Here’s our packed programme of events for the 8-11 Sep 2016: Heritage Open Days

Be sure to book your place on the tours of Berkhamsted Place, “Garrison Town Berkhamsted” (follow in the footsteps of the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps), Ashlyns School Foundling Hospital, St Peter’s Church and the Court House, Rectory Lane Cemetery, Old Hall and the Chapel at Berkhamsted School, DHT Museum Store, the Town Hall and Berkhamsted Castle.

Don’t miss this opportunity to see something of Berkhamsted’s hidden history!

As well as Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society’s Heritage Open Days next weekend, here is a rare opportunity to visit the medieval, fifteenth century wall paintings, housed in a humble cottage. Believed to have been a stopping point for pilgrims en route between St Albans and Ashridge Monastery.

132 Piccotts End, Hemel Hempstead, HP13AU
Sunday 11th September 2016
Tours available from 10am to 4pm daily (last tour 3pm)

It’s easy to book your tour, simply:
• Book through Eventbrite Piccotts end Medieval Cottage here
• Or phone Karen Murphy on 07830176431

TWO SPECIAL DATES at the Luton Hoo Estate Walled Garden!

HERITAGE OPEN DAY – Friday 9th September, 11am to 3pm
Visit the octagonal Walled Garden designed by Capability Brown for Lord Bute and discover its long forgotten secret!

AUTUMN OPEN DAY – Saturday 8th October, 10.30am to 1pm
Children’s Activities on Saturday October 8th include making a woodland mask, race snails and make a leaf collage!

Visit website for details here

Recreating the sounds and scenes of a bygone age by…
Singing and playing the joyful music
of our Country Churches from the 18th century

‘A Country Harvest Home’

A concert performed in this beautiful Arts & Crafts church

Saturday 10th September, 4.30pm

Interval with drinks and nibbles

St Peter’s Church,
Ayot St Peter,
Herts
AL6 9BG

Free entry with collection for Church Funds
Contact: 01707 323573

Applications are being invited for courses starting in Sep 2016 at Oxford and Cambridge, many of which would be of interest to Berkhamsted Local History & Museum Society members.

At Cambridge, there is a new Medieval England course, or history and archaeology are taught part-time and lead to full University of Cambridge qualifications. Teaching takes place at Madingley Hall, a 16^th century country house near Cambridge set in 8 acres of landscaped grounds. More details can be found here: Cambridge courses

Oxford short and online courses are open to the public and can lead to credits which can count towards a recognised qualification. Then there are are part-time undergraduate programmes, or you can go for a Master of Science or DPhil degree in English Local History. More details here: Oxford courses

 

Come and celebrate Berkhamsted’s architecture and culture at this year’s Heritage Open Days Thursday 8-Sep-2016 to Sunday 11-Sep-2016

New! this year there will be…

EXPLORING GARRISON TOWN BERKHAMSTED
A THEN & NOW GUIDED WALK OF SITES IMPORTANT FOR
INNS OF COURT OTC DURING WWI

More details here

Lots of events to look forward to at the Museum…

Home Education Day on 14 July
A selection of drop in sessions about how we used live. Learn Victorian crafts, dress up in 1970s clothing, create a corn dolly and have a go at riding a 1940s bike.

Classic Vehicles Day 16-17 July
Local clubs and private vehicle owners will be bringing along their gleaming, lovingly-maintained vehicles to be proudly displayed among the Museum’s historic buildings.

Ragged Victorians 23-24 July
Learn about the less savory aspects of Victorian life in a fun, family-friendly event. Meet authentic Victorian characters – watch out for pickpockets!

Highwaymen 30-31 July
Take your life in your hands as you travel to, and through, the 18^th Century! Meet costumed re-enactors in and around the Museum’s buildings.

On the evening of Friday 1 July, the original film from the summer of 1916 of the Battle of the Somme will be shown. This is to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the battle.  The film has been remastered with a soundtrack and provides an astonishing insight into the battle and how it was portrayed to the British public in the summer of 1916 when it was shown across the country and seen by millions.

The film starts at 7.30pm in All Saints’ Church Hall on The Causeway in Marlow and entrance is free of charge.  The film will be followed by a short commemorative service at the war memorial outside.

Here is the May edition of the newsletter Marlow Remembers WWI

Exciting news of a proposed Town Hall Museum…

Back in 1967, Percy Birtchnell wrote: “The question of a museum for Berkhamsted has been raised many times, but we always come back to the housing problem… Documents are easily stored; it is not so easy to find space for the tools of old crafts, furniture, dresses, and other relics worthy of preservation”.

The old Fire Station behind the Civic Centre houses documents and artefacts on behalf of local history societies (including Berkhamsted, Tring, Hemel etc) in accredited museum conditions, but there is no facility for exhibits and public visits are by appointment only.

Percy Birtchnell would be thrilled that Berkhamsted Town Hall Trust has agreed in principle to combine with the Society to investigate the possibility of a Museum in the Town Hall:

“Iain Lang thanked Giles Clark for producing the paper. Pete Elsworth stated that the Trust agreed in principle to the proposal assuming that the required funding could be obtained. Pete Elsworth and Ian Reay to attend the next meeting that Giles Clark arranged with the Berkhamsted Local History and Museum Society and other interested parties. It was also agreed that the existing design drawings and documentation, produced by Robert Martell & Partners for an earlier second floor renovation project, could be used by Giles Clark.”

Could there be a more perfect location for our Museum?