October events at The Museum of Somerset
The Museum of Somerset has three special events in October exploring the county’s history.
Mick Aston Memorial Lecture: ‘Monasteries in the Somerset Landscape’
On Thursday 8 October James Bond FSA will give the second Mick Aston Memorial Lecture, titled ‘Monasteries in the Somerset Landscape.’
The Somerset landscape is scattered with traces of its monastic past. One of Mick Aston’s major research interests was the monastic landscape of Britain and he always looked fondly at the range of sites that make up the monastic landscape of Somerset. James Bond is a leading landscape archaeologist who worked with Mick Aston for many years. In this lecture James will describe several Somerset sites ranging from the abbeys of Glastonbury and Muchelney through to Athelney and other less well known sites.
The talk is being given on behalf of The Somerset County History Trust, with all profits going towards the publication of future volumes of the Victoria County History of Somerset. Booking advised with tickets available from the museum - £8, £6 students. Starts at 7.30pm.
Stone carving workshop
On Saturday 17 October there is a one day stone carving course with Nick Duran. Participants will have the opportunity to carve a simple piece of Anglo Saxon or Romanesque decoration in local limestones based on early medieval carvings and sculpture in Somerset churches. The course is inspired by the museum’s recent acquisition of an Anglo-Saxon carving depicting St Peter that was found at Dowlish Wake.
The course is suitable for complete beginners and those with some experience of stone carving. Stone and tools are provided along with a wide range of drawings and prints of carvings which can be used by the participants as a basis for their carving. This event is sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Pre-book only with tickets available from the museum - £15, all materials provided, including tea and coffee. Time 10am to 4pm.
Alfred’s Somerset
On Thursday 22 October, Chief Executive of the South West Heritage Trust, Tom Mayberry will be giving an illustrated lecture entitled 'Alfred’s Somerset’, tracing the creation of the Anglo-Saxon county and telling the dramatic story of King Alfred’s retreat to Athelney. On the same occasion, Head of Museums, Steve Minnitt will be describing the famous Alfred Jewel and its continuing significance more than 1,000 years after it was made.
Booking advised with tickets available from the museum (£8) or via www.ticketsource.co.uk/themuseumofsomerset. Starts at 7.30pm.
Booking information
Booking is via The Museum of Somerset on 01823 255088 or museumofsomerset@swheritage.org.uk and for more information visit www.museumofsomerset.org.uk.