St Edmundsbury’s Museums Service continues to work in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce in Bury St Edmunds to offer important pieces of history to local businesses.
The Moving History scheme was launched in October 2003 and loans selected objects, which are both visually attractive and historically important, to local companies to display for a three-month period. Money from the scheme is being used by the Museum Service to provide additional services such as educational projects. The companies agree the location and museum staff ensure a high standard display. Two Bury St Edmunds businesses involved from the start, The Beckett Group (a financial services company) and Partridge and Wilson (solicitors) have decided to continue to have an object on loan.
The Beckett Group previously displayed a late 1920s/30s blood red sequinned jacket and has now chosen to loan a Bronze Age sword which is on display in their foyer. Barbara Reynolds of The Beckett Group said:
“The costume has been a conspicuous success in every sense. It is a beautiful piece of work and was in an eye-catching position in our reception area. Visitors and staff alike have enjoyed seeing it and we have had many complimentary comments about it. The whole project is an exciting way of viewing museum pieces."
Partridge & Wilsonhave decided to keep their medieval stone head for a further loan period, managing partner Robert Bourne said:
"The medieval stone head has attracted much interest and has become a focal point in our reception area at 88 Guildhall Street. We have decided to keep it for a further period as our staff have become rather attached to him and it has been good to have an extra head in the office!"
Objects included in the scheme so far are a fine Romanesque carved stone head dating from c1140 (which was probably a corbel from the West Front of the Abbey Church of St Edmund), a lantern clock with striking bell made by Mark Hawkins of Bury St Edmunds in 1710, a Bronze Age sword and the late 1920s/30s blood red sequinned jacket with small round sequinned purse. Two of these are currently available for hire to businesses; please contact the Peter Jones on 01284 706183 for further information, or visit the Chamber web site on
http://www.burystedmundschamber.co.uk/Moving_History.htm
Peter Jones from the St Edmundsbury Museums Service said:
"The interest and support we've had so far from businesses and the Chamber of Commerce has been very good. This scheme has enabled businesses to bring history into their staff’s and visitors working environment. The request for further information about their chosen artefact shows how well the scheme has been received. It also brings great pleasure to the museums staff to see others gaining great enjoyment from the items on display.”
ENDS
ISSUED BY MARIA ETHRIDGE, COMMUNICATIONS UNIT, ST EDMUNDSBURY BOROUGH COUNCIL. Tel 01284 757033 Fax 01284 757032 maria.ethridge@stedsbc.gov.uk
