How it really was-life in the past

Lunchtime Lecture

Helen Montague-Smith, Trowbridge Museum, on 11 October 2001

The speaker explained the work of the Trowbridge Museum by describing one part of their collections the items donated to the museum by a member of the long-lived Whittaker family, who lived in Bratton, one of the villages near Trowbridge. A range of personal and domestic objects up to 200 years' old was shown in a fascinating series of slides. .

Helen also explained the evolution of the museum over the past 15 or so years, from an organisation with no premises in 1986 to its current situation in the Shires Shopping Centre.

The museum does not charge entrance fees, and is fully funded by the Trowbridge Parish Council. The museum is active in encouraging the local community to take an interest in its activities, and the Parish Council funds a full-time Education Officer to liase with and visit local schools and colleges. Written material suitable for children can be downloaded from the museum's web-site.

Jean Brushfield