Local History
Gressenhall Museum of Norfolk Life (taken in the summer).
Imagine a golden, halcyon autumn day, bathed in glorious sunshine and spent outside in fresh Norfolk countryside air. Too good to be true? Not so. For this was Sunday’s ‘Apple Day’ at Gressenhall Museum of Norfolk Life.
A farm and former workhouse, I have been really impressed with the way Gressenhall Museum (which I thought a bit dull and stuffy when we visited as kids) has transformed itself over the past few years to provide an excellent family day out in the country. Still excellent as well for those interested in the relatively recent social history of rural Norfolk, a river walk, farm animals, a superb cafe and the fairly recent addition of a fantastic kids playground (see pics below – taken this summer), make it a very good value day out that is far removed from ‘stuffy museum’ in style. We have been at least 4 times this year, possibly more.
Children's Adventure Playground at Gressenhall (taken in the summer).
Children's Adventure Playground at Gressenhall (taken in the summer).
Apple Day, however, an annual autumn event that I’ve seen advertised before but attended for the first time last Sunday, was a truly marvellous high point before Gressenhall closes for the Winter months (November, December, January, albeit for a couple of seasonal events).
Enjoying an apple at Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Inspired by the apple harvest, and generally all things autumn, Apple Day included a selection of stalls selling local produce and wares (we came away with some delicious bread, biscuits and, of course, a really lovely selection of some varieties of apples and pears that you won’t find in most supermarkets), apple-themed displays (traditional cider pressing, for example), apple-based crafts and other demonstrations encouraging gardening and home-growing.
Bag o' apples from Gressenhall's Apple Day.
There were plenty of opportunities to experience ‘traditional’ ways in farming and Norfolk life – a display of fabulous vintage tractors, sheep dogs rounding up geese, Morris Dancing, ploughing and harvesting using traditional methods… The majority were accessible and interactive – perfect for engaging curious young minds.
Little Man planting radishes with Gressenhall's Christine.
Vintage tractors at Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Craft stalls at Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Sheep Dog demonstration (should that be Goose Dog?) at Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Throughout the day, we also spent at least a few hours in the playground, strolled around the scenic riverside walk, along lanes and through trails and fields, and enjoyed a picnic in magnificent autumn sunshine. In my humble opinion, it was one of the nicest, best value days out we’ve had this year.
Suffolk Punch horses off to plough fields.
Lucie Ruddock, one of our Twitter friends, who was also at Apple Day, even joined in the ‘Wassail’ (which we were quite oblivious of – think we were on the river walk at the time). “Wassail is an ancient ceremony of good health. Around orchards it usually takes place in January to ensure a good apple crop. 3.15pm we all paraded to the orchard, lead by the School Teacher,then we all danced round the tree”, Lucie told us. Just brilliant.
In summary, Apple Day – an excellent Norfolk day out (caveat: if the weather is as amazing as it was this year; would imagine a rainy Apple Day to be quite different), as is Gressenhall - if you’ve never been, give it a try next season when it reopens.
Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse,
Gressenhall,
Dereham,
Norfolk,
NR20 4DR.
NUCA Student Phillip Shaw has been telling us about his involvement in an exciting new project that marries the latest technology with a museum that showcases the heritage of one of North Norfolk’s most popular towns, The Mo Sheringham Museum.
The Sheringham Project began in April this year, its intention to contribute to a museum experience that will resonate with a younger audience. Working on a purely voluntary basis, Phil will be showcasing aspects of the Victorian Sheringham in a 3D fly-though animation.
3D animation of outer building at Victorian-era Sheringam Rail Station.
Phil’s first brief was to recreate the main street – Station Road and High Street. When we spoke to Phil he had already begun ‘reconstructing’ the clock tower which historically marks the centre of the town.
3D animation of Victorian-era Sheringham Clock Tower.
Ultimately, visitors will be able to take a virtual journey down a Victorian era Station Road, passing long-closed businesses and buildings now dramatically changed, including:
The Dairy and Tea Rooms (now the Jolly Tar Restaurant)
Rymer’s Cycle Hire (now Sullivan’s Hairdresser)
Blythe and Wright (still here)
Piggot’s
Pratt’s – interior and exterior (doesn’t exist in reality anymore, but a mock up of the shop is in the museum)
The Methodist Chapel
The Clock Tower with the clock face on it – you’ll be able to ‘fly’ around this
Bakers (now Sainsbury’s)
Lushers Bakers
The Two Lifeboats Hotel
First steps towards a 3D animation of Victorian-era Station Road in Sheringham.
Depending on his schedule, Phil hopes to have the project completed later this Autumn, after which time his work will be shown on a big LCD flat screen TVs at The Mo.
Phil says of the project: “The Mo exhibits Sheringham’s local history and in particular it’s renowned nautical culture. The Mo showcases a collection of RNLI lifeboats that once operated on the coast of Sheringham whilst upstairs on the first floor is a diverse collection of historical exhibits showcasing the history of Sheringham through the ages. My 3D fly-through is designed to engage younger audiences into learning about the history of the town.
This is a wonderful opportunity to have my work on show and actually contribute something academic to a local community whilst helping a registered charity”.
Read more about The Sheringham Project, including updates as work progresses, here.
The Mo – Sheringham Museum.
Lifeboat Plain, Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8BG.
Tel: 01263 824482
An exhibition of furniture, buildings and kitchens, by internationally known, Norwich-based Designer, John Barnard, will be held at the Norfolk Room, in the Narthex, St. John the Baptist Cathedral, in Earlham Road, Norwich until Thursday 25th August 2011 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This exhibition celebrates a lifetime of furniture-making and design, from the early 1970’s to today, and illustrates such unique pieces as the ‘Mondrian’ chest, the ‘Victory’ table, and John’s current obsession: resin and wood, which uses the whole tree trunk including the bark and the insects – very environmentally and ecologically aware!
Kate Middleton’s recent wedding to Prince William revived memories of yet another Royal romance for John Barnard. In 1981, ten years after opening his furniture workshop in his garage at St. Stephens Square, Norwich, Norfolk County Council bestowed on him the honour of designing the Council’s wedding present for Prince William’s Mum and Dad – Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. He came up with the unique ‘Diana Willow Table’ inspired by the Weeping Willow tree.
John Barnard Furniture has gone from the simple ‘Lowline’ sofa – still made in Nairobi – into more complex and sculptural pieces, made of unusual timbers such as pippy oak, burr black poplar, ripple sycamore, with glass, steel, resin and granite, used in his kitchens, libraries, bedrooms and offices. John’s engineering and furniture making background served him well in combining materials to use their strengths, but to avoid their weaknesses.
His client list includes corporations and public bodies, including UEA, Aylsham Library, Targetfollow Property Developers, Longleat and Reedham Church, as well as prestigious private clients spanning the globe from Canada to Australia, Bermuda to San Tropez via the Isle of Skye. One commission – ‘furniture to celebrate the Battle of Trafalgar Bicentenary‘ – featured on the BBC ‘Flog It’ programme. This can be seen on his website: www.johnbarnard.co.uk where he and Paul Martin discuss using the salvaged oak from Nelson’s flagship the ‘Victory’. As John says ‘work on and eat off living history – stroke the oak which Nelson trod’.
John ‘s sketchbooks from the 40 years can be inspected and the ‘Flog It’ footage viewed at the exhibition. His three ‘Guild Mark’ pieces from the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers will be illustrated. John is a Liveryman who holds the chairmanship of the Bespoke Guild Mark Committee in London, and describes himself as a Furniture Engineer of bespoke pieces and the built-in environment who has just won the ‘Bermudian’ magazine Interior Design Award for his doors on a client’s house in Bermuda, his fourth project on this delicious island. His glass staircase and small buildings will also be illustrated during the ‘timeline’ of his 40 years as a furniture designer-maker.
John will give short lectures on his favourite career highlights.
Additionally, the famous sculptress Barbara Leaney is showing her unique, uplifting creations made from the earliest stage of the growth of trees.
(Words: John & Jacquie Barnard).
- 18/05/2012 - Victorian Shell Artistry May 18, 2012
- 18/05/2012 - Shipwrecked! Back to 1897 May 18, 2012
- 18/05/2012 - A Walk Through Time: The Victorians May 18, 2012
- 18/05/2012 - Norwich 20 Group – Looking into 20 – paintings and sculpture at The Forum May 18, 2012
- 18/05/2012 - Tony Foster Paintings/Angela Harding Prints May 18, 2012