Museum in a drawer – an Education Project at Orford Museum
The Junior Friends; during the Spring Term will be carrying out some research on their found objects. They will then label their items and showcase them in the drawer in case 5 in the museum. Watch this space!
See The Bronze Age Story
Our new display includes a large well-preserved pot from Boyton, the Butley Hoard of over 40 axe heads (which is of national importance), a replica of a gold torc, also from Boyton, all Bronze Age, and an impressive Orford C14 guild seal matrix all on loan from Ipswich Museum.
The River and the Sea – an exhibition at St Bartholomew's Church, Orford
This exhibition depicts images of many of the items belonging to the late Ralph Brinkley, former harbourmaster of Orford as well as photographs, documents and information relating to the river and the sea. Please note the exhibition may occasionally be removed because of concerts or other events.
Acquisitions
Purchases
• “A rather rare 12th century coin, a Geoffrey Plantagenet silver denier, not found in England before” (as described by the British Museum). Geoffrey Plantagenet, Duke of Brittany, was one of the sons of king Henry II, the builder of Orford Castle.
• Another French coin, a silver obole, issued by the Bishop of Cahors, dating from the late 13th early 14th century.
More research will be carried out on both these, after which they will be placed in the museum in case 5 with our findings. Our thanks go to the two donors who purchased them for the museum.
Gifts
• The Ralph Brinkley burgee has been joined by a gift of a Dabchick Sailing Club members’ badge from 1930. You will be able to see it and the restored burgee flag in our exhibition in April 2011.
• Other gifts include a badge from the 1930s Women’s League of Health and Beauty. We have also been given copies of many photographs, which we are currently copying onto disc. Many are accompanied by interesting anecdotal histories, which are invaluable to the museum.
Long and short term loans
• A beautiful royal blue enamelled heraldic mount, with the Earl of Warwick’s motif of the bear with the ragged staff visible, circa 1500s. This is in case 3 in the castle.
• Five Roman coins found in the Gedgrave area, which will be placed in case 5 once details have been entered onto our data system.
The Museum Committee would like to thank all of those people who have allowed us access to their family history and to some of their archives.
