Ryedale Folk Museum

California based band 'There Be Pirates' put on a stirring performance at the museum on Sunday. Visitors packed out the Manor House to see and hear the pirates' music performed, and to take part themselves, children of visitors were encouraged to provide backing music as drums and maracas were distributed among the audience. Below is a video of some of the show (sound quality is not great but it gives an idea of the fun) as well as some photographs of the Pirate band. Carrie Gough (photos by Pete)

New volunteer and saddler Kieran has been at the museum this week giving demonstrations of his work and making various leather items. Many belts were made for eager staff and visitors as well as stirrup leathers and other items. The video below shows Kieran at work in the saddlery, busy making a beautiful leather belt. C.Gough

What is a Bal Musette? Bal-musette is a style of French music and dance that first emerged in Paris in the 1880s and was hugely popular through the Thirties, Forties and Fifties, but lost out to the Rock and Pop invasion (originating in Britain and America) in the Sixties. It is now enjoying a revival as people rediscover this uniquely French culture. Industrial Paris was the melting-pot: there were large numbers of migrants from the Auvergne (the middle of France), and also many Italian workers. The Auvergnats brought a type of bagpipe called a musette, and a dance called La Bourrée. The Italians came with their own styles and with their accordions. As the music developed in complexity, the accordion became the chief instrument, accompanied by banjo or guitar, bass, saxophone and drums. Musette was enriched by swing and jazz influences during and after the Second World War. Some of the dance establishments were very seedy! The musicians, for their own protection, climbed into a gall...

Below is a video, filmed by volunteers of the return of the tractors to the museum on tractor and engine day 2010. Don't forget to look at the Archive & Collection Blog for over 80 photographs of this event  http://ryedalefolkmuseumarchive.blogspot.com/2010/07/ryedale-folk-museum-tractor-engine-day.html C.G

Hey everyone! Summer is finally here. I am taking my weeks holiday next week. Can't wait!!! Of course I am going to miss working at the museum but I shall be back before you know it. I have had another busy week. On Monday my tutor from college came. That went really well because we managed to get lots of things completed. On Tuesday David and myself went to college for the last time before summer. This was also good because we completed all the work needed and we just had lots of fun. We thought as it was our last time at college, we decided to go to the cinema. On Wednesday I was on front of house for a bit and I was also helping Emma and Wendy with a summer craft which will be taking place over the holidays. (Believe me its going to be fantastic!!!) Thursday I was in Fat Betty's for a while again helping with the summer craft. I also started to do the signs for the Pirate event. Today Emma and I have been to Kirbymoorside school for most of the day and there we di...

After a long night Edd awoke to a wonderful smell in the air. "What is this" he thought to himself. Adam had got up early to start making fresh bread. Adam was a superb chef and had considered going into the restaurant business. After a good breakfast of bread and ale Edd was ready to start his morning business. Unfortunately Edd had been round to Mike's the night before and had eaten some dodgy chicken pie and so the morning business took longer than usual. After hearing Edd shouting Adam decides to make him something that will cheer him up. Adam decides a hat would be the best thing to cheer Edd up so he set to making the perfect hat. to do this Adam needed to use the loom and spinning machines.After a traumatic ordeal Edd finally arrived back at the house. he was very surprised to see a new hat waiting for him. He loved the style of the hat although there was a little problem, it didn't fit over his Afro. Never the less the morning chores had to be done. Adam heade...

Day One, Monday 12th July  Arriving at the museum we did not know what too expect however we were greeted very warmly by everyone here at the centre. Too start things off Helen gave us a quick whistle stop tour of all the exhibits and showed us her knowledge of each historical subject. Edd especially liked seeing all the animals around the museum. After this we were shown how to catalogue all of the items that entered the museum, this process took time to accurately log the information required in the system. The information needed for each item included; identification, production, physical characteristics, inscriptions and markings, reproduction, condition, acquisition, ownership and last but not least location. After having a go ourselves, Helen then showed us both where items not currently on display were stored, we couldn't believe how many items the museum had that were stored. A lady then came to the museum interested in borrowing some iron age artifacts....

Today the museum hosted yet another highly popular Tractor and Engine Day. Many machines were on display, but what I found most interesting were the traps; man traps, gin traps, badger traps. All now illegal to use, but a reminder of how things were done years ago before the advent of the electronic burglar alarm. Featured in the tractor run in (pole position) was our Museum Manager Kevin Sims on his beloved Fordson Dexta, and on the tandem were 2 museum volunteers, Peter and Jim. Results as follows: Best Engine- Richard Nesver showing a Lister stationary engine.                       Best Tractor- Alan and Pam Nesfield with an International Harvester                              Most Original Tractor - Chris Stevenson with a Field Marshall. Plea...

A short video narrated by John L, of Carrie and Jake using the rope making device from the museum's collection.  Rope making is going to be one of many added activities taking place throughout the summer and visitors are encouraged to have a go at making their own rope to take home.  Training up of rope makers is currently being carried out so if any volunteers want to learn, contact the museum. C.G

Wow, I haven't done a blog in ages.  Recently I have been fairly busy, well... busy enough not to do a blog! We have just received good news. And that is that we have got our new placements for another two apprentice's and they will have such a great time here. :)  I on the other hand... I have been delivering some schools. And doing other duties. such as college work and keeping the houses tidy, and doing errands. I am also helping to create a list of all the activities going on, in the summer Holidays. So look out for that!! We had the 'Trike Rally' in today (3 - 4th July 2010) and yesterday, and they were such nice people. I was a little scared of talking to them, you know... their SKULL BANDANNAS and their LEATHER JACKETS and all their TATTOO'S and all that jazz, but when I got talking to some of them they had some really interesting stories to tell. And there bikes... well i should say trikes really hahaha , their TRIKES are amazing I couldn't imagine someo...

Queen Victoria was Britain's longest reigning monarch, here Meriel is showing us a nice handkerchief that was a souvenir of Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The handkerchief shows Queen Victoria's sons and daughters and also the Prime Ministers during her reign. Jonathan S