Ryedale Folk Museum

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...

Today, John, of the volunteer team was busy restoring the miniature keep, part of the collection of miniature buildings donated by Harlow Carr Gardens,Harrogate. This weekend the museum is hosting events based around the popular story of Wind In The Willows, the play being performed live performed outdoors (depending on the weather) by the Library Theatre.

Museum Director Mike Benson giving his thoughts on the volunteer led blog training days. Carrie

This week the museum held two days of blog training for some of the volunteers. It is a nice way for volunteers to introduce themselves and many now have the power to show the world what it is they do at the museum. This was a great few days and so far has been a success, many of the trainees' first posts can already be seen on the blog. Above are some photographs of the day with the blogging trainees hard at work. The training was for the most part a volunteer activity, with volunteers training other volunteers. The hope now is that there will be many more people contributing to this blog on behalf of Ryedale Folk Museum. Carrie Gough

Random pictures on a blustery day.

Our names are Will, Sam and Ally and we have made this blog to show you things we did and tell you about the variety of skills we have learnt from this experience. For example on our first week we ran the NAAFI ( A cafe for the armed forces in the WW2) which gave us great pleasure and enjoyment serving a whole variety of different people, these ranged from Australia, America, Lancashire and London. Throughout our second week we have been doing a variety of tasks, for example on Monday we cut out the materials for the rag rugs and found recipes for our day of cooking on Tuesday. On Tuesday we cooked three recipes in Stang End, oat biscuits, drop scones and leek and potato soup. On Wednesday we partly restored an old plough which was hard work. During Thursday we all separately went round with a school and helped out with their various questions and activities. Finally on Friday we learnt how to make this blog and publish our experience about the museum and what an excellent placement ...

Margaret Smith, Volunteer I have recently begun to volunteer at Ryedale Folk Museum, and am helping to work on cataloguing the Costume Collection. What I have found interesting is reading about the people who once owned, and wore, the costumes which have been donated to the museum. I often while away the time by imagining what their lives were like

A blackbird has built its nest on a tup's skull , which was attached to the roof beams by members of the Museum Club. Susan Hall

Cleo (my dog) and I have been volunteers here for about 10 years. I normally do chair seating, basketry and weaving, including Iron Age weaving.

Susan is one of three volunteers responsible for the library. Much of the library was donated by the founders Wilfrid Crosland, Bert Frank and Raymond Hayes.

Volunteers usually carry out these important "Front of House" activities. They encourage visitors to make Gift Aid donations; answer enquiries about walks in the area for the N Yorkshire National Parks Authorityand encourage sales from the well stocked shop.

I am John Lawson, a storyteller at the museum. I have been coming to the museum for five years, telling stories about the people of Ryedale. These stories include ironstone miners, WW2 shop keepers, cruck house builders, iron age ploughmen etc. My name is Fred Mynot, and I came to the Museum about four years ago after retiring, in order to do painting and odds and ends of repairs. After a year I arrived at the office one morning to a circle of grinning faces and the comment " Oh, Fred, you used to be an architect didn t you?" I gave a very hesitant "yes". "We're having trouble with a Planning Application, can you help?" The rest is history! After getting Planning and Building Regulation Approvals for Fat Betty's, I was persuaded to do the working drawings, specifications, tender and contract documentation. What a surprise! This led on to various other drawings for alterations, extensions and bits and pieces, some done, some being done and some in t...

Originally from the West Riding of Yorkshire , I moved to Kirkbymoorside 10 years ago having taken early retirement in 1996 from Lucas Aerospace where I worked as a Production Enginner. Now part of a small team in the workshop of Ryedale Folk Museum where we undertake a large variety of tasks including agricultural machinery repairs and overhaul and general maintenance of the site and it's exhibits. I think I have now the best job ever !! The following is our latest challenge. THE MODEL VILLAGE PROJECT. HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE. The village was started in the 1950's as a garden feature at the Beckwithshaw , Harrogate home of Mr John Hayton , an agricultural engineer and took 30 years for him to complete. Built to approximately 1/12th scale it consists of 30 buildings including a church complete with pews and font , castle , terraced housing with a corner shop , windmill , public house , boat house , forge , school , village hall , water mill with working wheel , police station , ...

Eleven volunteers gathered to learn how to blog today at Fat Betty's, Ryedale Folk Museum. Two volunteers and Gallery Manager Andy Dalton took the volunteers through the blogging process step-by-step.

Part Two of Peter and Robin's Evacuee Stories Following last weeks blog of Peter discussing his experiences as an evacuee you can now click on the player below to hear part of Robin Butler's story. Robin gives a view of what it was like to host evacuees, his family took in a pair of evacuees whom, among other things had never eaten a boiled egg! Carrie Gough

World War 2 Fortnight has been excellent, we have had loads of visitors to the museum. The re-enactors have really made a 1940's atmosphere. We have had visitors from the Royal Navy, Home Guard, British Airborne, Women's Land Army (two ladies who were in the Land Army during the war) and many more. The school parties that have come to visit us have all been dressed as evacuees and have experienced air-raids and cooking on wartime rations. Johnny Victory on Sunday 7th June was excellent, singing to 1940's tunes. The re-enactors gave a talk on the V1 flying bomb in the Manor House, and underwent an air-raid. Luckily, everyone survived the attack and celebrated with singing classics such as;Pack Up Your Troubles, White Cliffs of Dover and Tipperary.

World War 2 Fortnight has been great. I took thses photos and uploaded the video of Johnny Victory singing

Click play to hear museum volunteer Peter Smith discussing his experiences as an evacuee. Peter and fellow volunteer Robin Butler have given a number of talks at the museum discussing their war experiences. Robin as a member of a family who recieved evacuated children, and Peter as a London evacuee. Extracts from these talks will be appearing on the blog over the next few months so stay tuned for each installment. Carrie Gough

Women's Land Army 2009 represented by Ryedale Education Manager Becky aboard the Museum's 1940's Fordson. World War 2 Fortnight is now well into the first week. Air-raids, evacuees and the Home Guard will all be present at various times. The Home Guard and more will be reenacted by the UK Homefront group, they can be found at: http://www.ukhomefront.co.uk/index.html . Over 100 reenactors will be present over the coming weekend. Here are a few photos of the proceedings today. We have had schoolchildren dressed as evacuees and experiencing life during the Second World War. Emma, one of the Education Managers at the museum is seen here dressed authentically as a munitions worker. The photograph above is of teacher Mr Thompson, who was wearing an excellent 1940's style suit, anyone remember Private Walker from Dad's Army? Jim Wood in this picture is teaching schoolchildren how to make pegs for hayrakes. He even brought his vintage Triumph Motorcycle Combination. Jo...

Hallo Everyone Have you enjoyed a visit to the museum? Did you like looking at the blogs and/or website? Have you visited the other museum blogs? Have a look on the right hand side of theis page and you will find the links. The main museum website is at: www.ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk. We would really appreciate some feedback on the museum please, there is an online survey in this post, just click on the link. If you don't want to do the survey please leave us a comment. Thanks Very Much, Jonathan Click here to take our Online Survey