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Friends of Congleton MuseumNewsletter

Winter 2010

Christmas GreetingsChristmas Greetings

Wishing you the Merriest Christmas you ever had—and a very happy New Year

Preserving the past, recording the present, educating the future

Preserving the past, recording the present, educating the future 2

The 2011 CalendarFull of pictures of Congleton

from the past

Only £3.99makes a great Christmas present

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at Congleton Museum

Remembering Congleton Museum

Calendar 2011


Volunteer’s Day AfloatWords: Beth Thomson Photos: Janet Stevens

The Beatrice Charity, established in 2001, provides fun days out for children and adults with special needs. Museum volunteer Bill Pegley has connections with the charity and arranged this trip as a special treat for fellow volunteers. The "Beatrice", a 56 ft. canal boat, crewed by a qualified skipper and a volunteer (Bill’s daughter Christine), was our transport for the day. We were all looking forward to the trip. All we needed for a perfect outing was good weather, and Mother Nature obliged!We embarked at the Cheddleton Flint Mill at 10.00am. Our planned route was to Denford and along the Leek branch of the Cauldon Canal. The leisurely pace of the boat enabled us to relax and enjoy the pretty countryside, the canal banks abundant with native flora and waterfowl. There was also an opportunity to meet and chat with fellow volunteers.The crew supplied the coffee and biscuits and a tasty lunch was provided at the Denford "Holly Bush", a lively canalside pub. Refreshed, we embarked for the return trip; the more energetic of us keen again to assist the crew at the locks.Back at Cheddleton we were able to explore the mill and a tiny nearby cottage, once home to the miller and his family, before saying our farewells. A great day out!

On Saturday 18th September, the Education Department (Bill Pegley, Linda and

Albert Ward and Karen Stratford) went back in time to the 1940s as they were involved in the WW2 weekend at Middlewich. Our stand was visited by many people eager to look at the artefacts, many of which have been produced by Bill Pegley, plus participate in an activity to test their WW2 knowledge.

Middlewich WW2 Weekend


Curator’s Corner A little piece of social history!

It is surprising how much historical information a single item can represent. Take this small brass disc, 4cm in diameter attached to a leather strap. What can it tell us?The leather strap suggests that it was to be worn by someone and the inscription implies that it would probably have been a school child. As the token carries the number 70 there must have been a least another 69, if not more, in circulation at any one time and because it appears to have been issued by Congleton’s Education Committee it must have had something to do with schools.

This is one of the wrist bands which were issued at the beginning of the 20th

century to those children who were in both part-time education and employment.In 1902, the Balfour Education Act allowed councils which had a population of over 10,000 inhabitants to assume responsibility for the provision of elementary education in their area. Congleton had a population of 10,707 and decided to apply to become its own education authority, a role it continued to fulfil until 1944.

At the time of its creation it was the smallest education authority in the country.Before the First World War it was possible, with the permission of the Education Committee, for some older children to go to school during either the morning or afternoon and then work for the remainder of the day. This permission was invariably granted in Congleton, because the members of the committee were often the local mill owners and the children would probably be going to work in their mills. As the education committee also had responsibility for enforcing school attendance and could prosecute parents if their children did not go the school, a means of identifying those children who could legitimately work was required. These wrist bands were used to identify those children.

The featured artefact is on display in the museum’s Exhibition Room.

Scene from the PastThis photo, lent to the museum by a member of the History Society, looks across the weekly livestock market in Market Square (now a car park) towards the former police station (now the museum). The lively scene appears to be from the early post-war period. A gas lit police lamp can be seen attached to the left side of the building, hanging above a 1940s Austin 12. The auctioneer pointing into the crowd of buyers is most likely Billy Whittaker (later of estate agents Whittaker and Biggs).

Dorothy Robinson’s family home in the rural parish of Somerford Booths has the dubious distinction of being the only local building to take a direct hit from a German bomber during World War 2. A long-time museum volunteer, Dorothy shares her childhood memories of the war in this interview conducted by Betty Butterworth.

Life during Wartime


Q: What do you recall about the American troops who were billeted near your home?A: When the Americans were here in 1944, they were training to use bulldozers, and they were filling in an old swimming pool on Radnor Grove. Radnor Grove Farm was where my friends lived and we played there. So we were there while they were filling in the swimming pool. I remember that it was lovely weather... They gave us rides in their jeeps and we got loads of sweets off them! Q: Are you familiar with the phrase ‘give us some gum, chum’?A: Oh yes! We’d shout it to them when we were waiting for the school bus and they were going past in their convoys. It wasn’t only gum; it was sweets that we couldn’t get hold of. Candy, they called it.Q: Do you recall German planes flying over the area?A: We had bombs dropped in

our garden! Five were dropped in Black Firs Lane and the Chelford Road, in a zigzag. My father reckoned they were being chased. They were either going to or coming back from Liverpool or Manchester.Q: Did the bombs cause any damage to your house?

A: The back door was blown in and ended up on the other side of the kitchen. All the windows were smashed in. One dropped in our garden – on the best apple tree. It was in September because the apples were ripe. The greenhouse was all smashed in. My mother spent ages picking glass out of the big, ripe tomatoes. Until the windows were mended, we all had to sleep in one bedroom.Q: Was anyone hurt?A: No. It happened during the night. We were in bed; I didn’t wake up until my father lifted me out of the bed! He padded in, all over broken glass, and got his feet cut. I said, ‘What was that noise?’ He said, ‘A bomb dropped but it’s all right, they’ve gone now. The guns from Brereton have shot it off.’Q: Did you have to carry a gas mask with you as a little girl?A: Oh, yes. We had to practise putting them on at school when we went into the air raid shelter. But then I lost mine in the Loach Brook. I went under the bridge for a wee after I got off the school bus and it rolled down the bank and into the water. My dad went to the ARP warden to see whether he could get another one but there weren’t any.

Q: You’re lucky you didn’t need it.A: It was only for a short time that we had to carry them. My little sister had a gas mask that looked like a Mickey Mouse face, but it didn’t fit her. It was too small. She was sleeping in the same bed as me mum and dad when the bomb dropped. She was actually thrown from one end of the bed to the other – from the top to the bottom of the bed.Q: That was a close call. Did your family have a shelter in the back yard?A: No.Q: Where was the nearest one?A: Well… You didn’t bother.

Dorothy (left) and her sister Mabel, circa 1940

A: Following retirement I felt lazy and decided to offer some of my time to voluntary services. Upon visiting them they introduced me to Congleton Museum which wanted someone with IT skills, so I popped in to have a look at what it was they wanted. That was two years ago! And here I am.Q) Do you have any hobbies?A: I am the Chairman of Congleton Musical Theatre, which among other things involves making sure we turn out the type of shows local people want to see. In my younger days my interest in car rallying led me to dabble a little in driving, but mostly I was a co-driver. I went on to organise functions, meetings and safety radio cover for big events like the RAC/Welsh Rallies.

Chris Sheard

A: I attended Sandbach Grammar School, Derby College and then went on to University in Manchester.Q: What career path did you take?A: Following my biological science degree, I became a chartered biologist. This involved toxicology. I then went on to work in computer systems, using my knowledge to create and recreate databases.Q: How did you end up volunteering at the museum?

The majority of his time is spent developing these systems at home, so he is perhaps not the most visible of volunteers (even though he’s over six-foot-tall), demon-strating how varied our volunteering opportunities are.Some of you may have heard of COMACS the computer database Chris is working on at present which will eventually tell us where anything and everything is in the museum.Q: What type of education did you receive?


Our volunteers are our most important resource. You are the backbone of the museum and vital to its continuing existence. Simply stated, without volunteers there would be no museum.

Meet the Volunteers

Colin Lansley interviews this issue’s featured volunteer Chris Sheard. Chris devotes his time to developing computer software solutions that assist the smooth running of the museum.

Opening up Opportunitiesby Hazel MorrisLast October I was relieved of my job, working as a shop assistant for a discount books chain-store. I had only intended the position to be an interim one, but I was nonetheless at a loss as to what to apply myself to afterwards. In January, after two months of boredom and fruitless job searching, my thoughts turned to volunteering. A close friend directed me towards Congleton Museum. Karen signed me up, showed me around, and mentioned the plan to open a 1972

exhibition. After working on tills all day I was very keen to do something creative in line with my degree. If only I had known what I was getting myself into!What followed was five months of manic preparation, endless cups of tea and biscuits, frantic gluing and the kind of friendships that are naturally forged under such circumstances. Withsome experience and a glowing reference, I now work for the National Trust. Volunteering is a great way to make yourself more attractive to an employer and you can gain some great friends and memories along the way!

You will find the red binupstairs.Please use this for all plastic, bottles, sandwich containers,

bags, glass and metal.Hopefully, by recycling more we can reduce our waste.We have already reduced the October collection to 14.2 kg compared with September of 18kg.

Every Little Helps!

Greener MuseumsAs part of our greener museum initiative we are trying to reduce our waste going to land fill (the fortnightly black bin collection).

As you may have seen around the museum we have blue bins, one upstairs and one down in reception.

Please use this for all paper, cardboard, magazines, newspapers, envelopes, toilet rolls and unwanted booklets.


Historic HomeDuring her work with Congleton Youth in Action, Jean Squires was involved with conservation management in the woodlands behind Moody Hall on Moody Street near the town centre.On her website, she describes the area as being “a green wildlife corridor of the Howty Brook flowing through the heart of Congleton on its way to join the River Dane.” As she planted trees along the banks with the young volunteers, Jean often found herself wondering about the late 18th century listed Georgian building and its residents.After retiring in 1999, Jean joined the newly formed U3A (University of the Third Age) and attended a local history group in order to learn more about Congleton’s past.Jean decided to undertake some research of her own on the

people who had lived in Moody Hall. “My scientific background has stood me in good stead for this study being acquainted with techniques of research,” she says.Some of Moody Hall’s notable inhabitants include Robert Hodgeson, owner of a copper smelting mill at Havannah;

George Reade, a silk merchant; and Elizabeth Wolstenholme-Elmy who was an early suffragette.Jean’s research includes looking into family histories, employment details and particulars of the town over the different eras as well as events of national importance that would have affected the hall’s occupants.

Further information can be found on Jean’s website at: www.39blythe.freeserve.co.uk/moodyhall.htmlJean Squires is a Friend of Congleton Museum.

Rebuilding the House of God

Old Congleton Maps

Price: £2/Free for Friends of Congleton Museum Date/Time: Friday 18th February Venue: Congleton Museum’s Education Room

Price: £3.50 inc. cream tea. Departs from the museum, 2pm, Sunday 5th December

Escape the weather and discover the who and the why behind the rebuilding of Congleton’s St. Peter’s Church with this indoor walk.Led by Dick Drew, the walk will encompass the entire church, with interesting snippets of history around every corner, ranging from original 18th century oil paintings to comparatively recent monuments for noteworthy townspeople.

Explore the history of cartography and enjoy a delightful dose of local geographical history with speaker Peter Aston, who will be telling the story of Congleton's past through its old maps.Whilst some historians struggle to create a clear ‘picture’ of history, Mr Aston simply sets it in front of you in what he terms a ‘tabletop walk’. Some fine 18th century charts and early Ordnance Survey maps will be displayed which will take you back in time to show how Congleton looked in the 18th and 19th

centuries.


Winter Events at the Museum

Born in Congleton in 1713, John Whitehurst was apprenticed to his father as a clock maker. However, it was in Derby that he made his name, being commonly known as John Whitehurst of Derby. Renowned not only for his skill as a clock and watch-maker, but as a scientist, astronomer, and geologist, Whitehurst was a member of the 17th century group of intellectuals known as the ‘Lunar Society’. Other members of the society included Erasmus Darwin, Matthew Boulton and Benjamin Franklin. This exhibition will explore the impact this ‘son of Congleton’ had on the development of scientific discovery.

John Whitehurst Exhibition

Exhibition: Coming in December. Regular museum admission and opening hours will apply.

Congleton Museum Christmas Closing TimesThe museum will be closed from Friday 24th December — Monday 3rd January inclusive.

Commentsfrom our

visitors

Thanks, I’velearned a lot,very interestingGenevieve RousseauCanada


Valentine’s Day History

“What nerve! A holiday devoted to love that invariably causes guilt,” exclaims Steven Heller in his introduction to the book Valentines – Vintage Holiday Graphics.Some historians believe the origin of Valentine’s Day can be traced to a pagan feast of the flesh in honor of Juno Februata, goddess of feverish love, which a rebellious Gnostic priest named Valentinus defied by performing secret marriages. For his impudence, Valentinus was imprisoned and executed - on 14th February.

Another historical connection recalls the ancient Roman practice of routinely segre-gating adolescent boys and girls except on 14th February, the eve of the feast of Lupercalia, which commem-orated the god of fertility. A lottery was customarily held in which eager boys drew slips of paper bearing girls’ names.Over the following centuries, the Catholic Church encour-aged followers of this holy day to draw names of saints instead of lovers, but it also agreed to institute a romantic ritual in St. Valentinus’ name, and even invented its own myths to exaggerate the legend. According to one tale, during his imprisonment, Valentinus was said to have cured his jailer’s daughter of blindness and they fell madly in love. On the eve of his behading he sent the girl a note signed - what else? -“From your Valentine”.By the 16th century, syrupy epistles were commonplace and by the end of the 18th

century the earliest manu-factured Valentine cards were available. Advances in printing in the 19th century allowed for lavish cards dec-orated with lace, silk, filigree and gold leaf. The lexicon of Valentine imagery was com-plete when Cupid became the holiday’s main representativeand a big red heart became the universal sign of love.

Dimestore packages of val-entines featuring adorable boys and girls, cutesy critters and anthropomorphic fruit and veg expressing their devotion in cheeky puns (such as the bananas illustrated here) were exchanged by American schoolchildren from the 1950s through the 1970s and are now highly collectable in the US!

Filled a lot ofgaps in our localknowledge—veryinteresting

H J WilliamsCongleton

Thanks for a

lovely couple of

hoursC Starford

Liverpool

Museum Education Officer Karen Stratford supplies this issue’s Special Occasion recipe.

Are you a budding writer, or history enthusiast? If so, we’d love to include your articles or story ideas in the Friends of Congleton Museum Newsletter. If you can help, please get in touch!

Tuesday - Friday12.00 - 4.30pm

Saturday10.00 - 4.30 pm

Sunday12.00 – 4.30pm

MondayClosed

For holiday opening times please contact museum.

Address

Contact Us

Congleton MuseumMarket SquareCongletonCheshireCW12 1ET

Phone01260 276360

[email protected]

Websitewww.congletonmuseum.co.uk

Opening Times

Can You Help?


Recipe

Serves 6Prep time - 20 minutes, plus 4 hours marinatingCook time - 50 minutesDo ahead - the beef can be marinated for up to 2 days ahead. Store in the fridge900g (21b) middle-cut piece beef fillet6 tablespoons olive oilFor the paprika and sherry marinade1½ tablespoons Pedro Ximenez or sweet oloroso sherry2 teaspoons sherry vinegar2 fresh or dried bay leaves, chopped or crumbled1 pinch fresh thyme leaves5 grates whole nutmeg½ teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary½ teaspoon hot smoked (or regular) paprika2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushedFor the peppers1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves1 clove garlic, peeled1½ tablespoons good quality red wine vinegara generous pinch of caster sugar4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil3 x 450g jars roasted red peppers, drainedPaprika and sherry marinadeTo make the marinade, combine all the ingredients with a teaspoonful of salt in the small bowl of a food processor or in a blender and whiz together until combined.Toss the meat in the marinade to coat thoroughly, add half of the olive oil, cover and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hrs (overnight or up

to 2 days is fine). Remove from fridge 2 hrs before cooking to return to room temperature.Dressing/peppersFor the dressing for the roasted peppers, crush the thyme and garlic with a teaspoon of salt in a mortar and pestle until smooth. Add the red wine vinegar, sugar and extra virgin olive oil and season with a little freshly ground black pepper.Put a large frying pan over a medium to high heat. When hot, lay the peppers in the pan in one layer without adding any oil. When they have a mottled, blackened look on one side, take them out and put them in an ovenproof dish.Toss the peppers with the dressingBeefTo cook the beef, preheat the oven to 200°C, fan 180°C, gas 6.Heat a large ovenproof frying pan or a smallish roasting tin over a medium to high heat. Heat the rest of the olive oil until sizzling, then add the beef and the marinade. Season with salt and fry for a few minutes, until pleasantly brown all over, then transfer to the oven for 30 minutes – this will give you medium beef.When the beef is ready, transfer it to a board, cover loosely with foil and leave to relax for 10 minutes.Meanwhile, gently warm the peppers in the turned-off oven.Add 6 or so tablespoons of hot water to the beef pan or tin and give it a good stir to mix in all the concentrated flavours.Serve the beef, sliced with the sauce drizzled over and the roasted peppers alongside.

Fillet of Beef with smoked paprika, sherry and roasted pepper

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