The museum service, in collaboration with the archives service and Beverley Library, is holding a special event for families entitled “Beverley 1900,” looking at life in the town 100 years ago.
Taking place on Friday, 26th August (10am – 4pm) at the Treasure House in Champney Road, Beverley, the event will include music, displays and numerous activities for children. Members of The Pram Society and Spin Off Productions will be on parade in the Treasure House and around the town in full Victorian costume. In the morning there will be two performances of Morris dancing by the Beverley Garland Dancers (outside the building, weather permitting, in the art gallery if wet). Meanwhile, Liam Robinson, a Lincoln based folk singer, with an accompanying musician will be performing folk songs of the period at regular intervals through the day.
Activities for children will be held in the Education Room (10am – 12 noon and 1 – 3pm), including making decoupage photo frames, peg dollies and colouring sheets.
There will be displays of Victorian artefacts and photographs. Visitors will also have the chance to have their own photography studio portrait against the backdrop of “A Panic,” the world’s largest cattle picture, located in Beverley Art Gallery. These will be printed in sepia for period authenticity and visitors will be able to use costume and props from the museums collections for their portraits.
Meanwhile, downstairs in the Children’s Library from 2.30-3.30pm, there will readings from Beatrix Potter books for pre-school children.
The archives service will also be contributing in various ways, including a quill pen writing activity and their regular “Document of the Month” display in the museum will have a Victorian theme.
Many members of staff will be dressed in replica Victorian clothing for the event.
Dr. David Marchant, museums registrar for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “We have an exciting mixture of events, aimed at all ages, which should give visitors a flavour of what life was like in Beverley in late Victorian times. It is also a good opportunity for the three professional teams that make up the Treasure House – museums, libraries and archives – to work together on a joint project, sharing their diverse skills and resources.
The event is free, though donations are invited to support the costs. There is a charge for the studio portraits activity.
“Beverley 1900” event timetable: Friday 26th August 2011
9.30-3.30pm Café open (staff in costume; promotional offers)
10am Event opens, performance by Liam Robinson (folk singer) +
musician (in café area) – folk songs of the period.
All day The Pram Society (in and around the Treasure House) – costumed ladies + Victorian prams
Spin Off Productions (Costumed walkers) – around Treasure House and in town
“Document of the month” display – in museum
Photo / artefact displays in Education Room and Café display case
Background music (Gilbert & Sullivan etc) via speaker system – in gaps between folk music performances
Items from Beverley history in 1900 – via speaker system
(Archives Service – every half hour through day)
10am – 12 noon Children’s activities in the Education Room – decoupage photo
Frames, peg dolls, colouring sheets, cut & colour bonnets etc.
(mostly aimed at 7-11 year olds, though photo frames can be made by adults for use with their studio portraits)
10am – 12 noon Studio portrait photography in the art gallery. Dress up in period costumes and have your portrait taken in Sepia style against “A Panic” – the world’s largest cattle painting)
(fee payable in advance, collect after 1 hour)
10.30 and 11.30am Morris dancing by The Beverley Garland Dancers
– outside Treasure House, (or if wet, in art gallery)
(dressing area in small meeting room)
12.30pm Performance by Liam Robinson (folk singer) +
musician (in café area)
1 – 3.30pm Studio portrait photography in the art gallery. Dress up in period costumes and have your portrait taken in Sepia style against “A Panic” – the world’s largest cattle painting)
(fee payable in advance, collect after 1 hour)
1 – 3pm Children’s activities in the Education Room – decoupage photo
Frames, peg dolls, colouring sheets, cut & colour bonnets etc.
(mostly aimed at 7-11 year olds, though photo frames can be made by adults for use with their studio portraits)
1.30pm Performance by Liam Robinson (folk singer) +
musician (in café area)
2.30pm Performance by Liam Robinson (folk singer) +
musician (in café area)
2.30 – 3pm Beatrix Potter interactive book readings – in Children’s Library
(aimed at pre-school children)
4pm Event closes
5pm Building closes
For further information, contact The Treasure House, Champney Road, Beverley, HU17 8HE, 01482 392780.
