Ryedale Folk Museum

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.