Alison Barnetson comments on what’s been happening at Aldeburgh that past few months.
June and the first part of July were busy behind the scenes of our magnificent museum, a re-opening date was agreed and we had to make sure that measures were in place to make a Grade 1 Tudor, timber framed Moot Hall virus secure! All this was after lockdown when staff were busy creating something to entertain everyone- including making a family of Museum Mice with each one modelling a local heritage costume, a mouse storytelling competition, colouring-in therapy, quizzes and newsletters.
The doors were reopened on 11th July, a great relief to all. The Supervisors had been itching to return although our volunteer pool has temporarily shrunk so it’s all ‘hands on deck’ for the time being, with even ‘The Boss’ taking a turn at stewarding.
Left: Model of the Moot Hall Right: Moot Hall Building
During August we showcased the family of Museum Mice such as Suffragette mouse, Anglo-Saxon mouse, Lifeboat mouse and many others alongside the winning stories from the Mouse Storytelling competition and the antics they got up to. To celebrate what would have been the Carnival weekend, a new child-friendly walk around various landmarks in the town was launched. ‘A walk with Snooks’ is FREE with an entry ticket from the Museum Gift shop. Keeping with the walking theme we put together a family friendly Heritage, Heath and Hedgerow walk along the Sailors Path with a fascinating view of the River Alde, as part of the ‘Suffolk Steps, Pathways to the Past’ initiative. A grant from Historic England saw Aldeburgh Museum and The Red House partnership and produce Activity sheets for children to explore and learn about an item or story linked to local heritage, such as the chicken headdress from Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde, or the lantern belonging to the smuggler James Cable from Aldeburgh Museum and then have a go to make one.
Looking ahead, we will be participating in the National Heritage Open day when the museum and so Moot Hall will be FREE on 21st September 2020 between 1 -4pm. Pre-booking is essential for this event. In October half-term we will be joining in with the national ‘Where’s Wally’, The Big Museum Hunt, organised by ‘Kids in Museums’.
Aldeburgh Museum is open every day until 31st October between 1-4pm and from November to March weekends only between 1-4pm.
FREE pre-booking at www.ticketsource.co.uk/aldeburgh_museum