From August 2008...

Recent Donations

Southend Museum has recently acquired a very interesting collection of civic items relating to the mayoralty of Arthur Bockett, who was Mayor of Southend in 1927-8.

The items, illustrated here, include a number of ceremonial keys presented on the opening of Leigh branch library, the male wing of Rochford hospital and the ‘new’ Southend High School for Boys.

These will greatly enhance our collection of civic regalia, which includes the medallion from the first mayoral chain, of 1892.

From August 2008...

Tudor Day 2008

Regular visitors to our Museum events will know that our Tudor day is an event not to be missed, and this years, held on 3rd August, was probably the best yet!

Over 3000 visitors were enchanted by the transformation of the hall and park into a Tudor scene. Inside the hall, musician Jim Bizgood gave talks and demonstrations of Tudor instruments, whilst in the gardens wandering minstrel Peter Optical, and madrigal singers ‘Goode Companye’, kept the authentic musical theme going.

In the grounds we could also be seen a Tudor Artilleryman, as well as a Court Jester, herbsellers, mummers and many more. One of the highlights of the day was a visit by Henry VIII himself, who could be seen strolling the hall and grounds enjoying talking to people and giving a stirring account of his difficulties with his various wives..

Amongst the visitors that enjoyed the day was the Mayor, Councillor Gwen Horrigan, who spent over an hour mixing with and talking to the contributors,

Refreshments were on sale courtesy of the Friends of Southend Museums and also at a hog roast to give a traditional flavour.

Plans are already underway for next years event!

From July 2008...

Archaeology Day - A Rubbish Event!

On Saturday 12th July, the Central Museum took part in National Archaeology Week.

A lot can be learnt from rummaging through the bins of our ancestors! A selection of ‘rubbish’ from the past was brought out to demonstrate how people have lived in the past.

Bones from an  excavation at Rayleigh Castle were on show, to demonstrate the difference in the size of bones from one species of animal to another, they also reveal cut marks and evidence of butchery.  Antlers that have been shed naturally can be identified from those that are removed from an animal after it has been killed.

There were activities for young children such as dressing up in ancient costumes, colouring sheets and sticky mosaic making.  For those wishing to participate you could try  archaeological drawing, from some artefacts put out for the day. Budding archaeologists could also have a go at rebuilding an amphora pot.

What will future archaeologists make of how we live now? By looking through three ‘bins’ visitors were asked who had left this rubbish behind.

What they did not know was that museum staff had specially loaded the bins to make them think in a certain way!! For instance, you cannot deduce that a vegetarian left behind rubbish that included egg boxes , cheese wrappers, milk cartons and a large selection of fruit and vegetable packaging. 

What you can deduce is: where the produce was bought from, (shop logo’s) how much it cost and if it was out of season and imported from another country.  You can say that no meat products were found in the evidence.

A gravel tray provided an insight of what to do with your ‘finds’, first looking for them and  then sorting them into trays when they had been found.

Original Roman and Victorian pieces and handaxes were also used in a general handling session  and our resident skeleton  demonstrated  how to spot the difference between male and female bones!

We had 170 visitors who all went away with a little more insight into life in the past, and how what we do today leaves a story behind for archaeologists in the future.