Rutland Local History & Record Society No 1/04 January 2004 EDITORIAL - to involve the community widely in the can do will contribute towards an outcome I wrote the last editorial during a heat project and thereby reinforce community which will be of long-lasting interest to all wave at the beginning of August 2003, with identity local people as well as Society members. the temperature near 34 deg C. It is - to produce a well researched record which We hope that many of you will volunteer snowing as I write this editorial! Quite a the public may consult, enjoy and build to be part of this exciting project which will contrast! However, as we move into our on help the Society to become more actively spring programme, and start to devise With the help of society members and involved in Rutland's wider community. To events and meetings for the summer and other groups including young people, we find out more, please contact me or any autumn I am reminded of more pleasant hope to achieve the following objectives other member of the Steering Group. conditions. Several events have already over the next 12 - 18 month Sue Howlett been agreed and you will find advance - An oral history project leading to an item [email protected] information in this newsletter about a on local radio summer social, a visit to a country house, a - An exhibition initially at Rutland County guided historical walk in the south of the Museum, then touring different Rutland NEWS FROM RUTLAND COUNTY county and this year‘s village visit. venues MUSEUM There are also items on the new look - A website linked to the Local Heritage Museum Development Programme museum, our library, forthcoming Society Initiative website , Rutnet and other Most of the builders‘ work is now publications, the Village Studies Group, local groups and topics complete and it is expected that the new Belton History Society, and more. I have - A detailed map of the area as it existed entrance off South Street car park will be also included reports on recent meetings before the coming of Rutland Water open mid February. At the same time the and events for those who were not present, - A Timeline of historic periods and more present entrance from Catmose Street will and/or do not see the local papers. recent events which affected the area be closed. The Executive Committee agreed at its - An illustrated publication and leaflets Officers and committee members of the meeting in November to embark on a very drawing attention to different aspects of Society and Friends of RCM were invited exciting project – to apply for a grant from the heritage of Rutland Water. to a preview of the excellent new facilities the Heritage Lottery Fund to cover the Much interesting information has already on 30 December. costs of recording the heritage of Rutland been offered to help Water. This is a project which will involve us understand the the wider community … but I will let Sue heritage of Rutland Howlett tell you more in the first item. Water. Members of Robert Ovens the Society's Oral [email protected] History Group have idenified people who farmed in the THE HERITAGE OF RUTLAND Gwash Valley WATER before it was Members who attended the Society‘s flooded, and December meeting were told for the first photographs have time about our Local Heritage Initiative been made Project. If our bid is successful, we could available of the receive 100% funding for a project in whole area before it which we work with the community in changed for ever. finding out more about the heritage of But there is a great Rutland's most famous tourist attraction - deal we still need to find out. Simon Davies with part of the group who Rutland Water. The Society has set up a You may be able to help in many inspected the new facilities at the museum steering group which includes Edward different ways, depending on your personal Baines, Robert Ovens, Sue Howlett, Vicky interests. These could include locating and Sanderlin-McLoughlin, Audrey Buxton, copying old pictures, maps or descriptions We saw the new entrance, shop, study Hilary Crowden, Paul Reeve and Carolyn of the area; talking to local people to find room and ‗Welcome to Rutland‘ exhibition. Cartwright, but we hope that many more out how their communities were affected; The display units in this exhibition can be people will wish to become involved. or investigating the significant impact moved to the side to create a meeting room The project's aims are: Rutland Water has had on the local for up to 100 people. An Open Day, with - to investigate, document and publicise the environment, economy and sense of entertainments, demonstrations and rd heritage of Rutland Water and its identity. You can become involved as much refreshments, will be held on 3 April to surroundings or as little as you wish, but anything you celebrate the opening of this new area. 1 We hope that our first event in the new Thursday 12 Febrary, 7.30 pm at RCM Council, starts at Lyddington Church, meeting area will be on 12th February when 25 Years of Rutland Water taking in the Bishop‘s Palace, medieval Tim Appleton will talk on ‗25 Years of Tim Appleton MBE, Reserve Manager, fishponds, Snelston deserted medieval Rutland Water‘, but this is subject to the has had overall responsibility for the village, and the shores of the Eye Brooke work being completed on time. (Otherwise management of Rutland Water Nature Reservoir. Also visiting Stoke Dry Church this meeting will be in the Colonel Noel Reserve since it was created. He will talk to see medieval wall paintings and the Suite). about the changes, the successes and room said to be a meeting place of the Other planned work at the museum in the challenges over the last 25 years. Gunpowder Plotters. next few months includes refurbishment of The six mile walk is over roads, tracks the roof and surface of the Courtyard and a Thursday 11 March, 7.30 pm at RCM and foopaths, with stiles and gentle lift to the mezzanine floor in the main part Friends of Rutland County Museum gradients. Walking boots or strong shoes of the museum. AGM followed by: recommended. Booking not necessary – Rutland County Museum and Oakham just turn up on the day! RUTLAND COUNTY MUSEUM Castle: the next 10 years? EVENTS PROGRAMME 2004 Simon Davies, Museum Services Saturday 18 September, 1.00 pm at 19th March - Lazy Days in Rutland. The Manager, will share his thoughts about how RLHRS Village Visit to Langham programme includes the opportunity to play the Museum and the Castle might change in In conjunction with Langham Local traditional games such as nine mens morris and the next 10 years, and hopefully how History Group. The usual format including bar skittles, demonstrations by local craft members of both societies might be able to talks, a leaflet guided walk, and an workers, oral history and storytelling. help with these changes. exhibition of old photographs and 20th March - Games and Crafts Day. A documents. More details later. day of craft demonstrations and hands-on activities linked to Lazy Days in Rutland. Thursday 18 March, 7.30 pm at 26th March to 9th May - Baskets and Uppingham School (in The Old SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS Beyond by Joni Bamford. Joni Bamford is Schoolroom off High Street West) Rutland Record 22 has now been well known locally for her baskets and other RLHRS Bryan Matthews Lecture 2004 - published and your copy should accompany woven items made using a variety of techniques The industrialisation of a rural county: this newsletter. The indexing of Rutland and materials. industrial archaeology in Rutland Record 11-20 is now complete. It now has 3rd April - RCM Open Day. A day of Marilyn Palmer, Professor of Industrial to be designed, and following printing it entertainments, demonstrations and refreshments Archaeology at Leicester University, will will be issued free to members. to celebrate the opening of the new entrance, talk about various aspects of the Industrial Anyone who has a subject which might Welcome to Rutland exhibition and Study Area Archaeology of Rutland. form the basis of an interesting article in at the Museum. st th Rutland Record is invited to contact Tim 1 to 9 May - Oakham Market Town Thursday 20 May, 7.30 pm at RCM Clough, on 01572 722316 or at As part of the Market Towns Week the Museum Rutland Local History & Record Society [email protected] will host an exhibition charting the history and development of Oakham Market. AGM followed by: Of the several Occasional Publications 14th May to 4th July - Simply Horses by The Jack Hart Collection of Rutland waiting in the wings, Rutland Land Tax and Lucy Deane. An exhibition of Lucy Deane‘s Postcards Poll Tax of 1712 is nearest to publication. portraits of horses drawn in pastel. Robert Ovens will talk about his Layout work is virtually complete and it 9th July to 30th August - The Art of Gill exploration of the Jack Hart Collection of will soon be ready for indexing. Boyle. This exhibition includes textiles, Rutland Postcards – not just the pictures on paintings and collages with images of marine the front, but also the words on the backs. ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP fish, abstract designs and landscapes. The Society‘s Environment Group takes 3rd September to 17th October - Paintings SUMMER / AUTUMN PROGRAMME a particular interest in the preservation of by Kitty and Stephen Wigmore. 2004 our rich inheritance of historical sites and Traditional portraits and landscapes by Kitty The joint RLHRS/FRCM programme buildings, mainly by monitoring Planning Wigmore and surreal cityscapes by her son group is shortly to meet to plan the events Applications and making appropriate Stephen.