Sawston Village History Society
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BA group of fourteen SVHS members visited Ashdon Museum on Thursday 9th July 2009 by special arrangement. We were given a brief introduction by Cherry Fisher, one of the curators at the museum. Glenn Miller and Malcolm Moore were also involved.
The founder, Glenn Miller, wanted to be a museum curator from an early age and made it his business to visit every house when someone died to see if the family would give him any articles pertaining to Ashdon which they didn't need or want.
As his collection grew he was able to use a shed on a local farm, then more sheds and a caravan. This obviously could not go on so a search began for a suitable building in which to house and display his ever increasing collection. Eventually, in the 1960s, the Labour Hall came on the market and fund raising began in earnest.
Once purchased it took another five years to repair, renovate and decorate the hall and set up the 'rooms' in which to display the artefacts. Further renovations and upgrading have taken place since the opening as the hall has been flooded twice and now flood defences are in place to prevent a similar catastrophe.
The museum is cunningly divided into a number of small 'rooms' each depicting a different aspect of Ashdon village life and packed with interesting objects, photographs and legends. There is a disabled toilet, kitchen and comfortable tea rooms at the end of the hall where hot drinks and delicious homemade cakes are for sale at a very reasonable price.
The displays include a kitchen, laundry display, toy and games room, cobbler's display, hunting and gaming artefacts, war time memorabilia, chemist and medical goods, a post office, and many more including in the toilet area, a small scale model of the human body showing the internal organs and an amputated 'leg' complete with 'blood' at the top of the thigh. It's the sort of place that could be visited time and again and still one would see something new.
The museum is open on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons with a small admission charge and donations are also very welcome. It is closed during the winter months when a complete refurbishment takes place and the displays are changed, so each year there is something new to see.
A visit to this museum is to be thoroughly recommended. The older generations will journey back to their earlier years and younger people can marvel at the curiosities of yesteryear. Although space is somewhat restricted owing to the nature of the layout, the building would be accessible for moderately disabled people, and there is limited car parking.
Since the June report about the Challis Controversy the Challis Trust have had a further meeting in which the letters of protest about the leasing plans were apparently going to be discussed. Sadly, there has been no word of any decisions, nor any official (or otherwise) communication on the issue, from which one can only surmise that the leasing project has not been shelved but presumably progressing.
The majority of SVHS members remain firmly opposed to the leasing “option” as it would result in the effective loss of most of the House apart from the ground floor. This will drastically reduce the amount of space for the museum which Mary Challis had wished for and stated in her Will.
The SVHS has requested a meeting with the Trust to explain their rationale. We would particularly like to have explained the statement which appeared in the June/ July Scene, p8 “For the Trust to attempt to do the job (restoration), even piecemeal, would almost certainly result in bankruptcy” Why? There is a quite considerable annual income from rentals of neighbouring properties which should enable the restoration to be completed within 4 years
As most of the Trustees are quick to point out (if they can be persuaded to talk about the issue at all), Mary’s Will does not specify where the Museum will be located so need not necessarily be in the House, nor does she mention the SVHS. Logic dictates, however, that the House is the most obvious place for the Museum and where, surely, Mary herself would have wanted it. It is also difficult to imagine a Museum without a very considerable input and collaboration from the SVHS although sadly, it appears that a few of the Trustees would seek to minimise the SVHS involvement.
So, let us please have the meeting with the Trustees sooner rather than later to enable them to present their case for leasing. If this is so overwhelming it is possible that many SVHS members will withdraw their opposition if they can be persuaded that there is no alternative.
This issue is proving to be very divisive, especially within the SVHS and the volunteer gardeners in the Challis Garden, so the sooner it can be resolved, the better.
We would be delighted to have YOUR views on this contentious issue- please email your comments to Bruce on brucemilner@ntlworld.com or via this website.