MUSEUM FRIEND
Newsletter for the Friends of Lyme Regis Philpot Museum
Issue no. 28
July 2016
Registered charity number 278774
ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!
Within the last few weeks all Friends will have received a letter
signed by the Chairman of the Friends and the Chairman of the
Trustees, explaining that we still need to raise the last £150,000 of
this £1.4M project:
The Mary Anning Wing
“We are convinced that this is achievable,” it said, “and individual
donations from Friends like you will really make all the difference
now.”
Many Friends have responded and they have been most generous.
Others, we feel certain, will follow. Most have given us the added
bonus of a completed Gift Aid form, meaning that our Treasurer can
claim an additional 25% of the money donated, thus swelling our
coffers substantially. Wonderful!
These are exciting times for our small charity. To be in a position to
give £50,000 towards that last £150,000, as we are certain we will be
before the end of the year, is a phenomenal achievement on top of
all the other contributions we have made over the years.
And wasn’t that a lovely letter of support from our
Patron, Tracy Chevalier? “Lyme has such a rich
history in both its famous residents and its unique
location on the Jurassic Coast that the Museum is
spoiled for choice in what to display. I sometimes
imagine what the museum would be like if we had a
little more room”. Quite so: that’s why we need the Mary Anning
Wing so badly. With your help, and Tracy’s, it will happen.
Meanwhile, if you haven’t already registered your interest in
attending the Literary Dinner at Lyme Regis Golf Club on 1st October
when Tracy will be the guest speaker, please do so now before
tickets go on sale to the general public. Simply send an e-mail to
[email protected]
or write to Sylvia Oliver, 3 Barnes Meadow, Uplyme, DT7 3TD
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LYME REGIS
Part of a new Bermuda Triangle
The ‘tripling’ of Lyme Regis with St. Georges in Bermuda and
Jamestown in Virginia as actively promoted by our local Lyme
Regis/St. Georges twinning association, has spawned a new Bermuda
Triangle, writes David Cox.
Former mayor, local MP and son of Lyme,
Sir George Somers (1554-1610) claimed
Bermuda* as England’s first crown colony
when he was shipwrecked there in 1609.
Sir George and his fleet were caught in a
ferocious storm when on their way to
relieve the starving Jamestown community.
His flagship, the Sea Venture, ran aground
on a Bermudan coral reef. There was no
loss of life and the provisions and cargo were taken ashore in what
must have been a highly efficient operation! The remainder of the
fleet survived the storm and reached the beleaguered Jamestown
settlement. For the 150 survivors on the island, food was plentiful
with birds, eggs, fish, turtles, wild pigs and berries all readily
available.
Astonishingly, the crew managed to build a couple of replacement
ships and after eight months continued their journey to Jamestown.
Sir George returned to Bermuda to collect further supplies - sadly he
became ill and died in 1610. His heart was buried in Bermuda but his
body, pickled in a barrel, was landed at the Cobb in Lyme Regis in
1618. A volley of muskets and cannon saluted his final journey to
Whitchurch Canonicorum, where his body is buried.
There seems little doubt that the Jamestown colony, founded in
1607, would not have survived had it not been for Sir George and his
fleet.
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Underwater research in recent years has proved beyond doubt that
the wreck, still held fast on a coral reef about a mile offshore, is
indeed that of the Sea Venture. Very few artefacts were found on
the wreck, confirming that supplies had been successfully off-loaded.
It is by good fortune that the diary of one of the passengers has
survived and gives a detailed account of the journey, the shipwreck
and subsequent events.
Meanwhile extensive archaeological
research has uncovered the original settlement beside the James
River in Jamestown. Amongst a trove of artefacts are pottery items
made in what was a substantial pottery industry in Donyatt, about 20
miles north of Lyme Regis. The Donyatt pottery was ideally located
to export its wares from the ports of Lyme Regis, Bristol, Exeter and
Plymouth. Yes, Lyme Regis was a major port at that time!
Recently, in the first of a series talks organised by the Lyme twinning
association, Museum Trustee John Dover and author Peter Lacey
described how the Queen, visiting Jamestown during its 400th
anniversary celebrations in 2007, was taken to the archaeological
site of the James Fort. ‘Here, Ma’am,’ said her host, ‘is where English
America and the British Empire began’. This first English settlement
in North America pre-dated the Pilgrim Fathers in Massachusetts by
more than a decade.
It is during this year, 2016, that the 20th anniversary is being
celebrated of the official twinning between Lyme Regis and St.
Georges, Bermuda. St. Georges and Jamestown were twinned on the
27th July 2010 and the ‘tripling’ with Lyme Regis has now been
completed to form an ‘Historic Atlantic Triangle’. A statue of Sir
George Somers will be unveiled in Langmoor Gardens on Tuesday,
July 26th. Also in July, Theatre Square will be the setting for an
outdoor production of ‘The Tempest’, Shakespeare’s play thought to
be based on the wreck of the Sea Venture.
Many members of the Lyme Regis community will be involved - do
come if you can!
*To this day Bermuda is known as “The Somers Isles”. Ed.
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WARM WORDS FROM THE TREASURER
The Summary Statement of the examined accounts for 2015 is
reproduced in this newsletter for the benefit of Members who were
unable to attend the AGM in April. As you can see by year-end we
had accumulated almost £36,500. Since then this figure has risen to
more than £40,000, which is most encouraging – but we still need
another £10,000 to get us to our target of £50,000 towards the cost
of the Mary Anning Wing
Based on past performance it really is do-able!
The accounts show that membership continues to increase and that
donations, which include funds arising from Local Giving, are also up
on the previous year. Many thanks to our generous Members. Book
sales continue to be buoyant and our 2-day book sale on Lyme sea
front over the Easter holiday raised £713 as did the book sale held in
June. We always welcome donations of good quality books, with
paperbacks in good condition selling particularly well. Donated books
can be handed in to the museum or Richard Wells (01297 442627)
and I (01297 443156) will collect from your home.
A word of explanation is required regarding the Doreen Perrey
Legacy of £10,000, plus a little interest. Derek Perrey was an
enthusiastic member of the museum’s research team, led by Graham
Davies, and bequeathed this splendid sum for the use of the research
group. Derek stipulated that the money was to be held by the
Friends and is therefore ring-fenced in our interest-bearing account.
Derek pre-deceased his wife, Doreen. The donor’s wish is for the
legacy to be used to safeguard the financial future of the Research
Team and for ‘this gift to be used for equipment to be used in their
research including subscriptions to websites appropriate for the
research carried out at the Lyme Regis Philpot museum, and which is
not otherwise available through the Museum’. I have quoted
directly from the will.
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Subscription Reminder
•Single membership: £8.00 pa
•Family membership: £12.00 pa
•Subscriptions are due in January each year; cheques, payable to
‘Friends of Lyme Regis Museum’, to Sylvia Oliver, 3 Barnes Meadow,
Uplyme, DT7 3TD. If you wish to pay by bank transfer, our bank
details are: NatWest: ‘Friends of Lyme Regis Museum ’. Sort Code:
60-13-57; Account No. 73484172.
• Most members pay by standing order, which is simple and really
helpful. If you wish to do this, please contact Sylvia on 01297 445537
or by e- mail: [email protected]
N.B. Before paying your sub. by cash or cheque, please check that
you do not already pay by standing order!
David Cox
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Please support this!
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BAfM CONFERENCE
Comes to Ironbridge
The 43rd annual BAfM conference on 1st October this year will be in
Ironbridge, home of the country’s largest independent museum. It is
located in the Ironbridge Gorge, one of the most beautiful parts of
Shropshire and – like our own Jurassic Coast – is a World Heritage
Site.
Not that the Ironbridge is just one museum: it comprises ten
museum sites within the valley ranging from the fascinating 50-acre
Blists Hill Victorian Town to the Georgian
homes of Quaker Ironmasters. Our
hosts for this year’s event will be The
Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museums,
the Conference itself being held at the
Coalbrookdale site next door to the
Museum of Iron.
The Conference theme?
Marketing for Excellence. And who better to open the proceedings
than Sir Neil Cossons, President of the Friends, President of the
Association of Independent Museums, and former Chairman of
English Heritage. He will be followed by David de Haan, former
programme Director of Learning of the Ironbridge Institute teaching
Heritage Management. Marketing and fund-raising tips will be given
by the next speaker, Katie Foster – she will be concentrating on how
to get the best out of The Heritage Lottery Fund. Final keynote
speaker will be Tony Berry, Visitor Experience Director for the
National Trust.
All these speakers have national reputations. They will be addressing
many of the issues with which so many of us in the sector are
grappling today, but be assured that all this concentration will be
balanced by guided tours of three of the museum sites during the
day and a closing reception with drinks and canapés. Those who stay
on for another day will be given a Passport Ticket for all ten
museums, valid for multiple return visits over 12 months!
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TROWELBLAZERS:
A website with a difference
This unexpected gem of a website turns out to be a celebration of
women archaeologists, geologists and palaeontologists blazing a trail in
what is still seen as very much a man’s world. It seems that Mary
Anning and the Philpot sisters really started something - but the
women who succeeded them have until recently been largely ignored.
Trowelblazers aim to change all that and for 2016/17 are hoping to
organise a national touring photographic exhibition – Raising Horizons which will feature historic portraits of a dozen key women in the
trowel-blazing sciences from the 19th to the mid-20th century.
Portraits will be by award winning photographer Leonora Saunders, to
be posed by a range of modern women working in these fields.
Not surprisingly Trowelblazers were very interested to hear all about
our very own Mary Anning Wing since they are looking for venues with
broad links to palaeontology. The exhibition will run from October this
year until July 2017, and - other things being equal – they would like
our museum to be one of their venues: perhaps the most appropriate
one in view of the Mary Anning connection!
Apart from the photographic exhibition there will be extra touches
such as public talks or mini exhibitions of archive materials. The
organisers are also hoping to establish links with the Fossil Festival next
year, and to produce special video interviews with the modern women,
recording the oral history of their own research networks and
experiences in the field. Activities involving young people and children
are very much on the cards as well.
By way of a bonus: such is their interest in the Mary Anning Wing that
they are publicising our fund-raising campaign to their own Twitter and
Facebook communities. Say the organisers: “We hope that Raising
Horizons will reach many more people than usual, helping them to
discover the story of how our archaeological, geological, and
palaeontological heritage owes a huge amount to pioneering women.”
http://trowelblazers.com/
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CAPTAIN THOMAS CORAM:
an Unsung Hero
Thomas Coram was born in Lyme Regis in
about 1668. He was sent to sea for five
years at the age of eleven and was then
apprenticed to a shipwright in London.
He became a successful ship builder and
trader and, aged 25 years, sailed to
America and set up a business near
Boston. In 1704 Thomas returned to
London and continued to build ships and
trade with the colonies. Comfortably well off, Thomas and his wife,
sadly with no children, moved to Rotherhithe. It was during his
journeys into London that Thomas was confronted by the everyday
sights of starving and abandoned children. He resolved to help these
children and dedicated the next 17 years to raising the funds to build
the Foundling Hospital.
London in the 18th century was a thoroughly miserable place for the
poor, with congested housing, disease and pollution. The population
almost doubled to around a million by the end of the century, largely
due to mass migration from the countryside. The mortality rate for
children under five was around 75% and it is estimated that around
1,000 babies a year were abandoned. Thomas was what we would
call today an ‘activist’. He had a pocket book containing the names
of the influential and wealthy but made slow progress with his fund
raising until he decided to appeal to the heart strings of wealthy
ladies. In 1729 the Duchess of Somerset signed his petition and
other ladies of fashion followed suit. The task must have been
incredibly difficult for a man with no education, no real wealth and
no rank in society.
But the great and the good had to be relentlessly pursued because a
Charter of Incorporation was required from the King to set up a
Foundling Hospital. The first petition to the King came from 21
‘Ladies of Quality and Distinction’. The second, in 1737, came from
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‘Noblemen and Gentlemen’ and included 25 dukes, 31 earls, 26
members of the peerage and 38 knights, along with the Prince of
Wales and the Prime Minister. Finally, aged 70, on 20th November
1739, Thomas presented a Royal Charter, signed by King George ll, to
the Duke of Bedford for the incorporation of the Foundling Hospital.
Thomas enlisted prominent personalities of the day to help with his
fund-raising campaign. These included George Frederic Handel and
William Hogarth. Hogarth designed the Hospital’s coat of arms and
donated a portrait of Thomas Coram which can be seen today in the
Museum. He persuaded leading artists to donate works to the
hospital which became England’s first public art gallery, a
‘destination venue’ for fashionable Londoners. Handel raised huge
sums of money by producing benefit concerts, including an annual
performance of the Messiah.
The first children were admitted to the West Wing in October 1745.
The design was for two residential wings, one for girls and one for
boys, separated by a central chapel and built around a large
colonnaded courtyard for the children to exercise in wet weather.
The East Wing was completed in 1752 and by the early 1750s, some
600 children were being cared for.
A lottery system was devised for admission to the Hospital as the
number of needy children far exceeded the number of places.
Mothers would attend with their babies at the appointed time and,
in turn, would draw a ball from a bag. If the ball was white, the baby
had a place provided that it passed a medical examination, which
was mainly to exclude infectious diseases. If a black ball was drawn,
the mother had to leave immediately. If a red ball was drawn, the
mother was taken aside and could draw again if one of the white ball
babies failed its medical. It is not difficult to imagine the scenes of
heartache and despair.
The mothers of accepted babies left a token, perhaps just a piece of
cloth, by which the child could be reclaimed if ever circumstances
allowed. There is a very moving display of these tokens on show in
the museum. The mothers were also given a receipt in the form of a
simple certificate and a registration number. Babies were handed to
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approved foster-mothers in the countryside until they reached the
age of 5 years, when they were returned to the Hospital. This
traumatic time is dramatically recounted in Jacqueline Wilson’s
popular children’s book, ‘Hetty Feather’, also the subject of a
successful West End play.
By the standards of the day, the Foundling children were well
clothed and well fed. They received schooling, apprenticeships and
discipline; boys typically went into the army, always needy of
recruits, and girls often went into service. What they lacked was
parental love. The last pupils were removed from the school in 1954
and placed in foster care.
Today the Foundling Museum, opened in June 2004, stands in the
grounds of the old Hospital in an oasis of green, a short walk from
Kings Cross railway station. It is a first class museum with an
excellent café. Material for this article was gleaned from a visit to
the museum and from their excellent publication: ‘The Foundling
Museum; an Introduction’.
By any standards, Thomas Coram’s achievements were truly
remarkable. He had to overcome social apathy and the moral
qualms of helping ‘the idle and morally weak’. At the time of his
death in 1751 he was virtually a pauper, having invested his all in the
Hospital. He is commemorated in a lovely stained glass window in
the porch of St. Michael’s Church in Lyme Regis. To quote John
Fowles: ‘Lyme Regis has more famous names but none of kinder
memory’.
David Cox
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Delightful Day Out in Dunster
Long time Friend Anne Sankey much enjoyed our June 16th trip to
Dunster Castle and Medieval Village via the West Somerset Steam
Railway.
On the train I found myself sitting among the railway buffs in the
restored GWR carriage – it was good to be reminded of childhood
journeys, and a pleasant, more interesting way to see the
countryside, stopping at all the small stations along the way. Once at
Dunster Station, built by the Victorian George Fownes Luttrell, we
re-connected with our coach driver, John, who did a great job
negotiating the narrow lanes up to the castle entrance. As our timed
entrance to the castle was not until the afternoon we dispersed for
lunch. Phillip and I ate our picnic overlooking the fields where the
Grand Western Archery Society were also having a lunch break,
archery being yet another Luttrell supported activity.
The Luttrell family had lived here for
over 600 years before Colonel Sir
Walter Luttrell and his wife gave the
castle to the National Trust in 1976.
She had worked for the SOE during
WWll, and he won the MC in the
Normandy Campaign.
The castle still manages to be quite “homely” albeit on a grand scale,
and there were even places where we could sit down – great for
those of us who are less mobile than we used to be! I liked the place
names and the menus for the meal laid out in the dining room, and
the children’s puzzles which one family were trying to complete. I
had forgotten about the large beaten-leather wall hangings showing
the story of Anthony and Cleopatra, seen on a previous visit:
magnificent. In the small ‘Justice Room’ a nostalgic black Bakelite
telephone rang. I didn’t answer it but the next visitor did and it told
her more of the family’s history.
We found that the fully restored 18thC working water mill, down the
steep path through the grounds to the river, is part of the estate and
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is managed by the National Trust. They were serving tea in the
garden, and work was in progress in the restaurant in preparation for
opening the following weekend.
As we walked back to the coach through the magnificent medieval
village, past the famous Yarn Market – built by George Luttrell in the
17th century - our ice creams were nearly melting in the warm sun.
Despite the appalling weather elsewhere that day in Dorset and
Devon, we had a day of brilliant blue skies and unbroken sunshine.
By journeying to the North-West Somerset Coast on the 16th of June
we avoided the thunder storm that brought torrential rain to Lyme.
Only a few spots of rain were falling on our return to Holmbush Car
Park.
Many thanks for your report, Anne:
It really was a lovely day out! – Ed.
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We extend a warm welcome to the following new Friends who have
joined us since the last newsletter was published:
Mrs A and Mr M Hawkes
Miss I J Jones
Mr J and Mrs J Dover
Mr R and Mrs H Williams
All the above are from Local Area
Mrs P and Mr D Herbert from Bristol
Rev S and Mr K Bedborough from Poole
Mrs J and Mr C Parker from Tonbridge
Mrs N and Mr S Royle from Ashton-under-Lyne
Mr G Walters from Sholing
Mr C and Mrs G Couzens from Bruton
If you get a chance have a look at the Museum’s newly updated website: it
leaves Members and visitors in no doubt that there’s a great deal going on in
our lovely, soon-to-be extended Grade ll listed building. Let’s hope the
weather Gods will be as kind to our builders when work starts in September
as they were to us on our Dunster day out!
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The Mary Anning Wing – and more
Trustees, volunteers and Friends were all invited to the Woodmead
Hall on June 28th to take part in an audio-visual presentation on the
new wing by its architect, Robert Battersby, and to meet Kristina
Broughton, our Activity Plan Co-ordinator, who told us more about
the exciting opportunities we will be offering to visitors in the years
to come.
As our architect pointed out: though the plans are well advanced this
is still a journey – and we’re still in the middle of that journey. Via a
series of on-screen sketches and drawings he took us through the
various stages of development, from a blank page and a dream to an
ultra modern state-of-the-art extension designed to maximise the
museum’s potential and to make the most of its magnificent view of
the sea and the inspirational sweep of the Jurassic Coast. Along the
way there were of course considerations of vital factors like light,
heating, ventilation, internal blinds, and external materials which
would work best in the salt laden air.
In that context, some devotees will perhaps be disappointed that the
extension will be built of glass, zinc, aluminium and lead, but this is in
line with professional recommendations taking full account of the
external conditions: our coast is notorious for violent storms in the
winter, photographs of which frequently make it to the front page of
national newspapers.
If things go according to plan the Museum will close on September
5th, the “office” to be relocated in ground-floor premises adjacent to
our medieval guildhall. And if things continue going to plan – wind
and weather permitting - the new wing and the museum should be
open for business in June 2017.
Meantime it is a requirement of the Heritage Lottery Fund, our
primary funding source, that we demonstrate the potential impact of
the new building on the wider community. For this ambitious project
they have appointed Kristina, who will now be busy consulting the
museum’s many volunteers on their extended role of engagement
with visitors, local people, and above all with young people.
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HELP US GROW
To complement the magnificent work
done by the Friends, the museum’s
Director (David Tucker) created an
in-house fundraising team early last year.
The team works under the “Help Us
Grow” (HUG) banner and its main
purpose is to raise funds for the new
Mary Anning Wing, whilst increasing the
profile of the museum with visitors and locals. To do this the
HUG-gers have organised a jazz evening, numerous craft sessions for
children, a “name the ichthyosaur” and a “guess how many
ammonites” competition, three homemade cake and jam sales, a
skittles evening, four quiz nights and, in conjunction with the Friends,
several second-hand book sales.
So far over £4,500 has been raised. The money is banked by the
Friends so it makes a small*, but worthwhile, contribution to its
£50,000 fundraising target.
The HUG team initially comprised three of the museum’s front-desk
volunteers (Tammy Garner, Jane Williams, Valerie Hayward), but as
its level of activity increased a fourth volunteer (Angela Main) was
recruited to help share the load. Nor did we lose any time putting
Angela to work – she organised the wonderfully successful skittles
evening at The Pilot Boat at the beginning of May – such fun that
even the ageing skittlers enjoyed it.
Plenty more events are in the offing for the rest of 2016 and beyond!
*On the contrary - this is a significant contribution!
Thank you HUG-gers Ed
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Museum Friend
is published by
The Friends of Lyme Regis Philpot Museum
Chairman: Margaret Rose (445503)
Vice-Chairman and Treasurer: David Cox (443156)
Secretary: Sylvia Oliver (445537)
Minutes Secretary: David Edwards (443696)
Publicity: Margaret Rose (445503)
Newsletter: Margaret Rose/Alison Mitchell
Members: Richard Wells Joe Tesoriere
Alison Mitchell (Database Manager)
David Tucker (ex officio)
The objectives of The Friends are to
promote, support and assist the Museum
in its educational and other aims;
and to raise funds to help care
for and improve the Museum.
Email: [email protected]
Contributions/comments from Friends at home or overseas are
always most welcome
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