We will see four museums, none of which has been visited by the Society before. In Norwich these are the imposing Castle Museum and Art Gallery, with a hands-on session, and the nearby Bridewell Museum. The latter is devoted to local crafts and industries, and this is a last chance to see the delightful crowded displays before the museum will close for refurbishment. The next day's coach excursion will first take us to the fascinating Museum of Gas in Fakenham, the only complete gasworks remaining in England and Wales, and then on to the Spalding Gentlemen's Society Museum in its purpose-built premises dated 1910. This Society grew up in 1710 as a local centre of learning organised along the lines of the Royal Society, and is still functioning today, run by its volunteer-members. Over the centuries, the Society has acquired an extensive library and collections of glass, ceramics, coins and medals, bygones and local historical and archaeological material, as well as a fair number of scientific instruments (including a large Arsenius astrolabe presented in 1729), clocks and watches. It is open to the public by appointment only and this is rare opportunity to see this truly remarkable museum.
This visit encompasses the rural English counties of Norfolk and Lincolnshire and delegates will see some varied landscape from gently undulating fields, sheep and wool country, to the very flat Lincolnshire fens....market gardening country. In the later Middle Ages Norwich was for a while the second city of England. For those seeking to extend their trips both Norwich and Lincoln boast fine cathedrals and impressive Medieval architecture.
Full conference details and booking details will appear in the June or September Bulletin and on this website.
If only to judge by the investigative fieldwork of our Meetings Secretary we would tentatively suggest that this might be one of the most pleasantly surprising SIS conferences yet.
Provisional Programme
Friday 3 October
2pm – 4.15pm Norwich Castle Museum: Hands-on session with stored instruments in the Town Close Auditorium plus viewing of galleries. Tea in café individually.
4.30pm – 6pm: Guided tour of the Bridewell Museum (local trades and industries) by curator John Renton.
Saturday 4 October
09.00 Depart from Norwich
10.00 Guided tour of the Fakenham Museum of Gas
11.30 To Spalding, with lunch en route
14.00 Guided tour of the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society Museum
16.00 Return to Norwich, arrival ca. 17.30
There was a flyer in June Bulletin to invite responses, gauging the level of interest. The final programme and booking form will be sent to respondents in July/August. This will include hotel arrangements.
If you didn't return the flyer but you would like to join us, in our 25th anniversary year, please contact the Executive Officer, without delay.