Information on Loughborough
News Index
2012
Feb 2012Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
Cash boost for volunteer historians
Posted on 15/09/2009
Community Services
Volunteer historians have had a boost after Melton Carnegie Museum was granted nearly £5,000 to develop workshops to help expand their skills.
The money will enable Melton borough residents with a passion for uncovering the past to acquire and develop the know-how to help them create, expand or research local history records.
These records will be available through the new community archive and museum displays, which are currently being built at the attraction.
The grant has come from the Museums Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). Their Adult Learning Challenge Fund award scheme was launched this year and the museum is among the first to receive some money.
The museum established a community archive group in 2008. Volunteers from the Melton area record various aspects of local history and share existing knowledge and expertise.
Work is already well underway with three projects recording Melton town and country life. These are:
- Our Local - a contemporary record of local pubs.
- A Year in the Country - an oral diary of the year from five village locations.
- Taking Part - an oral history record of sport in Melton and the surrounding area.
Consultation with the wider community earlier this year and ongoing meetings with archive volunteers highlighted further areas of interest and opportunity for projects.
The four areas highlighted for introductory study include:
- Industrial archaeology
- Pre war agriculture
- Building methods and materials
- Graves and memorials
One-day Saturday schools will run from late autumn 2009 to spring 2010 and will be available free of charge to any volunteers wishing to support the development of local history records at the museum.
Julia Hawley, a local farmer and a community archive volunteer with the museum, said: "This is wonderful news. The workshops will enable us to gain some useful basic knowledge, which in turn will lead to a number of different local history projects.
"It is really encouraging that we should receive this grant."
Lead Member for museums at Leicestershire County Council Ernie White said: "It is important that we preserve as much local history as we can. This money is a welcome boost as it helps volunteers do just that."
The Carnegie Museum is currently closed for major building work but anyone wishing to register an interest in the community archive and workshops can contact the museum in writing, by telephone or by email.
Further details of the local history workshops will be announced at a later date.
For more information call Jenny Dancey, keeper Melton Carnegie Museum, 01664 569946, email: meltonmuseum@leics.gov.uk or write to: The Melton Carnegie Museum, Thorpe End, Melton Mowbray, Leicstershire, LE13 1RB. www.leics.gov.uk/MeltonMuseum