanessa Trevelyan also spoke about the value of changing displays and community involvement. The museum display includes accounts of the how papers from the War Office were brought to Thetford under armed guard for pulping and recycling into useful articles such as trays or helmets. The display is to run until May next year. The World War Two theme informs some of the public and schools programme for the next 6 months. This exhibition has toured the museums in King’s Lynn and Gressenhall and is an expression of closer working between these western area sites.
2 The Thetford Festival
The Museum was much involved in this year’s Thetford Festival again with three events at the Museum and contribution to two of the bigger joint events. Staff were part of both the planning and also delivery of events. With grant aid from the Moving Thetford Forward board, a busy of programme starting at the August Bank Holiday weekend was coordinated bby the Thetford Tourism and Heritage Partnership. The events were well attended and included a talk by our colleague Frank Meeres from the Norfolk Record Office at the Ancient House about the town during the Second World War, and an Archaeology Day at the Limes with a contribution by Stuart Hall Community Outreach Officer for Thetford and King’s Lynn.
3 Exchange visit with the Folk Museum in Cambridge.
Following a visit to the Ancient House by staff from the Cambridge Folk Museum a return visit was arranged for staff from Thetford. Staff training and development is an important area and these annual visits are a part of this programme as well as fostering a good team spirit. Other opportunities are provided by the regional SHARE programme – a good new website listing opportunities in our sector can be found at : www.sharemuseumseast.org.uk . The Ancient House is to host a visit from the team at the Aldeburgh Museum in October. They are planning to apply to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a grant and the HLF suggested a visit to Thetford to see the work at Ancient House.
4 Summer events and outreach The summer holiday period is a busy one for the Ancient House with a full programme of family events and outreach.
7
The Museum participated at the annual Weeting Steam Rally where Ancient House ran a stall at to promote the new exhibition with handling activities. We also linked with the Gressenhall stall to demonstrate spinning from a newly shorn fleece. One of the Museum’s volunteers, Mary Watkin brought along one of the cushions knitted by the Museum’s knitting group for the 2012 Olympics. The Thetford Museum knitters are taking part in a national project to produce a cushion made from British wool for every competitor in the Olympics and Paralympics games next year. This particular cushion was knitted from the fleece of a Norfolk Horn that Richard Dalton, from Gressenhall, sheared and Mary spun at last year’s engine rally.
Other holiday activities for families included code breaking, Digging for Victory and building a Morrison Shelter. Building a Morrison Shelter at Thetford’s Ancient House 5 Flint Museum
The Ancient House Museum has an excellent flint collection of prehistoric implements and fossils. Over the summer we staged a special event day based on this theme. Supported by staff and volunteers, there were opportunities for members of the public to handle original artefacts, use a strike-a-light, and look at fossils. Then in the afternoon in conjunction with the University Of East Anglia there were talks about flint and a chance to see a new film on the subject.
6 Collections Volunteers
Two new ‘behind-the-scenes’ volunteers, Daniel Morgan and Gary Lovelock are working on a project at Ancient House to scan the Duleep Singh print and drawing collection and enhance the MODES records. Museum conservator, Sarah Norcross-Robinson offered training about safe handling, scanning and packing of prints before the project Example of a scanned print from the Museum’s started. Oliver Bone and Tim Duleep Singh print collection. Thorpe have been supervising the project. Progress has been good so far and the project should be completed some time in the new year. Further work can be done on enhancing the museum catalogue and offering on-line ‘virtual exhibitions’ of these local scenes and portraits.
8
7 Heritage Open Day – 10 th September
For the first time, Ancient House featured in the HEART Heritage Open Day brochure. This seemed to make a significant difference to our visitor figures. Sarah Norcross-Robinson and Sue Ketchell were on hand to talk to visitors about our conservation programme and also to offer a demonstration of conservation cleaning in the old kitchen.
8 Reel History Morning
As part of the BBC Hands On History Reel History strand Ancient House ran a reminiscence morning using objects, photographs and archive footage of the 1937 coronation celebrations in Thetford (kindly supplied by HEART). Visitors enjoyed spotting familiar characters in the film and chatting over tea and cake.
9 Anglo-Sikh Study Day
This year Thetford hosted an Anglo-Sikh Study Day as part of Anglo-Sikh Heritage Month. Visitors from as far a field as London, Nottingham, Canada, Leicester and Tokyo were able to enjoy a display of Prince Frederick Duleep Singh’s uniforms from his time in the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry, including active service in France during World War One. In the afternoon, visitors had the chance to hear our three guest speakers: Bobby Singh, Harbinder Singh and Peter Bance talk about the build up and aftermath of the Anglo-Sikh Wars. The afternoon of lectures concluded with a lively questions and answers session.
Speakers and VIP guests at the Anglo-Sikh study day held in Thetford in Sept. 2011.
10 V Fifty Award Another of our young volunteers, Ross Wilson has received his V Fifty Award for fifty hours of volunteer work with the museum. Ross says his work at the museum has improved his confidence and communication skills. 9
11 Meet Up Café Girls Group Fifteen girls from the Thetford’s Meet Up Café came for an evening visit to Ancient House to learn about their local history and try their hand at cross stitch. The group was assisted by Museum Learning Assistant, Karen-Emma White and Thetford Treasure volunteer, Penny Woodley.
10 Agenda Item 7
If you need this report in large print, audio, Braille, alternative format or in a different language please
contact Robin Hanley on 01362 869254 and we will do our best to help
BRECKLAND AREA MUSEUMS COMMITTEE
14 October 2011 Item No. 7
GRESSENHALL FARM & WORKHOUSE REPORT
Report by the Western Area Manager
This report provides information on activities at Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse from June to September 2011
1. Events
1.1 Gressenhall opened for the 2011 season on Sunday 13 March and will close on Sunday 30 October.
1.2 In the Main Events strand, Village at War took place over the August Bank Holiday weekend on Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August, with reasonable weather. Across the two days there were 3,706 people on site, representing an increase of some 500 over the same event in 2010. A highlight was the flypast by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on the Monday.
1.3 In the “Day with a Difference” mini event strand, the Father’s Day event ran on Sunday 7 August, with 632 visitors on site (664 in 2010). The Day to Remember event targeted at older people took place on Friday 8 July, with 670 on site (551 in July 2009). Harvest Day took place on 7 August with 642 visits (851 in 2010).
1.4 The event programme was supported by a broad range of activities for children and families running on every day of the school holidays. These activities included Art Attack craft events; object handling in the galleries; nature walks around the farm; Boardroom and school room re-enactments and a range of new trails and quizzes.
1.5 Gressenhall participated in the Norwich HEART programme for Heritage Open Day, offering free admission to the site on Sunday 11 September. Visitor numbers for HOD were 962 (846 in 2010).
11 1.6 The remaining event days for 2011 include Heavy Horse Day on Sunday 9 October and Apple Day on Sunday 23 October.
1.7 Following the successful trial of the Night at the Museum pre-booked event A Gressenhall Murder Mystery on 13 May which attracted a full house of 80 participants, Gressenhall will be running a pre-booked Halloween event for families Witches in the Workhouse on the evening of Saturday 29 October and two daytime pre-booked family Victorian Christmas events on 20 and 22 December.
1.8 It is intended to open the site for a number of days during the February 2012 half term (dates not currently advertised).
2. Other Museum Developments
2.1 The opening event for the new Women’s Land Army Gallery took place on 24 August, with strong support from the Friends of Gressenhall. The event was attended by a number of veterans as well as those involved in developing the gallery. The opening was also attended by members of the Joint Museums Committee and Area Museums Committee. The opening event attracted excellent media coverage including a two page spread in the EDP and extended coverage on Radio Norfolk. The evaluation of the new gallery received to date has been very positive.
2.2 Gressenhall continues to host a Monument Fellowship, part-funded by the Museums Association. Under this programme, former retired Curator Bridget Yates is working with current Curator Megan Dennis to share her extensive knowledge of key parts of the collections. This knowledge is also being disseminated to other staff and volunteers and will also inform plans for the re-display of certain collections.
2.3 A range of site maintenance and improvement projects continue to be undertaken. Carbon-reduction works funded by Norfolk County Council’s Carbon Energy Reduction Fund have now seen the replacement of most gallery display lighting with low energy LED units. The installation of a new biomass boiler is approaching completion.
2.4 A planning application has been submitted relating to the proposed relocation of the museum shop and ticketing facility to existing spaces in the centre of the site. This will provide an improved visitor service and is expected to generate additional spend per head. Under these proposals the existing shop will be altered internally to provide an orientation/welcoming point alongside significantly improved visitor toilet facilities.
2.5 Investment and improvement works have continued in the woodland adventure playground. A new pyramid-shaped elastic-rope climbing frame has been installed, to replace a piece of equipment that had
12 been removed. The willow tunnel had to be removed from the playground this summer due to a wasp infestation.
2.6 Improvement works are ongoing on Union Farm, funded through the County Council’s Corporate Minor Works programme. These works are intended to minimise any risk of E-coli infection and are in line with government recommendations following an E-coli outbreak linked to an open farm in another part of the UK. The works have seen the double fencing of a number of animal enclosures and the provision of additional hand-washing facilities. A new farm safety postcard is being issued to all visitors on arrival.
2.7 A Suffolk Punch mare and foal were on loan to Gressenhall throughout the summer months and proved to be a popular draw for visitors.
2.8 The Workhouse Cinema continues to flourish, most recently showing the film Land Girls .
3. Friends and Volunteers
3.1 The Friends continue to support a range of activities across the site. The Friends have recently funded new harness for the Suffolk Punch horses and have also contributed additional funds to the Women’s Land Army gallery project.
3.2 On 24 August the Friends hosted a tea as part of the opening celebrations for the new Women’s Land Army gallery. The Friends have also recently marked the opening of the Wildlife Garden, following the completion of the project funded by the Big Lottery and the Friends.
3.3 The Gressenhall Curator continues to co-ordinate, manage and develop the volunteer teams at Gressenhall. Some 120 volunteers continue to be active on the site.
4. Learning & Outreach
4.1 Levels of school visits have been sustained at Gressenhall, with bookings for the Autumn term looking strong. The Learning Team continues to deliver a broad, creative and evolving learning programme for schools, ranging from reception age to secondary.
4.2 During the summer holidays Gressenhall hosted a Summer Challenge drama project for Year 6 SEN pupils from Wayland High School’s feeder primary schools. The primary school teachers had selected pupils identified as having difficulties with the transition from primary to secondary school.
13 4.3 The Heritage Lottery Fund-funded Homes on the Road Traveller awareness day event ran on 27 June with 463 visitors on site.
4.4 Analysis of teacher evaluation from the academic year 2010-11 showed very positive feedback from schools, with particular emphasis placed on the value of hands-on learning provided by staff and the customer care shown by the entire team at Gressenhall.
4.5 The HLF-funded Skills for the Future project at Gressenhall has now recruited its first trainees. This £680,000 project will run over 3 years and will deliver accredited training in a range of traditional skills. It is also supporting volunteer and staff development at Gressenhall. Gressenhall is working in partnership with the Museum of East Anglian Life, Easton College and Otley College to deliver this project. The first posts to be recruited are a full time Farm Apprentice and two part-time Heritage Gardening Interns. The Farm Apprentice is on day release to Easton College, studying for a Level 2 NVQ in farming. The Gardening interns are undertaking placements at the National Trust property Peckover House. Each intern is working to a detailed Individual Training Plan.
5. Visitor Numbers
5.1 Up to date visitor figures will be circulated at the meeting.
6. Resource implications
(a) Finance None (b) Property None (c) Staff None (d) Information Technology None
7. Recommendations:
That the Area Museums Committee notes the report
Originator of report: Dr Robin Hanley Western Area Manager Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse Tel: 01362 869254 e-mail: [email protected]
14 Agenda Item 8
If you need this report in large print, audio, Braille, alternative format or in a different language please
contact Robin Hanley on 01362 869254 and we will do our best to help
BRECKLAND AREA MUSEUMS COMMITTEE
14 October 2011 Item No. 8
REVIEW OF THE COLLECTION AT GRESSENHALL FARM AND WORKHOUSE
Report by the Head of NMAS
This report sets out the background to a review of collections at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse and recommends de-ac cessioning a group of social history items that are in poor condition and which fall outside the NMAS Acquisition and Disposal policy.
1. Background
1.1 Collecting within the NMAS is undertaken in accordance with the Acquisition and Disposal Policy approved by Committee, This is reviewed every five years and sets out the strengths pf the collections, areas for future collecting and constraints on collecting, such as resources, space and expertise.
As part of a responsible collections management strategy the NMAS undertakes regular reviews of its collections to ensure that material is properly classified and adequately housed. Objects that are deemed unsuitable for retention as past of the core collection are identified and alternative homes found. The process to be followed was agreed by Committee in 2002 following a Best Value Review of collection and collections management.
1.2 To summarise, the core collections basically fall into three categories with different levels of access:
1. Display material represents the best or most significant items in the collections and is easily accessible by all people visiting the museums.
2. Study collections provide depth for people who want to learn more about a specific subject. The emphasis is on presenting as many objects as possible for study. Improved study facilities are being provided at Collections Study Centres, such as the Shirehall,
15 Carrow House or Gressenhall, where collections are available in reference galleries. Objects are either freely accessible when the museum is open, in open storage (easily accessible with an appointment or on regular open days) or in study rooms (open on set days a week).
3. Long-term research material is needed as evidence for current or future research and only needs to be available on an appointment basis. This can be contained in high-density storage, thereby making the most cost effective use of space.
1.3 Items not retained for the Core Collection are categorised as follows:
4. Working or demonstration material objects are put to working use or demonstration use at or on behalf of the museum eg agricultural equipment.
5. Education, handling and loan collection objects are included for educational reference material only, including loans. There is an implied deterioration through usage over time.
6. Set dressing and cannibalisation items are used as set-dressing for on-site activities of the museum.
7. Dispersal objects are found alternative homes where they will be put to good use. We follow Museums Association and Accreditation good practice guidelines. There will be a presumption that objects remain in the public domain and offered initially to similar institutions at whichever location provides the best balance of care, context and access.
8. Disposal following Museums Association guidelines. If no other home can be found, objects are sold at auction or scrapped.
2 Review of social history collections at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse
2.1 The stores and external storage space at Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse contain a number of social history objects. These were brought into the collections during the 1970s at a time when museums where generally actively collecting items in a relatively uncontrolled manner, without reference to an official collecting policy or quality control. As a result many collections contain objects that are duplicated in other museums, of poor quality and now require large conservation resources to be of display standard. Most of the objects have little or no provenance and some have no known relevance to the local history of the area. As a result these fall outside the Acquisition Policy of the museums service today.
16 These social history objects take up large areas of floor space and are in many cases heavy and cumbersome. As a result access to other stored and better provenanced collections has been made difficult and on occasion, impossible for health and safety reasons. In some cases appropriate storage for very large items is not available and consequently items have been stored in external areas.
2.2 A review of these collections has been undertaken in order to: • Improve access to the collection as a whole • Release storage space and resources to allow improved collections management • Remove threats posed by possible insect infestation • Remove threats posed by inappropriate storage conditions
2.3 Following the agreed process the attached list of objects (Appendix 1) has been identified for deaccessioning and subsequent dispersal or disposal. These objects have little or no provenance, have little relevance to the rural history of the area and as a result fall outside the Collecting Policy of the NMAS. Many duplicate items in the collection and others are in dangerously poor condition and incomplete.
2.4 While finding a new home for the objects in another museum will be the ideal first priority, it may be that because of the poor quality and lack of provenance of the objects, destruction of some the objects may be the only realistic outcome of the rationalisation process.
2.5 The objects listed in Appendix 1 have been identified by the curator as candidates for deaccessioning and dispersal if possible. The list has been scrutinised by the NMAS’ internal Rationalisation Group, which includes the Senior Conservation Officer and the Chief Curator. Where possible these objects will be found a home in another museum or cultural institution.
2.6 Appendix 1 also includes one object (item 1) from the Ancient House Museum collections which has undergone the same scrutiny process. It is proposed that this object be returned to Oxborough Hall.
3 Resource Implications
3.1 Finance : a budget of £1,000 may be required to pay for removal firm’s charges and possible destruction or rubbish disposal. NMAS staff based in Norwich or other sites may be required to visit Gressenhall for advice and their transport costs paid for.
4 Equality Impact Assessment
4.1 NMAS puts diversity, equality and community cohesion at the heart of service development and service delivery. It aims to ensure that activities included in the service plan are accessible to diverse groups in Norfolk and that all policies, practices and procedures undergo equality
17 impact assessment. These impact assessments help the service focus on meeting the needs of customers in relation to age, disability, gender, race, religion & belief and sexual orientation.
This report has no equality implications.
5 Section 17 – Crime and Disorder Act
There are no Section 17 implications.
6 Conclusion
This collections review is proposing to remove items that are of minimal interest in interpreting the history of rural Norfolk and will free up space and resources for the benefit of the remaining collections and the visiting public.
7 Recommendation
Members are asked to agree that the objects listed in Annex 2 are deaccessioned.
Background Papers
MLA Museum Accreditation Standard MA Good Practice Guidelines on Acquisition and Disposal NMAS Acquisition and Disposal Policy (http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/default.asp?Document=900.020.010x1 ) NMAS Rationalisation Strategy
Officer Contact
If you have any questions about matters contained in this paper please get in touch with:
Vanessa Trevelyan 01603 493620 [email protected]
18 Ancient House Museum, Thetford and Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Phase 2 Rationalisation – September 2011
Record Object Description Date Image Reasons for Proposed Number Name rationalisation disposal method 1 THEHM : Leather Leather wall hanging (in 17th It was originally Dispersal to 1979.226 panel from two pieces) of century hanging in Oxburgh Hall Oxburgh embossed, gilded and Oxburgh Hall, Hall coloured leather of floral Oxborough, design (60cm x 74cm) Norfolk and was dates from the 17th donated to the century and was made Ancient House in Spain. Museum by 19 Miss Sybil Buxton, daughter of Lady Buxton in 1928. It was given to Lady Buxton by the Hall’s owner, Sir Henry Bedingfield c.1898. Similar hangings can still be seen in the Hall. Record Object Description Date Image Reasons for Proposed Number Name rationalisation disposal method 2 GRSRM : Trough Large oak water trough; 20th Poor condition, Dispersal 1993.129 steel bolts, brass century extremely large screws; rectangular; item with not about fifty years old; sat enough in corner of stable yard; resources to up to fifty horses would conserve or drink from it store 3 GRSRM Extractor Large steel drum 20th No local Dispersal 1993.178 containing fitted century provenance and equipment for removing duplicates other honey from combs; items in painted white collection 20
4 GRSRM : Rake Horse drawn hay rake, 20th No local Dispersal 1993.198 originally with 13 tynes; century provenance and wood with metal chains; duplicates other handle adjustable; items in double tyned; collection, poor woodworm condition Record Object Description Date Image Reasons for Proposed Number Name rationalisation disposal method 5 Unaccessioned Extractor Honey extractor, White 20th No local Dispersal with wooden handle, century provenance and small label reads EH duplicates other Taylor Ltd, Beehive items in Works, Welwyn, Herts, collection England” 6 GRSRM : incubator Egg incubator; wooden 20th Duplicates other Dispersal 1990.42.1 chest with eight drawers, century items in better supported on wooden condition in legs at each corner; collection 21 contains associated heating apparatus and trays etc. 7 GRSRM : Pony trap Seats two people; 20th No local Dispersal 1993.181 wooden with black and century provenance red painted iron frame; shafts bound in leather; wheels; brown corduroy padded back rests; seats arranged side on, with small door to shut the travellers in Record Object Description Date Image Reasons for Proposed Number Name rationalisation disposal method 8 NWHCM : Hobble Horse hobble in the form 19th Poor condition Dispersal 1974.123 of wrought iron chain century and incomplete with wooden head; clog missing; found at North Tuddenham
9 GRSRM : weighbridg Cattle crush and 20th Poor condition, Dispersal 1983.122 e weighbridge century uneconomic to restore to working order
th
22 10 GRSRM : Mould Brick maker or mould; 20 No local Dispersal 1993.118 cast iron; machine serial century provenance no. KC288 Record Object Description Date Image Reasons for Proposed Number Name rationalisation disposal method 11 GRSRM : Winch Large hand winch from 20th Very poor Dispersal 1993.116 H. Plowright and Sons, century condition, Swaffham; large handle casting cracked. missing?; no. 6 model 'Safe Working Load 15cwt'; cast iron, painted green, timber frame 12 GRSRM : Hut Postman’s hut; several 20th Extremely poor Disposal 1993.137.1 sheets of corrugated century condition iron, partially painted 23 blue, and several panels of wooden planked walls; also slab of carrstone on which stove rested 13 GRSRM : Cutter Cast iron; painted blue; 20th Extremely poor Disposal 1993.175 on wooden frame; century condition, marked 'BANBURY casting cracked, TURNIP CUTTER' no local provenance, duplicated in collection Record Object Description Date Image Reasons for Proposed Number Name rationalisation disposal method 14 NWHCM : tools Equipment from a 20th Extremely poor Disposal 1974.603.7 wheelwright’s shop century condition
15 NWHCM : chair One of a set of four early Poor condition Disposal 1974.587.23 chairs with large combs, 20th and duplicates shaped seats and turned century other items in front legs; from collection Wicklewood Workhouse, Forehoe Union (latterly a
24 hospital) 16 GRSRM : box Wooden farrier's box 20th Poor condition Disposal 1981.24.50 with metal loop handle century Record Object Description Date Image Reasons for Proposed Number Name rationalisation disposal method 17 GRSRM : Tipping Tipping truck; sheet iron; early Extremely poor Disposal 1976.32 truck u shaped drawn on rails 20th condition used to collect sand and century clay at Little Plumstead Brickworks; [Gunton's]
25 18 GRSRM : copper Used for boiling soap; 19th Extremely poor Disposal 1977.30.1 cast iron with three century condition projecting lugs Record Object Description Date Image Reasons for Proposed Number Name rationalisation disposal method 19 GRSRM : copper Used for boiling soap; 19th Extremely poor Disposal 1977.30.2 cast iron with three century condition projecting lugs
20 GRSRM : Market Set of wooden green 20th Extremely poor Disposal 1983.161 stalls painted market stalls; century condition
26 used at Dereham Market; around 1920; comprising four ends/trestles and two boards
21 GRSRM : Oven Cast iron oven and other 20th Extremely poor Disposal 1993.117 parts century condition and no local provenance