Saffron Walden Castle is situated on a promontory at the junction of two streams, the Madgate Slade and the King’s Slade, in a position which would have commanded the valley westwards to the River Cam. Only the flint core of the basement remains of the once 3-storey keep. Inside are traces of a circular staircase,… Read More »
New Zealand Kiwi We’ve been busy over the last few weeks moving the bird taxidermy from a temporary home back to their usual store. October’s object of the month is a mounted kiwi skin, probably of a little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii), the smallest of the five kiwi species. With strong, heavy legs and no… Read More »
This silk reticule (bag) was made in the 1820s to support the campaign to abolish slavery. It was donated to the museum in 1927. The reticule is a beautiful and very delicate object. It is made from unlined pale pink silk with a drawstring at the top…. Read More »
Rachel Morris launches her new book on the 27th August 2020, inspired in part by her childhood visits to Saffron Walden Museum…. There can have been few children quite as geeky and eccentric as I was when I was ten. We were living outside Saffron Walden with our high-minded and austere grandmother, the four of… Read More »
Chinese Foot-Binding – Lotus Shoes Foot-binding was a traditional practice that originated in 10th century China, among court dancers and high society women. By the 12th century it was a widespread practice. In the early 19th century it was estimated that five to eight women out of every ten in China (taking into account regional… Read More »
Martin Barry a PhD student from Bristol University is researching ‘The Materiality, Memories & Material Culture” of Princess Mary’s 1914 (WW1) Christmas Gift to Soldiers & Sailors. Let him know if you are still in possession of your relatives embossed brass ‘Mary Tin’. He would like to interview relatives… Read More »
Hipposandal – a Roman horse shoe Our Object of the Month for July has been chosen by Carolyn Wingfield, Curator How were hipposandals used? Iron hipposandals (soleae ferreae) were removable temporary horseshoes, which were used to protect the hooves of working horses. They were first introduced in the Celtic-Roman area north of the Alps in… Read More »
We welcome the government’s announcement that museums in England can re-open from the 4th July. Our first priority is the safety of our staff, volunteers and visitors. We are working hard behind the scenes to ensure that all necessary safety measures are in place for re-opening in line with the government’s guidelines. We will announce… Read More »
Curator Carolyn Wingfield is giving a small display of Roman pottery a makeover, looking at where the pots were made or how they were used. This small bowl with a perforated base is a pottery strainer or colander, which has been partially reconstructed; it is quite rare for strainer bowls to be found complete. Domestic… Read More »
Bringing our usual holiday craft and learning activities to your home! Each pack contains all the materials you need plus exciting stories from our collections and is just £5. Simply follow the link to order yours https://saffron-walden-museum.arttickets.org.uk/ Week One: Brilliant Botanists Learn all about the botanist George Stacey Gibson. Make your own plant press and… Read More »
