Winter at Hartlebury

It’s been a busy year at the County Museum and as 2008 draws to a close we are working hard on our Christmas activities.  Over 800 school children will be visiting us to experience a Victorian Christmas in the Schoolroom and over the weekends of 6, 7, 13 & 14 December we are inviting the public to visit the Castle for a range of Christmas entertainment and activities including Father Christmas in his Grotto, carriage rides, gift and craft stalls and children's activities as well as face painting, music and choirs.

We close to the public on 23^rd December but re-open just two weeks later on Tuesday 6^th January – this will be the first time the museum has ever been open in January!  Staff are already working hard behind the scenes on changing the ground floor of the museum into a much more interactive, informative and visitor friendly display area focussing on the wonders of Worcestershire and the importance of water to the region. The exhibition, entitled 'Springs, Spas and Holidays' will be opening in summer 2009.

County Museum calls for residents to help shape virtual exhibition

Worcestershire County Council's County Museum is encouraging members of the public to have a say in what treasures will appear in its new virtual exhibition, U-Choose@Hartlebury. The County Museum in Hartlebury wants people to come forward and choose an item from the museum that they would like to see in the virtual exhibition within its section on the County Council's website, www.worcestershire.gov.uk/museum. There is an array of artefacts at the museum that range from agricultural items, to 19th Century costumes, from gypsy caravans to a rare Castle III car made in Kidderminster that people can choose to place on the website. Sue Pope, Worcestershire County Council’s Education and Outreach Officer at the County Museum, said: U-Choose@Hartlebury is a unique opportunity for people to choose artefacts that they want to see on our new virtual exhibition website. The County Museum offers a vast array of artefacts that the public can view at the Museum and then online. The website will offer space for thoughts about the online collection and individual pieces. People can pick their favourite piece of history by visiting the museum or by logging on to our website.”

Residents who are keen to be a part of the virtual exhibition can visit the museum, Tuesday to Friday from 10am until 5pm and at weekends and Bank Holidays from 11am until 5pm, to choose an artefact. Admission to the museum costs £4 adults, £2 children and concessions and £10 family ticket (two adults and two children). Residents can also email Sue Pope at spope@worcestershire.gov.uk with any ideas or images of what they would like to see appear in the virtual exhibition. Those wanting more information about the museum or the exhibition should call call Sue Pope on 01299 250416.

Restoration Projects

Esmeralda is our most recent addition to the Gypsy caravans, or Vardos, at Hartlebury. She came from the family of the author Anthony Sampson. Esmeralda was originally built in 1909. Her construction is unusual with having a bow top and side windows. She is also particularly large and we think that the wheels come from a pair of recycled carriage axles. We believe that Esmeralda was named after Esmeralda Locke, the daughter of well-known Welsh Gypsy family. This girl was something of a free-spirit. She married the town clerk of Bridgnorth when she was young, but ran away with Gypsy Lore Society member Francis Groome. She could not settle with Francis either and left him to persue the wild, free, wandering Romany life as a dancer and singer.