Ryedale Folk Museum

Ryedale Calling Ecuador was an evening event held at the museum as part of the current family learning project. A live Skype-Video weblink was established allowing families from Ryedale to communicate directly with families from Ecuador. This was an opportunity to learn about the differences and similarities between our cultures. We discovered we share many traditions such as Christmas Carols and a similar Father Christmas tradition. There were also many differences such as national dress, food, wildlife and schooling among others. For some highlights of the night click on the videos below. One of the participants, Declan, was kind enough to bring his guitar and played some Christmas songs to those in Ecuador. The video below is of an improvised version of 'silent night', a song the Ecuador families knew in Spanish. To end the night the families in Ryedale and the families in Ecuador joined together to sing a few verses of 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas' led by Declan o...

Last weekend was the museum's free christmas weekend event. There were raffles, tombolas, medieval re-enactors, cakes, biscuits, book stalls, crafts, cooking, mulled wine, live music and more! The weekend was a huge success and we had over 1000 people through the doors over the 2 days. Some photographs of the event can be seen below. A big thank you to everyone who helped during the weekend, including staff and volunteers! Carrie (Photos by Pete Gough)

Purpose of BLOG TRAINING is to give volunteers guidance on creating blogs that will explain to people using the internet the variety of work that the volunteers are carrying out at the Museum. On Thursday, 26 November, in Fat Betty's (warm seating area) John, Peter, and Albert enjoyed a day's tuition on blogging from Carrie and Jonathan. The training was one-to-one and enabled the trainees to create and post RFM blogs. The trainees found blogging interesting and they hope to update and add to their blogs so that the progress of the on-going work at the Museum can be recorded, monitored and given wider publicity. Watch this blog! AE

Our Marshall Threshing machine, similar to the one seen in the Tess of the D’Urbervilles film, had rotted wheels. It has been limping along for demonstration days on modified Land Rover wheels but Traditional wooded wheels were needed. Armed with texts from the museum library, Albert and Peter set about building replacements using traditional materials and techniques. The Wheelwright shop at the museum provided original tools which we supplemented with a modern lathe, band-saw and planer. Traditional Timbers were selected , Oak spokes, Ash felloes. The original hubs, cast iron (Artillery hubs) were retained . Crucial to the success, was drawing the wheel, full size on a plywood base. We built the wheel on to this, checking angles and sizes as we worked. When the wooden wheel was completed Steve measured it’s circumference calculated the size for the steel tyre to allow for contraction after heating to fit. He cut and welded the original tyre to fit each wheel. The tyres are heated to b...

The Museum has a c. 1870s Marshall thresher dating from the second half of the 19th century. The thresher is used once a year Its wooden wheels are absolutely rotten and can not be renovated. We are attempting to make new wheels to the old pattern. We have recovered the tyres and metal stocks from the old wheels and these will be used built into the new wheels. The spokes are oak (x12 per wheel - for strength and load bearing) and the felloes (pronounced 'fellies') are made of ash (the six outer sections of the wheel - ash for springiness and resilience). If the stock (centre hub) was to be in wood, this would be made from elm because of its curly grain to give strength and resistance to splitting. We have cast metal or 'military' stocks or naves. The finished wheels will be hooped with metal tyres or 'hoops' that will be fitted 'hot' and allowed to shrink or 'nip' on to the felloes. The wheel will then be painted. Albert Elliot

Come along to the Museum's Christmas weekend celebration! Loads of festive fun and activities. Craft, Cooking, Raffles, Tombola (everyone loves a tombola!!) and lots more. There's even a medieval Christmas re-enactment. Most important of all it is FREE ENTRY!

During October half term, local artist Sally came into the museum to work with visitors to create their own pieces of art. These fantastic works were then on display in the Manor House until this week. Have a look at the photos below to see the fantastic creations. Carrie

Pigs and hens at the museum are thriving, depite it being November Jonathan S

Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday will soon be here again, when we all remember those who gave their lives so that others could live. Looking through the collection Barry found a few photographs which most people will not have seen before. They are of Bamletts of Thirsk, which made agricultural implements and machinery. These pictures show the metal posts used for erecting barbed wire fencing in trench warfare. The workers, of course, are all ladies, the men who usually worked there being in the forces. On Thursday 12th November the museum is organising a play with local schoolchildren a the village hall in Hutton-le-Hole called 'Standing in Line' based on the Great War.

Are you a family living locally? Would you like to take part in the Museums' family story project? Create your own piece of family history by making a digital photo story about yourselves. Include anything you like e.g.: Your favourite family stories, memories, traditions, objects, photos etc Mums, Dads, Kids, Teens, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, all are welcome to join in. The more the merrier! Realising the great stories there are, within ordinary family life. If you are interested please contact/ask for Carrie at the museum.

I spent two happy afternoons last week carving pumpkins in readiness for the museum's halloween party. Needless to say, I only had time to quickly carve one for my own gate post at home! Having safely delivered all eight pumpkin lanterns on Friday I was left to ponder what to dress up as for the big night itself. I decided on lots of black and an old blanket for a shawl with severe black make up. With a basket of apples, my old crone outfit was complete. On arrival at the museum on Saturday evening Mike instructed me to frighten the children by jumping out at them in the dark as they were escorted up the site to the story teller. I hid behind a coffin, I am not sure how scared the children were, but it was great fun and my cackling gave me a sore throat. During the evening, I managed to take some very atmospheric photographs, I hope that they convey the sense of fun and hard work that went in to making what was a very enjoyable evening for all of the visitors, staff and volunteers ...

This week we have had plenty of activities including rug making and painting. Traditionally, this half-term week was one where children could earn some extra pocket money picking potatoes. At the museum we have been cooking potatoes, potato printing and using spud guns. On Sunday 31st October we will be having the Halloween Party with games, stories and plenty more. Ring us for more details, 01751 417367 and come and join in the fun.

David Ruch will be coming to the museum this Sunday (25th October) -1300-1500, he engages the audience with his music and storytelling.

I have now successfully been able to do my voluntary work without having distractions, ie . parties.In the past I have been asked to do some voluntary work but haven't been able to, so now I have decided that it would be better if I did help! I helped Andy open a Gallery exhibition on F riday evening and it was great fun !! I didn't do much but, Andy said I was a great help which made me proud. But that isn't all the voluntary work I'll ever do ...

Nearly New - a 103 Falling Birds Production came to the museum this weekend. Audience Members were treated to a performance featuring live musicians, and all kinds of story-telling and prize giving antics. The event was held in the Manor House on site in the museum, a wonderful setting for such an imaginitive, surreal and lively performance. Audience member Sue described the event as "like having an old fashioned childrens story book come to life." Carrie Gough

Help open up museum (as usual) – you know what that insists of. · Hoover up and clean front desk and the shop. · Stock up the shop and do the float for the till. · Open doors to the public (2 minuets to 10 o’clock). I have been able to set up and get ready for school groups with Bex and Emma that are booked in for the day to learn a different activity. (Just so happens that today is Iron-age day) Also I am now known as ‘the guy that can light a simple fire as the rest of the crew cant’ guy!! We have lots of fires in the buildings all around the museum and we light them if we are going to have special visitors round and teach children, just to give you a feeling of how it would have been if you were in those ages and conditions… Plus it also keeps us warm!! When we have loads of kids up we have to split them up into groups, and this also helps the Education team as they could not be able to teach round 60 children at one time, also they can teach the children different activities rather...

Opening the Museum is very quick if you get to know your way around, firstly I have mentioned the fact that I open Fat Betty’s on numerous occasions, and I have had to make that my new priority of the museum. What a way to go!! I have had to sort out the store room and price loads of gifts for the shop. This sometimes can get extremely senseless as it takes allot of time. Just as opening something you have to close it so another priority that I have is also the fact that I have to close Fat Betty’s and this includes; cleaning the drinks machine, turning off the lights ( cupboards and roof), also I do, do the sweeping, and also I clean out the bin. Then at the end of the day I help lock up the museum.

Coffins. The badge used by the Lyke Wake Walk Club (and the New Lyke Wake Walk Club) is one of a coffin. here at Ryedale Folk Museum, we have a funeral bier and a horse-drawn hearse. John Nicoll, museum volunteer was involved in the restoration of the bier, read about it here at: http://ryedalefolkmuseum.blogspot.com/2009/07/kirkbymoorside-funeral-bier-restored-by.html . This post has attracted viewers from all over the globe, and has been linked to a forum called Coffin Talk. This is a message board for funeral directors, mortuary science students,and those with a morbid curiosity. Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks to John Nicoll for creating a very interesting post that many others have also found interesting. Coffin Talk can be accessed at: http://www.coffin-talk.net/index.php?sid=087fef3acba330b95f4a0d0dbc59a9df Jonathan Severs

Nearly New is an excellent production that will be staged at Ryedale Folk Museum on Friday October 17th at 7.30 pm. This will take the audience through enchanting memories, long lost stories and entertaining moments. Adults £4, concessions £2. Have a look at the 103 Falling Birds website http://www.samlawrencedance.co.uk/103fallingbirds.html (photograph accessed at this source).

This is a digital story clip about Ryedale Folk Museum. I had a very exciting time on my visit and hope you will enjoy yourself, if you come here, too. I have learned so much on my visit. For example, I have taken part in the making of this digital story clip, by putting music to it and taking pictures. It has improved my confidence, my experience of life in a job and the way I work in a team. It's that good that I don't want to go back to school. I hope to come again soon and highly reccommend it. - Declan Suddaby Throughout my week at Ryedale Folk Museum, I learned lots of new skillls, for example learnt how to use some digital story software. I have enjoyed this week greatly and wish that it was longer. During the week , we worked as a team to produce this digital story, this meant we hads to work as a team, and listen to everyones opinions, this was a valied experience. I hope to come back soon - Megan Robinson During my time at Ryedale Folk Museum we created a museum ad...

From Ryedale Folk Museum Archive & Collection On Sunday October 4th we are having a threshing day at Ryedale Folk Museum. The thresher is a Marshall and was restored by staff and volunteers, come along and have a look. This is just part of a good collection of tractors and implements the museum has from days gone by.

A week in and I have all ready got my first comment, (in the first week!) I have just about mastered the first part of managing a museum. Using a till! But to be honest I have allot more different sections to work on. The different sections I have mastered are:- - Open doors too the public. - Do the float for the till. - Open the gallery. - Hover and sweep the floor. - Open till and stock up shop. For the passed few days I have been on the till sorting out customers, and stocking the shop with the help of a colleague, (Barbara). And at the end of each day I learn the importance of locking up and closing the museum making sure we haven’t locked anyone inside.

Whalebones were often a feature of the farm gateway in the Ryedale area. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many farmers sons would go to sea with the whaling ships from the local ports such as whitby. The whalebones erected on the farm gateway were like a badge of honour, to show you had relatives at sea whaling. Please have a look at a previous blog post about a local man Wiliam Stockell, amongst his many adventures he spent time whaling. http://ryedalefolkmuseumarchive.blogspot.com/2009/05/eventful-narrative-of-william-stockell.html Jonathan Severs, B.A (Hons)

Being the Ryedale Folk Museum’s new Apprentice is ACE. I’ve learned in my three days so far to deal with the customers that enter and leave the grounds. Working on the till dealing with money as well as the admissions for the public. I have also learnt about the gallery and the different sections of art we do. I have been shown how to open the ‘ Fat Betty’s Café ’ and I have been able to study with the help of the crew and customers, some education of the museum before I even knew of its existence. I have even been given the pleasure to stock up the shop and use the labelling gun to do some pricing of the gifts that we sell and I had been given the opportunity ( which I choose to do so ) to organise the store room which took up allot of A, effort and B, time. I am helping with the ordering and the orders of gifts in the shop and the office. With the help of the team I’m sure I can cope.

Where could you go in a museum and see activities from completely different eras within yards of each other? Ryedale Folk Museum, of course. We had an excellent group of iron age re-enactors who were demonstrating different crafts from the period. These included wood-turning, pottery, weaving and textiles. Today, volunteers and staff were treated to a lovely dinner of stew, cottage pie, beetroot, and jacket spuds. Us blokes were even lucky enough to get a pint of Black Sheep. For afters - if you had room, was a smashing apple crumble and cream. Thanks very much to everyone who prepared that lovely meal. After dinner we got busy harvesting the cornfield. We got off to a slow start due to the weather, it was very overcast and drizzly before dinner, but we got the field done with the binder and stooked the sheaves. The binder probably dates from the 1940's, a Sunshine Massey Harris from Australia, and the tractor used to pull it is a MF 135 from the 1970's. Jonathan Severs

Mike Benson here letting you know how I get on with my research trip In The Search of Ordinaryness ...I'm looking for people and institutions that just do good work everyday to the point it becomes everyday..ordinary..not average..Where the gap between what they say and what they do is minimal..where everyone gets what they are about..where they are (my favorite word) surefooted. This research trip is the final part of my Clore Fellowship I'm off to British Columbia to a place called Bella Bella to stay with Harvey Humchitt and his wife. I'm also going to visit New York, Boston and Chicago! More to follow Bella Bella. 22 Sep 2009 It is around 14:00 hrs Canadian Pacific time. I’ve just got of the plane in a place called Bella Bella home of the Heiltsuk in British Columbia after travelling for 40 hours. On the plane was a woman and her teenage son, her bag had on a great first nation design with the words Heiltsuk honouring our women. I gather from her conversation she ...

Come and see the binder in action on Sunday at Ryedale Folk Museum. We will be pulling the P.T.O driven binder with one of the museum's collection of tractors. After the wheat is harvested the corn will be stooked and left to dry, then put in the shed until October when it will be threshed. The video below is from a similar binder in Carnew, Ireland. Jonathan Severs

RFM 2006.11.84 Most people will have heard in the media that it is 70 years since Germany invaded Poland. Everyone has a relative who took part in the war, and Ryedale Folk Museum is no exception. Bert Frank, the museum founder had a brother called Christopher (Kit) who perished in 1943 aged 25. Jonathan S

This is a video of a half size Morris Minor Pickup powered by a 125cc Kawasaki engine. Morris Minors, very nostalgic cars, will be at the museum in force on Sunday 6th September. Come and have a look at these lovely vehicles. The image above, from: http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-1960-1969/1960-Morris-Minor-custom-ggr.jpg will maybe go faster than the traditional model... Jonathan S

If you fancy cooking some traditional food after a visit to Ryedale Folk Museum, then the book Ryedale Recipes by Peter Brears is ideal. There was plenty of food around today, Kevin Sims made a ham mushroom and pea pie with jacket spuds in the White Cottage, whilst Peter was busy in Stang End with chicken, bread cheese and vegetables. In the Tudor Crofter's cottage Emma Hirst was cooking small mint pancakes, a joint of bacon and vegetable stew. As yesterday, all was made to a very good standard. Jonathan Severs

Today, staff and volunteers were cooking at the museum using traditional methods.Trout, rabbit, pigeon, turnip stew were all being prepared by these enthusiasts. Jonathan Severs

Last Friday I took a few pictures of some of the museum's livestock. The Lincolnshire Curly Coated pigs and Gloucester Old Spots have grown since the last blog entry http://ryedalefolkmuseum.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-pigs-at-ryedale-folk-museum.html . The Light Sussex and Marsh Daisy hens are laying and looking well. On 24th August the Muscovy duck hatched 10 eggs and we now have 10 lovely ducklings. Jonathan Severs

The Alliance Française is an international organisation with branches in many countries all over the world. Its aim is to promote the French Language and Culture. The York branch, affiliated to the ‘Federation Britannique des Alliances Française’ (AF UK) was established in 1994 and is a registered charity. In York, the Alliance promotes the following activities: Cultural activities: · Our regular monthly meetings take the form of illustrated talks in French on topics of general, cultural and current interest, or the showing of French Films. · Social events, or soirees, are also organised to promote social gathering of Francophones and Francophiles alike. · Special events, like the ‘Bastille Day’ at Ryedale Folk Museum, are the perfect opportunity to meet new people, to experience aspects of French culture in a fun way. French Language Classes: · All our classes are led by native French speakers. Courses are offered at all levels, from beginners to advanced and run during the day or in ...

Here is some footage of the prize giving from Tractor Day 2009.

Earlier this year, I came to the museum and we were wondering what we could do to raise funds for the Harrison Collection. I came up with the bright idea of completing the Lyke Wake Walk. This made sense, after all Ryedale Folk Museum had had the collection of artefacts donated by the Lyke Wake Club, and there is even a building named ‘Fat Betty’ after one of the stones en-route. Andy and Mike also appeared at first to be enthusiastic, but after some thought, they both declined to take part. Maybe they were wise to do that? The initial plan was for me to do the walk in June, Andy was co-ordinating volunteers and staff to meet me at various check points along the way. Unfortunately this attempt was unsuccessful. I had really bad blisters on both my heels, I got sunstroke and the compass decided to spin round in circles after the Lion Inn. So I sacked it and was returned to the museum by Judith in her 4x4. Everyone thought I was mad when I said I was going to do the entire walk again. So...

Two of the museum's lively volunteers, 98 year old Geoffrey Willey, (photographer) and the slightly younger Robin Butler, (blacksmith) take a well deserved break after an eight hour shift at the museum.

On the 18th July thousands of steel workers on Teesside marched, with banners and a brass band, to try to save their last blast furnace from closing. For over a hundred years much of the ironstone that went into the furnaces came from the Cleveland ironstone mines, including Rosedale. On the 24th July, 40 young people from North Ormesby, near Middlesbrough, came to the museum and using banners and brass band instruments, recreated the Cleveland ironstone miners first ever Demonstration day. The original gala, held in 1872 in Skelton, included men from the Rosedale mines.

Some more footage of Tractor Day 2009. Can anyone spot a former Prime-Minister?

Last weekend we were very fortunate to have a group of Polish people from York at the museum. These short films show some of their cooking expertise in the White Victorian Cottage, using nothing more than an open range from the nineteenth century. Some of their fayre included stew and dumplings and a most delicious cabbage soup. Jonathan S

Today was tractor Day at Ryedale Folk Museum. Exhibitors from far and wide brought in their prized tractors, stationary engines, implements and vehicles for visitors to see. The museum's Fordson Dexta and Massey Ferguson 135 loader tractor were amongst the exhibits which were all in excellent condition. If it was not for these enthusiasts, the future of these machines would be in doubt. In the years before the advent of the National Grid, it was essential to have a power source on the farm. Initially stationary steam engines were used, and then with oil powered engines, these petrol and paraffin engines were used for a variety of tasks such as generating electricity, pumping water, powering milking machines and milling grain. At 2p.m, the tractors drove through the museum grounds and did a loop round Hutton-le-Hole. I was very fortunate to have a pillion ride on the 1950's B.S.A B31, owned by museum volunteer Jim Wood. There's nothing like the sound of a British motorcycle....

In June I got a phone call from Mike “can we do Stig of the dump.” Stig of the dump, I learned, is a children’s book and film, often taught in schools. Stig is a stone age man marooned in our time and found living in a den in an old quarry by a group of children, “of course we can do Stig of the dump.” Whitecliffe Primary School arrived at the museum two weeks later and we made Stig’s den behind the roundhouse. Andy would have made a perfect Stig but refused to wear the rabbit skin loincloth, but he did help the children make some charcoal, and they used it to make stone age drawings in the roundhouse. After lunch they daubed the den with mud and made and tested bows and arrows. Finally after showing Stig his new home the children recreated the flint and watch scene from the book. Exhausted after a busy day some of the children fell asleep on the bus home. Well done Whitecliffe School.

Day One We are all from Lady Lumley's sixth form in Pickering; Megan is here for two days, Katy for one week, and Robyn for two weeks. This is our first day of work experience at Ryedale Folk Museum. None of us really knew what to expect but we were pleasantly surprised by the welcoming staff and casual nature of the museum. We spent our first day shadowing Bex and Emma as they led actvities for a group of Amotherby school children. It was very interesting and enjoyable as we saw the hands-on approach to teaching, and we assisted the children in experiencing Victorian-style washing and Tudor house building. We also had to explore the museum and familiarise ourselves with the exhibits, and the animals. Overall it has been an enjoyable day! Day Two Today we had a visit from another school group, and we were able to help them take part in several new activities, including Viking Pottery and Crofter's Cottage (although this had to be relocated due to a torrential downpour!). Megan...

FINDING THE FUNERAL BIER. The Victorian funeral bier was found in the cellar of Kirkbymoorside Library and as the cellar frequently flooded it's condition was extremely poor. Last used during the 1930's, dated by Robin Butler who has vague memories of following it at a funeral , it lay almost forgotten until salvaged in 2008 by Museum Trustee Tony Clark and brought,with the Town Council's permission to the workshop of the Ryedale Folk Museum CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION Constucted by local craftsmen entirely of pitch pine , the bier consists of two parts , the wheeled carriage on which the coffin was transported and a railed frame on to which the coffin was transferred and borne into Church and afterwards to the graveside. The frame has three rounded hand grips on each side for bearers to hold. After the burial the two items would be reunited and returned to the cellar until it was next required. Recently a visitor offered another possible explanation of it's operation...

Jerry Epstein and Ralph Bodington Tour 1st August 2009 Join us for fantastic singing and banjo performances from these great American musicians. Jerry regularly sings 'old songs old style' on both sides of the Atlantic whilst for Ralph this will be his first visit to England after retiring from well-digging. Ralph is an exceptional exponent of the old-time style of banjo and a great ballad singer. For more information and to hear some sample tracks please visit the following websites... www.minstrelrecords.com/bodington.htm and www.minstrelrecords.com/epstein.htm . Ralph Bodington - Handsome Molly Jerry Epstein - Been All Around This Whole Round World Mini-afternoon concert (included in museum admission) to be held at 3:30pm. Main evening concert to begin at 7pm Tickets: £5 Adults, £3 Children.

From the 29th June to the 10th July Richard Bowman is doing work experience at the Ryedale Folk Museum. On my first day I had a bit of trouble finding the way in but, Lewis Delaney, another lad who is doing work experience here, showed me where to get in when I came in for the first time. I was a little nervous but as I had met nearly all of the staff I soon was settled in. Lewis showed me around the different places where we would be doing activities and other projects over my work experience fortnight. On my first day of work experience was to get to know the museum and the staff. I dressed as a Victorian and I assisted with a group of year 2 school children, with the Victorian wash day. Later on in the day I fed the pigs, had a practice on how to blog so I was filming and prepared some things for rug making. On my second day I was ready do the activities with the schools that were coming in for an Iron Age themed day. I did Daubing on the Iron Age round house, with three groups of...

From the 16th of June until the 3rd July Lewis Delaney did his work experience at Ryedale Folk Museum. Along the way he has learnt a lot about the museum and history side of things. He also had an insight into the communication side of a business by taking part in meetings and talking to new faces. This is particularly important at Ryedale Folk Museum as there are many volunteers, each different every day. His confidence in tasks and answering questions has increased and he always offered support to staff and visitors alike. This is Lewis giving a brief account about his two weeks experience here at the museum. On my first day I nervously approached the entrance to find it was shut. I was terrified I had got the wrong time and was going to make a terrible impression on my first day. However two volunteers who were working that day saw me, and asked if I was doing my work experience. They showed me the way into the building, they were very willing and kind. I was shown around the museum...