A Museum for Melksham History. Open from 12th May 2012.
Archive - Originally posted on "The Horse's Mouth" - 2012-04-21 04:53:44 - Graham Ellis
On 12th May, we're opening "The Well House Collection" - a branch of the Melksham Museum. It's planned to be "A Rotating Exhibit to Celebrate All Things Melksham", and our first exhibit is the History of Transportation, starting with stagecoaches, and to include the Wilts & Berks Canal, Melksham Train Station and some enterprising manufacturers and carriers. There's lots more besides - there are a lot of very helpful people around, and with their help, and with the help of organisations such as Wiltshire Council's Heritage and Arts service, we've already obtained on loan a starting range of artefacts. We've also received much good advise on the display, cataloguing and care of these irreplaceable items.
Modern technology will help bring the past to life, with large amounts of data on site, accessible to visitors through a large screen. Some of that data's already available on line - via http://www.twhc.org.uk/TWHC/Welcome.html we have a Melksham timeline, 1841 Census Data, a Blog, a first Podcast and more.
Phil McMullen was appointed Curator of The Well House Collection upon its foundation in 2012. He is responsible for heightening awareness of the heritage of Melksham and district through a series of exhibitions, displays and presentations, both inherent and virtual. A key part of this is capturing the voices and memories of the people of Melksham, and Phil is always happy to talk to anyone with a story to tell.
"The Well House Collection" opens at 11 a.m. on Saturday, 12th May, at Well House Manor, 48, Spa Road, Melksham - on the Devizes Road from the Town Centre. If you're coming by bus, the X72, 272 and 14 all stop right outside. If you're driving, put SN12 7NY into your SatNav.
The Well House Collection will be open every afternoon throughout the summer, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., and at other times of day by appointment / arrangement. Very occasionally, the museum may be used to host a private function. Entry is free, and there is free parking on site. The Whitworth room at Well House Manor is open for cream teas (home made scones, English strawberries, etc) and bean to cup coffee every afternoon too - pot of tea / mug of bean to cup coffee, £1.50; full cream tea £5.00
Illustration - W. Petty RSS & General Smith. "A farrier that has undertaken an apprenticeship, leading to a recognised qualification is able to attach "RSS" to their company name. In Mr. Petty's case, he was uniquely qualified to shoe oxen. The forge building remnants can still be seen on King Street.". From a postcard; photo dated 1916 no postage or indicators of copyright, but is hand-written "property of R Petty" and in light pencil "1916/1917". From the collection of Simon Brewer.
On 12th May, we're opening "The Well House Collection" - a branch of the Melksham Museum. It's planned to be "A Rotating Exhibit to Celebrate All Things Melksham", and our first exhibit is the History of Transportation, starting with stagecoaches, and to include the Wilts & Berks Canal, Melksham Train Station and some enterprising manufacturers and carriers. There's lots more besides - there are a lot of very helpful people around, and with their help, and with the help of organisations such as Wiltshire Council's Heritage and Arts service, we've already obtained on loan a starting range of artefacts. We've also received much good advise on the display, cataloguing and care of these irreplaceable items.