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Visitor Numbers Hold Up Well |
| In spite of the
Museum's closure for five weeks at the beginning of the main season as a
result of the foot and mouth outbreak we have had very encouraging
numbers of visitors this year. Extra special effort in marketing and
promotion has helped keep the Museum buoyant in what has been a
particularly difficult year.
Of course the closure has reduced our visitor total compared with this time last year. However, comparison of the daily visitor figures from 1 April (when we re-opened) with last year is very satisfying and shows a 4% increase. At the time of going to press the Fine Food Fair was still to come in September, removed from its normal Easter date, and with some luck and good weather, we hope to make up the deficit. This year's new event, A Storm of Arrows, was a great success. The weekend attracted around 3,800 visitors despite rain on Saturday. Participants left requesting that the event be repeated in 2002 and many favourable comments were received from visitors. |
| Waggons roll
Three waggons have been conserved and displayed in the Charlwood Open Shed. The waggons have been chosen to represent the main areas of the Museum’s region, one from Sussex, one from Kent and one from Surrey. In the photograph conservation specialist George Monger is busy working on the waggon made for the Rev. Lionel Corbett, of Hockley, Surrey. Conservation, as opposed to restoration, aims to prevent further degradation and to retain as much of the original artefact as possible: the work is financed by The Science Museum PRISM Fund. Below, the three waggons in position beneath the shed, which was rescued from the perimeter of Gatwick Airport and re-erected last year. |
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Young owls hatch Graham Roberts, a West Sussex County Council ecologist checks one of four young Barn Owls who hatched during the summer. Each of the birds was ringed and distinguishing features recorded, by Graham, who is licensed to handle owls. Nick Conway, the Museum’s site manager first noticed the owl activity. The parent owl has been seen by staff, volunteers and sometimes visitors throughout the summer flying to the young birds with food. With the decline of traditional building habitats for these owls, the Museum is playing a small part in arresting the decline of Barn Owl numbers. Graham Roberts will continue to advise the Museum on owl welfare. |
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Volunteer Reg Knight helps a young visitor tackle daubing with traditional materials during the Children’s Activity Weekend. |
Duke, the Shire X British Percheron colt foal born to Museum Shire mare Rosy in May, was a great attraction all year. |
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Visitors learn about traditional coppice work during the visit of the History Re-enactment Workshop in August. |
Learning to weave – mother and son tackle the craft at
North Cray Hall House. |
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Museum gardener Bob Holman is interviewed in the Bayleaf medieval garden during the making of 'Tudor Times' for Channel 4 |
Time to cook – Friends’ secretary Jean Piggott teaching some pastry basics to a group of school children in Walderton House. |
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The Museum’s working
Shires busy at haymaking on the hill above Poplar Cottage with horseman
Rob Dash and collecting the sheaves for the harvest of thatching straw
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Archers loose their bows during the Storm of Arrows, a new event in August which explored the history and modern sport of archery. |
Traditional dug-out boat takes shape by the mill pondIn an exciting project this August a dug-out boat made from an oak log was made and launched on the Museum’s top mill pond. A team of volunteers worked under the direction of ancient woodwork specialist Damian Goodburn for seven days, creating a great deal of interest among visitors. The large oak log was donated by Lord Egremont of the Leconfield Estate, Petworth in memory of Chris Zeuner. Modelled on an Anglo-Saxon example excavated from the River Arun at Amberley, the log was split and converted using traditional axes and adzes. Members of the team had to take it in turns to down tools to interpret the project, such was the enthusiasm of visitors. They were able to see the boat take shape and gain some insight into the lives of the original craftsmen 1,300 years ago. The boat’s launch at the mill pond went very smoothly, watched by a big audience, and many of those who helped make the boat paddled a circuit of the mill pond in the remarkably swift and stable craft.
The dug-out boat takes shape – clockwise from top, Jonathan Roberts begins to shape the stern; becoming very boat-shaped, and finally launched and going well.
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