A new-look heritage service which promises to give more people better access to treasured collections owned by St Edmundsbury is taking shape.
During the next few months, archaeological items housed at Moyse’s Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds, some of which date back to the times of early man, will be going on display at the West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, where similar items are already on show.
The artefacts will be removed from Moyse’s Hall over the next week to make way for a ten-week exhibition called Dimensions. Renowned embroiderer Helen Stevens, whose work concentrates largely on country scenes, flowers and wildlife, will showcase her pieces at Moyse’s Hall, the town centre treasure house, between 20 August and 29 October.
Archaeological items, such as burial and medieval artefacts relating to the Abbey, will remain on display elsewhere in the museum during the Dimensions exhibition. They will soon be complemented by some of the clocks, watches and dresses which were displayed in the Manor House.
Cllr Paul Farmer, St Edmundsbury Portfolio Holder for Arts and Culture, said:
“These changes represent the first real step towards creating a reshaped heritage service which can be enjoyed by even more people. Further improvements will also be made at the West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village in the future to ensure our rich history is showcased in the best possible way.”
An innovative scheme which has seen artefacts taken out of museum surroundings and into the community has also been trialled recently. St Edmundsbury has been working with eight other Suffolk museums and various health agencies to help trigger the recollections of people with memory problems using reminiscence boxes.
A new programme has also been trialled to provide a hands-on range of activities for people with learning difficulties. It is hoped both schemes will be rolled out across the county and beyond in the future.
ENDS
ISSUED BY LIZ HEARNSHAW, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033. liz.hearnshaw@stedsbc.gov.uk
