Alice in Wonderland cancellation

Friends at Barton’s postponed production of Alice in Wonderland has regrettably been cancelled for the foreseeable future at Wilderspin while essential  electrical and safety improvements in the Joseph Wright Hall, started during the last lockdown, are completed.  This work will continue throughout 2022.

The work has been made possible thanks to a grant from SSE Sustainable Development Fund, and additional heating improvements have been funded by Land Trust.

We’re getting in touch with ticket holders to advise about refunds.   Our Office is open on Thursdays & Fridays only to process refunds – we are unable to deal with cash refunds at other times.  If you are unable to call in on Thursdays & Fridays, please get in touch by phone (01652 635172) or email wilderspinschoolmuseum@gmail.com so we can make alternative arrangements.

The show may be scheduled for another venue and ticket monies can be transferred accordingly – we’ll sort the transfer arrangements with FAB.

We are grateful to ticket holders who have kindly donated their payment to the Trust for the benefit of further improvements to the Hall – these monies will be added to the Joseph Wright Hall Public Appeal which will be used to remodel the fire escape and stage access stairs which will enable us to increase audience capacity.  It’s important that donations to the appeal from ticket monies are clearly designated as such – if you’d like to do this, please let us know by phone or email.  The Museum office is staffed on Thursdays and Fridays only, but you can leave a message on our answerphone any time.

Quiz Night

Museums at Night Quiz Night is tomorrow Friday 29 October in the Infant Schoolroom in the Museum – £2 per person, teams of up to six can be booked now on (01652) 635172.   Doors open 6.30pm.  Quiz starts at 7pm.  Bar. Raffle.  Car parking at rear of Museum.

Alice in Wonderland update

We are working with Friends At Barton to reschedule ALICE IN WONDERLAND, cancelled due to Covid 19 restrictions, this autumn – all being well.

Essential safety works improving the Joseph Wright Hall auditorium have been underway during the lockdowns – including installation of a lift and new electrics and a fire alarm system – and are due for completion in October.

We will advise ticket holders of the new dates as soon as possible and arrange for refunds if necessary.

We are grateful to Landtrust for funding support to install the lift, and to SSE Renewables (Sustainable Development Fund) for funding support of the safety improvements.

Heritage Open Days 2021

Heritage Open Days celebrate England’s architecture and culture by allowing visitors free access to interesting properties that are not usually publicly accessible or would normally charge a fee. It also includes tours, events and activities that focus on and celebrate the local heritage of the area. Heritage Open Days is England’s biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event and is also held in a further 48 countries across Europe.

www.heritageopendays.org.uk

Voices of Lincolnshire – Stories Unheard

In 2021 Heritage Lincolnshire is celebrating the many voices of Lincolnshire with a particular focus on the amazing stories that many people have not heard.  The theme focusses on the idea of celebrating the many voices of the county that have contributed to its heritage and culture, but which often go ‘unheard ’.  The festival will run from Friday 10th to Sunday 19th September 2021 giving everyone a whole ten days to visit the special places taking part.

www.heritagelincolnshire.org

Christmas at Wilderspin

On Saturdays 4 & 11 and Sundays 5 & 12 December, 10am-4pm, we’ve some craft and gift stalls next to The Old School Canteen in addition to our own Christmas shop clearance with loads of stocking filler bargains.  And Father Christmas will be in his grotto again – 11 – 12.30 and 1.30 – 3.00 (£3.50).

If you’d like to book a stall for any of the dates above – please ring (01652) 635172

Decimal Place

How did schools and wider society cope with going decimal overnight fifty years ago?

Reminisce in the Chatty Café and share your memories of pounds, shillings and pence and non-metric weights and measures before the big change.

The Teacher is Abroad in the Land

Samuel Wilderspin began his pioneering work spreading Infant Schools throughout the British Isles in 1820.  Ian Wolseley explores the travels, trials and tribulations of this itinerant promoter of Infant education as he journeyed by road and sea just as the railway age dawned – making a four-year “stopover” here in Barton to set up his Model School.  The talk is part of Barton Civic Society’s 2021 lecture programme, and will take place in the Joseph Wright Hall (ground floor) at 7.3opm.  Non members £2.  Doors open 7.00pm.

Fakes and Forgeries: The Art World’s Biggest Headache

Barton Civic Society’s public lecture programme recommences at Wilderspin with a welcome return of popular speaker Marilyn Roberts to take a light-hearted look at how some of the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and museums have been fooled by forgers – including the infamous Garden Shed Gang of Bolton!

The talk is part of Barton Civic Society’s 2021 lecture programme, and will take place in the Joseph Wright Hall (ground floor) at 7.3opm.  Non members £2.  Doors open 7.00pm.

Temporary closure

Face to Face

What was school like in the past?

Was it as scary as they say?

The only way to find out is try it yourself!

Bring the family to meet one of our historical teachers and join a lesson as part of your museum visit – you can even plan a trip to the tea room afterwards to console yourselves and swap schooldays stories!

Remaining sessions still available:

Saturday 28 August     Mrs. Wilson’s Wartime Classroom

All lessons start at 1.30pm and last 45 minutes.

All adults £5.  Up to two children (with one adult) free.  Subsequent children £2.

Booking required – telephone (01652) 635172