Museums and Galleries Month, Norwich

www.mgm.org.uk

This May museums across the East of England are celebrating Museums and Galleries Month with a festival of free events on a Chinese theme. In Norwich, Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service and the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts are collaborating for the first time to provide the city with a unique chance to experience this fascinating culture at close quarters. From porcelain and lanterns to dragons and fans, family workshops, talks by experts, demonstrations and live performances - there is something for everyone as East meets East!

Lion Dancers from the Hung Sing Martial Arts School, based in Norwich, at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts Photo: Andi Sapey

Many Chinese inventions have influenced Western culture, affecting the way we dress (silk), the way we do business (paper money, postal system), the items we use in our daily lives (porcelain, scissors) and what we eat and drink (tea, noodles).

As Vanessa Trevelyan, Head of Norfolk Museums & Archaeology Service, reflects, the China East theme is about understanding this impact: "China East is about culture not politics. Museum collections throughout our region reflect the far-reaching influence of Chinese technology and artistry on our daily lives. China East is, therefore, as much about understanding ourselves as it is about the enduring relationship between East and West."

This is the focus for events at Norfolk Castle Museum & Art Gallery as it looks forward to the opening of two new decorative arts galleries later this year. Their exciting Museums and Galleries Month programme includes a sneak preview of some of the beautiful objects that will be on display in the new galleries, with a particular emphasis on fine porcelain.

On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 May visitors to the Castle will have the chance to watch a live demonstration of the delicate art of hand decoration by staff from the Lowestoft Porcelain factory - and then have a go themselves in an artist-led workshop activity for all the family.

Colin Challis from Lowestoft Porcelain hand-painting china at Norwich Castle Museum Photo: Andi Sapey

On Saturday 17 May the curator of the decorative arts collection will be giving a fascinating talk on how the West finally discovered the secret of making porcelain.

Also at the Castle, a lively costumed demonstration, Fan-tastic! (3 &4, 17 & 18 May), will show visitors how to tell someone you love them (and other things!) using the language of fans.

On Sunday 18 May the Castle hosts an illustrated talk by fan expert and curator of the Fan Museum in London, Hélène Alexander.

Highlights at other NMAS sites in Norwich include a special Chinese-themed Under Wraps session on Friday 16 May at the Bridewell exploring beautiful textiles from the collections, while East Meets West uses the Bridewell’s nationally renowned pharmacy collection to celebrate the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western medicine (21 & 30 May).

Finally, the highly-skilled conservation team based at the Norwich Castle Study Centre are running a series of ‘behind-the-scenes’ tours called Handle with Care on Wednesdays during May so visitors can find out more about how delicate objects are mended and preserved for display.

Meanwhile, at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, visitors will be offered the unique experience of a Museums at Night Special on Wednesday 21 May when the Centre will be open until 10pm. Entry will be free and the evening will include traditional Chinese lion dancing and workshops from the Hung Sing Martial Arts School.

Local artists will present work inspired by Chinese culture and there will be performances from stand-up comedian Thomas Ingram and experimental musicians Spidermilk. Activities for children will include making Chinese lanterns and then exploring the collections to find Chinese objects by lantern light; listening to stories based on objects in the collection and making clothes from Chinese newspapers.

As part of this event, along with more than seventy other museums and galleries around the country, the Sainsbury Centre will be taking part in a special showing of Nick Park’s Oscar winning animation ‘The Wrong Trousers’ to celebrate the national Museums and Galleries Month theme of ‘Ideas and Innovation’.

“The Museums at Night Special is a chance for people to experience the Sainsbury Centre as they never have before and see the collections in a new light. The entire building will be buzzing with activity and there will be something for everybody to enjoy.”
– Charlotte Peel, Education and Events Officer, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts.

Events at the Sainsbury Centre with a Chinese theme will continue throughout Museums and Galleries Month. The Centre has programmed a special First Sunday on 4 May when families will be invited to make Chinese Lion finger puppets and enjoy music and family activities throughout the day. From Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 May families can drop in to the education studio for a Children’s Holiday Studio, Chinese Challenges with the opportunity to enjoy independent art activities and make their own Olympic mascots. There will also be chance to find out more about the Chinese objects in the Robert and Lisa Sainsbury Collection with an Art for Lunch talk by one of the Sainsbury Centre guides on Friday 30 May at 1.15pm.

Behind all the fun there is a serious purpose that goes to the heart of museums’ role. As Kate Carreno, Deputy Director at the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts says: “Museums, through their collections, are uniquely placed to provide a meeting point for different traditions. In politically charged times it’s more important than ever that museums offer a space for dialogue and mutual respect.”

China East is this region’s celebration for Museums and Galleries Month, an annual campaign to encourage new visitors and remind people of the treasures on their doorstep. This year’s national theme of Ideas and Innovation has inspired museums in the East of England to explore China and its far-reaching influence on our culture through their varied and fascinating collections. Participating museums include the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge, Colchester & Ipswich Museum Service, Museums Luton, Saffron Walden Museum and Braintree District Museum.

Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery
Castle Meadow
Norwich NR1 3JU
Open Monday to Friday 10am – 4.30pm (5.30pm during half-term)
Saturday 10am – 5pm
Sunday 1pm – 5pm
Admission £5.80 adults, £4.95 concessions, £4.25 children (4-16)

Call 01603 493625 or visit
www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk

The Bridewell
Bridewell Alley
Norwich NR2 1AQ
Open Tuesday to Friday 10am – 4.30pm (5pm during half-term)
Saturday 10am – 5pm
Closed Sunday and Monday
Admission £3.20 adults, £2.65 concessions, £1.75 children (4-16)

Norwich Castle Study Centre
Shirehall, Market Avenue
Norwich NR1 3JQ
Admission free but visits must be booked in advance on 01603 593625 (Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm)

Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
University of East Anglia
Norwich NR4 7TJ
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 5pm
Wednesday 10am – 8pm
Closed on Mondays
Admission free to the permanent collections.

Call 01603 563199 or visit

www.scva.org.uk

Bluebells in the Wood, Norfolk - YouTube

Broads Authority dredging takeover pays off

Broads Authority dredging takeover pays off

The Broads Authority has achieved more dredging for the same money in the first five months of taking over the Broads dredging service from its long-term contractor May Gurney.

Director of Waterways, Trudi Wakelin, said this increased efficiency meant they were on course to carry out 25% more dredging in this financial year, focusing especially on critical areas of shallow water such as Heigham Sound at the entrance to Hickling Broad and Oulton Broad.

The Authority bought May Gurney’s dockyard and dredging equipment, taking on its dredging team of ten men on October 1st last year.

At a meeting of its Navigation Committee on Thursday April 24th it was revealed that money had been saved by the Broads Authority undertaking its own dredging and river works, scrub clearance and removal of navigation obstructions.

Tony Coe, vice chairman of the Broads Authority, heralded the saving as justification of the “brave move” to bring the operation in-house.

He said: “This is very good news for the Broads. We have closely monitored the dredging operation since taking over from May Gurney and we have achieved savings against the previous cost of dredging between October and the end of February. This will obviously bring better value for tollpayers, who fund the programme, as we will be able to carry out more dredging for the same amount of money.”

Trudi Wakelin said assuming government funding remained at the same level, the Broads Authority would now be in a position to finish the immense backlog of dredging in less than 40 years, compared to the previously projected 56 years.

“In Oulton Broad we will now be looking to take out three times the material that we had originally planned. Because of the sensitive area we can’t undertake work at Heigham Sound over the summer and have planned it for next winter.”

Examples of dredging work completed in the past year have included:

South Walsham Fleet Dyke

The lower River Ant to Ludham Bridge. Work is continuing upstream as far as Barton Broad.

Opposite Horning Church on the River Bure

Entrance to Hardley Dyke.

The Reedham end of Haddiscoe Cut. Dredging at the St Olaves end will begin again in the autumn.

Shoals on the River Yare

Oulton Broad, 10% of the bar at the entrance to the broad has been removed and work will continue until July this year.






www.broads-authority.gov.uk

Local Mills - Broome Tower Mill

14th May 1977

Broome Tower Mill

Broome towermill was built c.1824, close to the Yarmouth Road.

The 20 foot diameter red brick tower was tarred to provide better protection form the elements.

The mill had 2 pairs of patent sails and a fantail that powered two pairs of French burr stones, one being pair 4' 6" diameter and the other pair 4 feet diameter.

Other Broome Tower Mill news from the past . . .

Brick Built TOWER WINDMILL in BROOME, Norfolk
To be Sold by Auction. By John Reynolds. At the King's Head Inn, Bungay.
On Thursday 29 July instant at 6 o'c.

All that newly erected brick built Tower Windmill, with Patent Sails and Winding Tackle complete, driving two pairs of Stones, one pair 4ft. diameter & the other 4ft. 6ins. diameter, with a full sized Flour Mill complete, together with a double cottage & well with good water, a new built bricked stable & cart shed & one acre & 25 perches of Land.

The above Pemises are all Freehold & are situate at Broome, Norfolk within one mile of Bungay & adjoin the Turnpike Road to Yarmouth. Immediate Possession may be had.

Apply to Mr. Benjamin Goff or Messrs. Kinsbury & Margitson, all of Bungay..
Norfolk Chronicle - 24th July 1824

To be Sold by Auction at the King's Head Inn, Bungay, on 29 July.
All that newly erected brick built Tower Windmill, with Patent Sails and winding tackle, driving two pairs of stones 4ft. and 4ft. 6ins., with flour mill, together with double cottage and land. The premises are freehold and are situate in Broome, Norfolk, within one mile of Bungay, adjoining the turnpike road to Yarmouth.

Apply to Mr. Benjamin Goff.
Ipswich Journal - 24th July 1824

Small Freehold Tower Mill at BROOME near Bungay.
By Geo. Baker. At the Kings Head Inn, Bungay on Thursday October 13, 1831 at 4 o'c. (with Immediate Possession)

A Capital TOWER WINDMILL with patent sails (winds herself) situate at Broome, near Bungay, with tow pairs of stones, flour mill & sack tackling complete, together with a stone built & tiled Dwelling house, stable & cart shed & about an acre of Arable Land attached.

Apply to Mr. Calver upon the premises or the Auctioneer, Bungay.
Norfolk Chronicle - 1st October 1831

To be Sold by Auction at the Queen's Head Inn, Bungay, on 14 October. All that substantial Brick Tower Windmill, with patent sails, two pairs of French stones and flour mill complete, together with a granary and cottasge, situate at Broome by the side of the high road leading from Bungay to Yarmouth, and now in the possession of Mr. George Gosling. Immediate possession may be had. The properety is leasehold at a peppervcorn rent for a term of 1000 years commencing from 26th June 1809. Further particulars from Mr. Everson, Millwright, Bungay.
Ipswich Journal - 25th September 1841

BROOME Brick Tower Windmill
To be Sold by Auction. by George Baker on Thursday October 14, 1841 at the Queens Head Inn, Bungay at 6 o'c

All that substantial BRICK TOWER WINDMILL with Patent Sails, two pairs of French Stones & Flour Mill complete, well situate for wind at any point, has a Stable, Cart Lodge & Granary attached & also a convenient brick & tiled Cottage with about 1a. of Arable & Pasture Land, situate within half a mile of the Navigation & by the side of the high road leading from Bungay to Yarmouth, as now in the occupation of Mr. George Gosling.

Immediate possession may be had.

This Property is Leasehold at a peppercorn rent for a term of 1000 years commencing from 26th June 1809 & is subject to no outgoing.

Apply to Mr. Everson, Millwright, Bungay, or the Auctioneer, Bungay.
Norfolk Chronicle - 25th September, 2nd & 9th October 1841

BROOME BRICK TOWER WINDMILL
To be Sold by Auction by Mr. BAKER on Friday March 25, 1849 at the Fleece Inn, Bungay at 6 o’c

All that substantial Brick TOWER WINDMILL with Patent Sails, two pairs of French Stones, & Flour Mill complete, standing well for the wind at any point, has a brick & tiled Stable, Cart Lodge, Granary & other buildings attached. And also a convenient brick & tiled Cottage & about an acre of Arable & Pasture Land including the site of the Mill, situate within half a mile of the navigation & by the side of the high road leading from Bungay to Yarmouth as in the occupation of Mr. Samuel MAYERS.

Immediate possession may be had.

The Property is Leasehold (at a peppercorn rent) for a term of 1000 years & subject to no outgoing.

Particulars of Mr. ELSEGOOD, Solr. or the Auctioneer, Bungay.
Norfolk Chronicle & Norwich Gazette - 17th March 1849

BROOME near Bungay
To be sold by Auction by Samuel ALDRED at the Three Tuns Hotel, Bungay on Thursday 16 June 1859 at 5 for 6 o’c

A Substantial brick built TOWER WINDMILL, 2 Stables, Cartlodge & Granary & about 1a.22p. of Garden & Arable Land & Cottage in BROOME the whole in the occupation of Mr. G.G. WARD who is declining the business.

The property is held under an unexpired mortgage term of 1000 years commencing 25 June 1809.

Premises abut upon the Yarmouth Turnpike & are within a mile of … Bungay.

Apply to E.R. PALMER, Solr. or the Auctioneer, Regent Street, Yarmouth.
Norfolk Chronicle - 4th & 11th June 1859

For more history about this mill and many others, please visit - www.norfolkmills.co.uk

and the winner was . . . The FACE of WAVENEY 2008

The FACE of WAVENEY 2008
Part of the Waveney Revels

A photographic snapshot of the Waveney Region

Waveney Valley Blog Camera Prize Draw 

and the winner was . . .

Anni Debbing
Student, Lowestoft

Congratulations Anni, your 7MP digital camera is on it's way.

click above image to view the Face of Waveney Exhibits

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