whitelackington
New member
You don't take them into Manor Farm Swallet
then
then
Wells Museum
- Thread starter Peter Burgess
- Start date
Duncan Price
Active member
I visited Wells & Mendip Museum last Sunday. The rest of Wells was shut (had difficulty in finding decent to somewhere to eat and then it was crap). Its £6 for a family ticket which is valid until the end of the calendar year. Just as well really as they were short staffed and closed early chucking us out. There is a room devoted to caving memorabilia which is sadly way out of date. I was particularly interested in the cave diving display which houses Balcombe's "bicycle respirator" and Bob Davies' AFLO. There is also a display case devoted to the Witch of Wookey Hole with some bones excavated from the cave. Wookey Hole Caves Ltd want the bones back apparently.
In the adjoining room there is a nice selection of minerals on display. You could see the lot in an hour.
Apart from a family visit, I was there to do some research for a book - more of this in due course - it didn't add much. Someone needs to modernise the exhibits I don't think they've changed since I was last there 30 years ago. We did take some photos of the displays (it didn't say you couldn't).
In the adjoining room there is a nice selection of minerals on display. You could see the lot in an hour.
Apart from a family visit, I was there to do some research for a book - more of this in due course - it didn't add much. Someone needs to modernise the exhibits I don't think they've changed since I was last there 30 years ago. We did take some photos of the displays (it didn't say you couldn't).
Peter Burgess
New member
whitelackington said:You don't take them into Manor Farm Swallet
then
Er, no.
cap n chris
Well-known member
Duncan Price said:
Since the museum was established by Balch, it remains a testament to the man; this means in practice that it's the way he left it and will probably remain so until the management die so don't hold your breath.
D
Dep
Guest
Duncan Price said:
With all due respect does that not go against the very point of a museum?
I haven't seen the displays but I presume you refer to the way it is all presented?
Surely a museum which is itself a museum piece is a 'Good Thing'?
Duncan Price
Active member
cap 'n chris said:
Point taken although the exhibits post-date Balch's death in content but are still ten's of years in the past.
graham
New member
Altering museum displays (take it from one who knows) requires a significant input of both staff time and other valuable resources. Given that Wells Museum is run on a shoe string by a, quite small, group of volunteers, it is hardly surprising that they do not change the displays on a particularly frequent basis. I am quite certain that the Trustees would be grateful for any assistance that might be offered.
Peter Burgess
New member
Duncan Price said:
It seems I got a lot more from my visit that you did then.
BTW, how can a display of caving memorabilia be 'sadly way out of date'? Memorabilia implies items from the past. You could, I suppose add some more recent things that aren't used much nowadays like Premier Stinkies. I was interested to see how the home-made electron ladders had been put together.
Maybe combining a family visit with a research visit doesn't work. I know I couldn't do it!
E
emgee
Guest
cap 'n chris said:
Added to my list of places to visit when next down your way.
whitelackington
New member
When I last visited Wells Museum, "They" were actually excavating a well
in their garden.
in their garden.
Peter Burgess
New member
Good for 'them'.
cap n chris
Well-known member
Peter Burgess said:
Perhaps it didn't include belt-mounted battery lighting systems, anything with a light bulb in it, fibreglass helmets, cotton overalls and belay belts.
Duncan Price
Active member
Obviously the exhibits are of historical interest but the inofrmation presented was also jaded, faded and lacking in attention. The material post dates Balch's death (I'm sure Bat products wasn't around then) and in my view a museum is not just about antiques but also should be informative about current practice.
I know the chairman of the trustees and will have a word with him about it. I would be prepared to do it myself especially as I live near Wells.
We _did_ enojy the visit; my partner and her daughter are both cavers and cave diving groupies, however a museum is a living thing and shouldn't remain stagnant.
cap n chris
Well-known member
Duncan Price said:
Fully agree with you Duncan; but I imagine that it IS a lot of work to alter displays, especially when they are functioning - if it's not broke, don't fix it: however, from a local resident's point of view if it always remains the same, what's the point in going there more than a handful of times? - to this end I suggested putting together a small display of recent finds and this was accepted - mind you it did take a couple of years before the offer was accepted! There's also lots of material archived from Balch's digging endeavours around Ebbor which are kept in drawers underneath the display cabinets - much of which can be viewed on request.
M
Megstar
Guest
I've trawled though your comments- I have been visiting Wells Museum for many years since I was a wee nipper. I aggree that the exhibits are displayed very poorly and have not really changed at all. The displays were thought so well worth preserving that they have been given a place in a new section now on show called The History of Archival Practices section in the British Museum :alienhonest). More seriously I know something about archival practices- even on a low budget the the museum could refresh and de-cobweb the place. I actually really love alot the pieces in the museum. It was a great venue for the ISSA lot to have fantastic exhibition of their caving artwork upstairs in the gallery. I would love to help them sort it- I hate just talking and would rather do something if possible. Has anyone there ever left that place alive cos the staff are quite dusty and they don't move much or was that the display you were talking about, would they mind if I cast my feather duster over them too..... They migh enjoy a little tickle.
honest). More seriously I know something about archival practices- even on a low budget the the museum could refresh and de-cobweb the place. I actually really love alot the pieces in the museum. It was a great venue for the ISSA lot to have fantastic exhibition of their caving artwork upstairs in the gallery. I would love to help them sort it- I hate just talking and would rather do something if possible. Has anyone there ever left that place alive cos the staff are quite dusty and they don't move much or was that the display you were talking about, would they mind if I cast my feather duster over them too..... They migh enjoy a little tickle.