Almost done...

Trowbridge Museum's Magna Carta-Game of Barons exhibition will be taken down after Saturday 25th July to make way for WEFT15, The West of England Festival of Textiles.
But there's no need to be sad, because...

...we are still adding to some of the medieval displays. Newly arrived is an impressive chainmail hauberk, on display opposite the Shop, shortly to be followed by a "gambeson" or padded jacket, which a knight would have worn beneath his chainmail.

You can also see a crossbow, short-handled battle-axe, dagger and flanged mace, and discover how these would have been used in medieval warfare.
We are hoping to continue borrowing the magnificent maquette of Henry de Bohun from Canterbury Museums...negotiations are in progress so watch this space.

Look what's coming! A life size model of Henry de Bohun, Lord of the Manor of Trowbridge, all the way from its home in Canterbury. Work will begin soon on displaying this splendid gentleman- so watch this space!

Whilst the Assistant Curator struggles against a busy work schedule to knock the exhibition into shape, things are moving fast on Trowbridge's other Magna Carta events. The Trowbridge in Bloom competition will feature displays of blue and yellow flowers to echo the colours of the de Bohun family coat-of-arms. Lord of the Manor of Trowbridge, Henry de Bohun, was pivotal in the creation of Magna Carta and in ensuring the terms therein were adhered to by King John.

The Assistant Curator surfing the net for a nice craftsman to borrow some medieval replicas from. She finds Richard Head of Melksham who makes bows, arrows, bucklers, daggers and innumerable wonderful things.

Hector Cole, the skilled blacksmith whose work will feature in our Magna Carta exhibition, has just received an M.B.E. in the Queen's New Year Honours list. We are absolutely delighted for Hector and feel even more privileged that we will be able to display some of his work this spring!

STOP PRESS! STOP PRESS!
Trowbridge Museum has just had a visit from the President of the Magna Carta Barons Association. He seemed particularly amused at the idea of us recreating the setting for the sealing of the Magna Carta in Lego. If anyone from the company sees this blog, we could really use a donation of grey bricks...

Magna Carta- Game of Barons

What links a powerful medieval baron, a Bad King, a Lego castle and two local craftsmen? 

Not sure? Well, it's Trowbridge Museum's 

exhibition on Magna Carta, 

February 28th to July 25th 

2015.

To find out how we go about putting together a major exhibition like this, just follow this blog and witness the trials and torments of an Assistant Curator and her colleagues...

Blacksmith Hector Cole (as seen on TV!) pumping the bellows at his forge in Little Somerford, Wiltshire.
http://www.evado.co.uk/Hector%20Cole/index.html


Some of Hector's fantastic pieces will be on display for the duration of the exhibition, as part of the Museum's aim to bring the Magna Carta story to life.

So, how does a museum go about re-creating the feel of the early Thirteenth Century? Watch this space!

The Education Officer and a volunteer,

pondering on the amount of damage a

battleaxe could do to their enemies...