Heritage Centre News - TrustNews December 1985
The past few months have seen a wide variety of exhibitions at the Centre. With¬out doubt the most successful of these was that which featured the magnificent collection - of aerial photographs of the City. This was well-attended and provoked much favourable comment.
The current and last exhibitions of the year, 'Winchester's Railway Heritage' and 'Improving the Railway Environment', should have great appeal - not only to railway enthusiasts. A feature is a very large working model of the old Chesil Station.
Two talks have been arranged in conjunction with the exhibitions, which deal with the railways and their association with Winches¬ter over the years. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, British Rail are to use the exhibitions as a basis for discussions with the County and City aimed at working jointly to improve the environment of Winchester Station and its surround¬ings. B.R. also plans to do the same with industrial and commercial interests.
This is a prime example where the Heritage Centre not only provides an interesting diversion but uses the opportunity to provoke interest in beneficial changes for the future.
The Centre will be closed for public exhibition purposes during the months of January, February and March. This is because the space will be needed for the planning and installation of the permanent displays made possible by the Carnegie Grant. However, the Centre will not be closed in other respects. There will be much activity continuing, but of a different sort.
The Carnegie Working Group
As required under the terms of the grant, the services of a firm of professional Interpreters have been retained. The Group has had discussions with them on the general form of the display, the subject matter has been agreed, and work is proceeding to design, etc. There is much to be done, but barring any unforeseen problems, the display should be completed in time for an Easter opening.
Urban Studies Group
Thanks to the work of Frank Chippindale, Chairman of the Group, activities at the Centre are very much on the increase. Generally these are developing in three main directions. Firstly, talks, discussions, walk-abouts, etc. aimed at increasing architectural awareness. Secondly, projects, workshops, etc. involving schools. Thirdly, activities of wide general interest.
A project in the third category is now under development. It includes an exhibition of the Victorian era using the wonderful collection of all things Victorian which Mrs. Eileen Berry of The Old Mill Restaurant has kindly offered for this purpose. There will also- be specialist talks, Victorian evenings for members of the Trust (and especially for the volunteers who man the Heritage Centre), school projects, projects mounted by the Mid Hampshire Teachers' Centre and, hopefully, other activities organised in conjunction with the Hampshire Branch of The Victorian Society.
This project will run during the months that the Centre is closed for public exhibitions. All members of the Trust ma bring parties by arrangement.
Fund-Raising
Although the fund-raising activities of the past year will ensure that the Heritage Centre is self-sufficient during the current financial year, continuing efforts are needed. A volunteer to take over the Fund¬raising for the Centre is urgently required.
Running the Centre
The success of our exhibitions has only been possible because of help from volunteers to open the Centre, receive visitors and sell goods in our shop/reception area. Because the Heritage Centre will be closed for the first three months of 1986 while the long-term exhibition is mounted, it might be thought that our volunteers will go into hibernation. This is not so, for our policy is to increase the number of open lectures and discussion groups and this will need volunteers to prepare rooms, receive visitors, make coffee and perform other tasks.
Books - We have made considerable profits for the funding of the Heritage Centre from the sale of secondhand books. At present our stock is low, and without more books we shall obviously not be able to maintain this source of income. If you are throwing out books or know of anyone else who is (perhaps on moving to a smaller house), please think of the Heritage Centre.
Most of our book stock is in cardboard boxes on the floor of a storeroom in the Centre. We very much need simple bookshelves on which sorted stocks can be stored.
If anyone is interested in helping with the Heritage Centre or donating books or shelves, please get in touch with George Swift (53481) or Alan Cooke (64292). Books can be left at any time when the Centre is open, and we may be able to help in moving books or shelves.