Early Music Concert by Galliarda at Donington

The music of Christmas past will be performed at Donington le Heath Manor House this December 2009.

On Friday December 4th at 3.00 pm and 7.30 pm the Manor House will hold its annual Christmas concert by our now resident early music group, Galliarda.

Last year’s performances were a sell out success, so once again the Manor will host two performances, a matinee performance at 3pm and an evening concert at 7.30 pm. Tickets are selling fast, so early booking is recommended.

The Christmas concert is now into its fourth year at Donington and we have many concert goers who come back year after year to support the concert and Galliarda.

Each year sees a different programme of delightful and evocative traditional Christmas music played on authentic instruments, such as the flute, viol and lute.

The combination of period music, authentic instruments, festive refreshments and the stunning 17th century style decorations throughout the building make this a very special evening in the build up to Christmas.

Galliarda are:

• Wendy Hancock: Recorder, Baroque Flute and Treble viol
• Stewart McCoy: Lute and Theorbo
• Ian Gammie: Viola da Gamba

Ticket prices are £12, £10 Concessions + £8 students to include mulled wine or spiced apple juice and mince pies.

Tickets available from Donington le Heath Manor House now. We regret no ticket purchases can be made via phone.

For further information please contact Alison Fearn Museum Officer on 01530 831259 or Richard Knox Keeper on 0116 3058327

www.leics.gov.uk/Donington

The Twelve Days of Medieval Christmas Explored at Donington!

On December 10th at 7.30pm the Donington talk series for 2009 concludes with a talk by Michael Brown, gardener and garden historian from Prebendal Manor Northamptonshire.

Michael will talk the audience through a sparkling twelve days of the Medieval Christmas. Explaining what food and drink was popular for Medieval feasts and frivolities, the customs enjoyed by rich and poor alike through the Holy Days and feast days of the period. Yule logs, Wassail, mince pies and music were all part of the Medieval Christmas tradition, but what was it to eat humble pie and what exactly was a humble pie anyway?

Come and find out with Michael in the atmospheric surroundings of the Manor house decorated in all its Christmas greenery.

Tickets are £3.50 per ticket and pre-booking is essential owing to limited numbers.

Light refreshments served by the Friends of Donington le Heath Manor House.

On the 12th and 13th December 2009, from 11 – 4pm, the Manor House will be showing the festive season as celebrated in the early 1600s at ‘Christmas at the Seventeenth Century Manor’.

For further information please contact Alison Fearn Museum Officer (Events) on 01530 831259 or Richard Knox Keeper 0116 3058327

www.leics.gov.uk/DoningtonleHeath
www.facebook.com/DoningtonleHeath

Charnwood Museum Hosts Royal Photographic Society Exhibition!

A fantastic array of photographs from around the world will be on display at Charnwood Museum when it hosts The Royal Photographic Society Members’ Exhibition for 2009.

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday 7th November and is on until 24th December 2009.

The Royal Photographic Society, founded in 1853, is the foremost Photographic Society in the world and its aim is to promote excellence in the Art and Science of Photography. The society is an educational charity with a worldwide membership of over 10,000 and in 2004 it became a body incorporated by Royal Charter. Since 2003 the society has held a Members’ Exhibition every second year.

Entries for the 2009 Members’ Exhibition were submitted from around the globe, and the 100 prints that were selected by the judges, showcase the diverse styles and techniques adopted across the membership and the high quality of their work.

For more information please call Charnwood Museum on 01509 233754.
Charnwood Museum Website: www.leics.gov.uk/CharnwoodMuseum

Local Artist to Showcase Works of Italy at Snibston

Clock Quadrant on side of Rialto Bridge by Mike Burton ©

Snibston Discovery Museum is hosting a stunning display of Italian-themed photographs from local artist, Mike Burton. Running from 2nd November until the end of December 2010, the exhibition will be displayed in the Community Gallery which is free to all visitors to Snibston.

Featuring a wide range of inspiring images, Mike’s latest collection, ‘Italy: A Sense of Place’, will appeal to lovers of art and the Italian way of life.

Mike Burton said “This is the third time I have held an exhibition at Snibston and I am thrilled to be able to display my latest work here. It is vitally important that local artists have space to showcase their work; Snibston is a high-profile venue and its free-to-view Community Gallery provides lots of opportunities for artists and visitors alike”.

For those keen to meet the artist, enjoy the exhibition and sample some delicious Italian cuisine, join Mike Burton at Snibston on the evening of 14th November 2009, between 7pm and 9pm. Mike will be on-hand to discuss his art, his travels and the techniques he uses to create such beautiful images. It will be an excellent opportunity to pick up some useful tips from a photographic expert, and to buy some of his works at a discounted rate. Mike is a renowned artist, whose techniques have been compared to those of Charlie Waite, a top UK Landscape Photographer.

Tickets for Saturday 14th November cost just £10 and include a mouth-watering Italian buffet. Take the opportunity to browse these wonderful images of Italy and treat yourself, or a loved one, to a unique Christmas present. Tickets need to be booked by Wednesday 11th November.

For more details please contact Snibston on 01530 278444, snibston@leics.gov.uk or see www.snibston.com.

New Fashion Exhibition Launches at Snibston

On Wednesday 18th November 2009 Snibston Discovery Museum will launch a new exhibition entitled ‘In Sheep’s Clothing’ which will showcase the creative talents of second year students from Nottingham Trent University’s Fashion Design course.

The students’ work has been created as part of a project which brought together the Fashion Collections at Snibston, The Woolmark Company, fashion retailer NEXT and two Savile Row Tailors.

Part of a second-year fashion design module, entitled Commerce and Innovation, the project encouraged students to create innovative designs in wool for a modern customer. The added challenge was to use the Museum’s historic fashion collections as the inspiration for the new designs.

Almost one hundred students took part in the competition before fifty were short-listed to create their designs in top quality wool fabrics, provided by some of the World’s greatest weavers.

From these fifty finalists, thirty outfits have been selected to be displayed in the exhibition within the Changing Room at Snibston’s award-winning Fashion Gallery.

The final competition winners were announced in July and the winning students spent a week at Gieves and Hawkes and Henry Poole, two of the most famous tailors from the prestigious Savile Row in London.

Students from the University’s School of Business Fashion Marketing course were able to join the competition in developing a brand for the project, and an identity for the actual exhibition. The winner of this part of the competition spent a week at the London Press Office of high street giant NEXT.

The winners of the competition were

• Zabela Targosz (Womenswear)
• Jacques Turner (Menswear)
• Georgina Cashman (Marketing)

The exhibition will run from Thursday 19th November until May 2010. Entry to the museum is £6.75 for adults, £4.50 for children and under 5s go free. Entry to the Fashion Gallery is free on Wednesday afternoons.

The Fashion Gallery is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Results of Bosworth’s Groundbreaking Archaeology Survey!!

Leicestershire County Council today held a press conference at Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre to announce the conclusion of a ground breaking three year archaeological survey to locate the battle of Bosworth, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Battlefields Trust archaeologist, Glenn Foard, revealed an exciting collection of finds from the Battle of Bosworth of international archaeological significance.

In his presentation, Glenn Foard said:

“The archaeological survey of Bosworth battlefield has so far produced 22 lead roundshot fired from artillery and bullets fired from early hand guns – more than all the lead roundshot from all the other battlefields of the 15th and 16th century in Europe put together.

“We brought together a team of specialists from various disciplines to apply the techniques of battlefield archaeology to search for the battlefield. While all this evidence took us to the general area where the action was fought, it was systematic archaeological survey with metal detectors that was the method by which we finally located the battlefield.

“The combined evidence proves that the battle was fought in the area between the villages of Dadlington, Shenton, Upton and Stoke Golding – in a location not previously suggested.”

“Bosworth has shown the potential of archaeology to contribute to our understanding of the Origins of Firepower – a story of international significance which must now be explored on battlefields across Europe.”

Ernie White, Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Museums, said:

“The Battle of Bosworth is one of the most pivotal moments in British history and Leicestershire County Council is incredibly proud to have commissioned a groundbreaking survey that has shed new light on the events of the battle and that will shape the way battlefields are investigated in the future. Thanks must be given to all those involved in the archaeology survey, including the dedicated volunteers and local landowners, who have kindly worked with us over the years on this project.”

Helen Emery, Project Director of Bosworth Battlefield, said:

“The news today is truly amazing and very exciting. All the Heritage Centre team have supported and encouraged the research throughout and today is a great day for history, battlefield archaeology and Bosworth.”

Des Gallagher, Acting Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, said:

“We at HLF are proud to have been able to support the groundbreaking archaeological survey that has led to these discoveries. The finds that have been revealed today offer a new insight into the Battle of Bosworth, giving us all the chance to learn more about one of the most famous conflicts in our nation’s history”

The English Heritage Inspector of Ancient Monuments for the East Midlands, Jon Humble, said:

“This is the second epic victory on Bosworth’s history-steeped soil – and this time it is one for the archaeologists and all who supported this world-class example of what can be achieved through archaeological research. After more than 500 years, Leicestershire’s landscape has at last revealed one of its greatest and, until now, most elusive secrets.

“The key message is that this is a truly magnificent result for archaeology, Bosworth and all those who have supported the project.”

Professor Richard Holmes, President of the Battlefields Trust said:

“In terms of time and place, 1485 and Bosworth have an enormous resonance in English history. Just as they mark the beginning of the Tudor dynasty, so too they reflect a wider change from the late middle ages to the beginning of the early modern period. In one sense, these important new discoveries make the point perfectly. Cannon balls were fired from gunpowder weapons which would soon change the face of battle, and these particular projectiles arced away from the muzzles of cannon hauled up from the Tower of London, where the monarchy husbanded this key military resource.

“Leicestershire County Council has long recognised the importance of the Bosworth battlefield, and this latest round of painstaking archaeology, carried out by the Battlefields Trust, has established, beyond reasonable doubt, where the first major contact between royal and rebel armies took place on that August morning. There is still much more to discover, but at last we have a site that goes beyond scholarly speculation and passionate local controversy. We can now see where those round-shot thudded into the Leicestershire soil when Richard Plantagenet was still King of England and Henry Tudor was a mere pretender. We are given to using expressions like ‘exciting’ and ‘ground-breaking’ too easily, but no historical discovery has elated me more than this one, and I have seldom felt more conscious of being able to touch the past.”

Exact details of the battlefield will not be revealed until further work has been carried out on the survey area, so as to protect the anonymity of the fields from illicit night hawkers.

Leicestershire County Council will be working with The Battlefields Trust, The Heritage Lottery and English Heritage to protect the battlefield area for future generations.

The full and final report will be announced at a conference in February 2010 to be held at County Hall in Glenfield, Leicestershire.

Finds from the Battle of Bosworth will be available for the public to view in a new gallery in Bosworth’s award-winning exhibition at the Heritage Centre from Easter 2010.

For further details visit www.bosworthbattlefield.com

Snibston brings the past into the classroom

Snibston Discovery Museum has been busy bringing the past back to life and into the classroom through interactive workshops for local schools!

Art Rocks, a mineral-based art session, introduces children to the history of the earth from the Big Bang up until Snibston during the present day. The second stage of the workshop involves the development of individual artwork using a variety of natural materials such as coal and chalk.

Designed to put learning into context, they are an informative, hands-on approach to science and art. To support The Big Draw Week, which took place between 13th and 16th October 2009, the County Council attraction has provided several of the workshops free to local schools.

Continuing the trend of bringing learning to life, Snibston has also piloted theatrical, interactive workshops with famous characters of the Industrial Revolution.

Celebrated personalities such as George Stephenson, James Watt and Ned Ludd appeared in the museum’s galleries last week to grab the attention of inquisitive pupils from local school, All Saints in Coalville. Using a professional actor to engage the children through two-way conversation and monologue performances, Snibston hopes to enhance its curriculum offering for schools.

For further details visit www.snibston.com

Leicester City Football Club memorabilia wanted for Snibston exhibition!

Snibston Discovery Museum is appealing for Leicester City fans to join its memorabilia workshop on Saturday, 31st October 2009.

Leicestershire County Council’s Snibston is working in partnership with Leicester City Football Club (LCFC) to celebrate 125 years of the club. A series of celebratory events will be held at Snibston over the coming months starting with the memorabilia workshop.

John Hutchinson, LCFC archivist and history expert, will be talking about the club during the last 125 years and what it means to people who have been involved. John will meet with fans to discover more about their prized Leicester City treasures and fellow supporters. The two sessions, starting at 10am and 2pm, are free and will last for two hours.

A similar event, a reminiscence workshop, will be held on Tuesday, 15th December. Fans can come along and share their fond memories of the club and, should they wish, be interviewed by museum staff to produce audio accounts for the club’s archives.

Club historian John Hutchinson said “This is a very exciting time for the club and its fans. We really want people to join in the celebrations and help us reflect on the key moments during the last 125 years.
“If people have old programmes, strips, photos or memorabilia, we would love to see them. There may even be an opportunity to feature some of this material in the exhibition itself.”

The two-month exhibition, From Shed to Stadium – 125 years of Leicester City Football Club, will run from 16th January until 21st March 2010. To be held in the free-to-view Community Gallery, it will showcase football strips, iconic objects and photographs reflecting the history of the club which was founded in 1884.

Fans who wish to get involved and have memorabilia to share, or stories to tell, can e-mail football@leics.gov.uk.

The exhibition is free to all and will run from Saturday, 16th January until Sunday, 21st March 2010. For further details of the exhibition, please contact Sarah Oakden- Nancarrow on 0116 305 3443  www.snibston.com

Official Opening of Harborough Museum Treasure Gallery by Trustee of British Museum

Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe CBE will be unveiling a plaque to mark the opening. He is a Trustee of the British Museum as well as the Professor for European Archaeology at the University of Oxford.

More than 50 people from the many organisations that are funding the treasure project, as well as some of the original excavators of the Treasure, British Museum experts, Museum volunteers and councillors will gather to hear the Professor speak. Leicestershire County Council, Chairman Roger Wilson, will also be saying a few words to commemorate the occasion.

The Southeast Leicestershire Treasure is the archive of material produced by several stages of archaeological work undertaken by local community archaeologists and University of Leicester Archaeological Services. The site proved to be an internationally important ritual site dating mostly to the generations before and after the Roman Conquest of Britain in the first century AD.

Harborough Museum is administered in partnership by Leicestershire County Council, Harborough District Council and the Market Harborough Historical Society.

The £290,000 refit is part of the Southeast Leicestershire Project to bring The Hallaton Treasure to the region. The whole project is funded with grants from The Heritage Lottery Fund, The Art Fund – the UK’s leading independent art charity, The MLA/V&A Purchase Fund, the DCMS Wolfson Foundation, Renaissance East Midlands, and The Headley Trust with local contributions from the Friends of Leicester and Leicestershire Museums, the Leicestershire Museums Fieldwork Group, and Leicestershire County Council as well as private individuals. Harborough District Council and The British Museum are also supporting the project.

Harborough Museum is open Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 4.15pm. Admission is FREE. The Museum’s entrance is in Fox Yard just off Symington Way on the first floor of the Council Offices. Lift access is available.

* To contact Harborough Museum phone (01858) 821085 or email harboroughmuseum@leics.gov.uk
* To contact Hallaton Museum phone (01858) 555305

www.leics.gov.uk/harboroughmuseum

Into The Forest Exhibition Launches at Snibston

An exhibition inspired by people’s visits to the National Forest is being showcased at Snibston Discovery Museum.
‘Into the Forest’ kicks off tomorrow (Saturday) and runs until Thursday, October 29 2009.

Resulting from a project run by Mantle Arts, the exhibition features paintings, collages, poetry, sketches and photographs created by people living in North West Leicestershire who have been inspired by visits to sites within the National Forest.

The project which has been supported by the National Forest Company and is being delivered in partnership with North West Leicestershire MIND and Leicestershire NHS Partnership Trust, aimed to boost emotional health and well-being through creative expression.

Participants took part in organised walks and worked with photographer Monica Fernandez, artist Jemma Bagley and poet Lydia Towsey throughout the summer and early autumn. They were encouraged to express their creative responses to their visits through artwork and poetry.

Rebecca Wooster, Project Manager for Mantle Arts, said: “We’ve been really encouraged by the response and have some fantastic creations to exhibit. We are working with some beginners and some more accomplished artists, but all have been inspired by the sights of The National Forest.”

Ernie White, Leicestershire County Council Cabinet Member for Museums, said: “Snibston is the ideal venue to host such a lovely exhibition. Its location in the heart of the National Forest gives it true relevance and with its free to view Community Gallery, everyone can enjoy the work created by local people stimulated by the treasures that we have within the National Forest.”

For more information on the exhibition, call Snibston on 01530 278444, email snibston@leics.gov.uk or visit www.snibston.com

(Mantle Arts is a participatory arts organisation. They create arts projects, festivals, events and manage public art commissions. Based in North West Leicestershire, Mantle works creatively with people of all ages and from all walks of life, in partnership with a wide range of organisations, venues and groups across the Midlands.
www.mantlearts.org.uk)