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

Back to School!

Lockdown seemed as good a time as any to shake things up a little.

And the National Lottery Heritage Fund has helped us – so, thank you!

After our first decade we thought it was time to re-open by re-telling the fascinating story of the School’s unique link with Samuel Wilderspin and his Infant System – back in the early 1800s.

We’ve re-shaped your visit so you’ll go “back to school”, straight into the world’s only reconstruction Mr. Wilderspin’s Model Infant School of 1845.

Then new displays and historical classroom settings tell the story of the Barton Church School, including a new Wartime Classroom showing the part played by the School in the Second World War.

You can help too – tell us what you think about our re-telling of the Wilderspin Story.  We’ll then look at things again over the summer and tweak things further in time for a big bash in September as part of Heritage Open Days.

Back to School!

Follow in the footsteps of the Victorian children who came to school here full of trepidation and excitement, through from the School Yard and into School, then explore Mr. Wilderspin’s Infant Schoolroom.

Who used the finger-stocks in the Victorian Classroom?

What’s hidden in the desks in the Wartime Classroom?

What was school like for your mum, dad and grandparents?

Explore the world’s only reconstruction of Mr. Wilderspin’s Model Infant School.

Barton Arts – Lincspirational Plants Exhibition

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust presents an exhibition of 30 artworks by Lincolnshire artists chosen to signify the importance of plants in Lincolnshire, and reminding us of the link between plants and creativity and how they symbolise the value and importance of our connection with the natural world.

The pictures will be on show here at Wilderspin (10am – 4pm) and in pop up form at various places around the town during the weekend.

All the artwork submitted will be available for purchase from an online exhibition/auction in October 2021.

Independent tutors run a range of courses at the Museum.

Their programmes will be announced as soon as details are available.

Caretaker’s Clearout

During Lockdown we’ve been clearing out the cupboards and have a range of bric a brac on offer to help raise funds for further restoration of the School.  Items can be secured for a small donation!

Kickstarting Tourism

The Trust is grateful to the Humber Business Growth Hub for help with improving our shop and visitor reception as we prepared for post – Covid reopening.  We received £1,750 towards upgrading our Shop & Visitor Reception with funding made available by the  – SME Restart & Recovery / Kickstarting Tourism programme part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.