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April 24th 2008 was a happy day for the Museum as we were delighted to receive a number of generous donations.
On the left we have Trustee Andrew Cunningham being presented with a cheque by Councillor Peter McGowan (Ruscliffe Borough Council). This will pay for the materials needed so that Paul Nix, one of our volunteers, can make a metal hinged ramp to allow disabled access to the Disney Room The cheque was a joint donation from Councillor McGowan and Councillor Barbara Venes (Rushcliffe BC).
On the right Chairman David Elson is receiving a cheque for £480.72 from Councillor Sue Bennett, also of Rushcliffe Borough Council. This is to fund the purchase of 1000 needles for use on the Griswold machines.
New needles are also needed for some of the knitting frames and they have to be specially made for us, and therefore made in quantity - an expensive purchase.
We would welcome donations for this project.
Mr and Mrs Gerhard Lehner of Costock also came to the Museum on the same day. They brought a piece of machineryto add to the Museum's collection. This gift is a yarn/thread strength testing machine and had been in use in a Macclesfield mill for the testing of silk and cotton threads used in the manufacture of ribbons and trimmings. Details of the maker can be clearly seen in the photo : John Nesbitt Ltd. Makers, 42 Market Street, Manchester, and the machine probably dates from around the 1920s. An unusual feature of this machine is that the load is applied by applying pressure to the handle, whilst the oil flow through thy hydraulic brass cylinder below can be set to adjust the rate of descent of the handle.
Gerhard H Lehner worked with Alan Pears (treasurer and trustee in the early years of the Museum) when they both worked for Colette in Loughborough. Until his retirement Mr Lehner worked for Karl Mayer, makers of warp knitting machines in Shepshed. In 1989 Karl Mayer produced the pattern cards to manufacture the William Lee Quater Centenary lace panels. They were knitted by Stiebel's factory in Skegness, and we still have a few panels avaiable on sale in the Museum shop.
Mr Lehner shows his machine to Helen Brownett of the Museum.
Julian Ellis, a prospective Trustee, came to look round the Museum. Here he is seen on the left, chatting to Chairman David Elson by the cottage fireside, taking refuge from the rain.
The Museum now has the benefit of a new computer system, kindly donated by Peter Watson. Peter spent his working life in the textile industry, and his story makes interesting reading.
Click on "story" to read all about him.
Each year our volunteers have their own Christmas Party - the Volunteers' Fuddle. Wednesday, December 12th was the day, and here they are enjoying the occasion.
In the background you can see the wonderful Millenium Quilt hanging on the wall. The Quilt itself makes a visit to the Museum well worth while!
On Thursday December 6th the museum was delighted to welcome George Turner for a guided tour. George, of All Sox Ltd., South Wingfield, is a knowledgeable knitting machine enthusiast, and looked on with interest as our Curator, Jack Smirfitt showed him the various machines on display. The Library, with its extensive collection of publications,was also much admired.
George Turner with Jack Smirfitt in the Griswold room.
A close examination of a knitting frame.
The Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters is one of the City of London Livery Companies and several of our Trustees are members. George is also a member and an Assistant at their Court. He is particularly involved in their Bursary Awards Scheme whereby financial aid is given to talented students wishing to further develop their careers in knitted fabrics.
Chilwell School. a specialist in Arts, Maths and Computing, visited the museum recently. We were delighted to receive the following letter :
"Dear Sirs
Re: Visits - 3 October 2007 - 2 November 2007
I would like to express my thanks on behalf of Chilwell School for the opportunity to bring our students to your museum. They found the visit extremely interesting and informative. They particularly enjoyed the demonstration of the framework knitting machine and the opportunity to participate in the knitting process."
I look forward to bringing the students in the future.
Yours faithfully
Miss V L Thorpe
Subject Leader for History"
On 19 October the Friends' Annual Lecture attracted a full-capacity audience; Lee Ault demonstrated "The Caged Lady - how a fashionable Victorian lady acquired her wardrobe." Lee, who was dressed in an 1850s style dress with a crinoline cage, kept the audience enthralled with the wide range of original garments and accessories she produced from her Victorian travelling trunk.
Click on each thumbnail to see a larger image
Family Fun Day, Sept. 15th 2007
The weather was kind and the Museum's Friends and Volunteers were ready to show children what it was like in the old days when playing on the street, not on a computer, was the norm.
Approaching the Museum, visitors were met by the sound of Barrel Organs with Tony Yorke of Chesterfield and Ted Hemmings of Hucknall valiantly grinding away all afternoon. Waiting by the Chapel door was Dorothy Spick, beautifully dressed, and ready to collect the money.
Ethel Swann had brought a collection of games and these were laid out on a table for all to see. During the afternoon she demonstrated each game and encouraged the children to try them out - showing Mary Hand how to play Diabolo - and teaching skipping. She also knew lots of singing games. Some of the older generation also had a go. Were they remembering their childhood? Who knows! Lynda Carter tried her hand with the cup and ball. Her grandchildren, twins Charlotte and Matthew, were most impressed when, after several tries, she managed to catch the ball, whilst daughter-in-law Sharon looked on.
Home-made cakes and tea or coffee were on sale in the Chapel and Margaret Bingley made a wonderful Victorian maid - we wish her many happy returns for her 92nd birthday next month.
Tony Nutting demonstrated basket weaving in the garden whilst Jean Nuttiing showed us how to make Lavender bottles, using the long-stemmed lavender growing in the garden. Sylvia Hemmings was taking a break from demonstrating her crochet work in one of the cottages, and volunteer Carol Hawthorn was enjoying the challenge. The Tombola, in what is usually the Museum tearoom, was ably manned by Carol Robson with Kathy Powis keeping an eye on the prizes.
All this was very thirsty work, keeping Margaret busy all afternoon, with our organ grinders making the most of their tea break.
Our thanks go to all who helped to make this such an enjoyable occasion.
Click on each thumbnail to see a larger picture.
The Plant Sale on June 9th 2007 was equally successful as last year, with over £300 raised for the Museum. We were fortunate to have good weather yet again, and would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of what now seems to be an annual event.
Plant Sale & Cream Tea 2006
 The Plant Sale and Cream Tea event on the 3rd June was a great success. It was a beautiful hot and sunny day and we had a steady flow of visitors from the start at 10.00 o'clock. The stall holders arrived early and put up stalls along both sides of Chapel Street. In the garden there was a stall with hand-made greetings cards, a bric-a-brac stall and the museums' own plant stall. Refreshments were served in the chapel until 4.00 p.m.
Overall we raised a magnificent total of £322.
The stall holders all did a good trade and wish to be invited back again if we have a similar event next year.
A big thankyou to every one who helped with refreshments, made cakes and scones, helped on the plant stall, moved chairs and tables, cut the grass and did all the other jobs which made the day a success. Thanks also to the Notts Wildlife Trust who donated the surplus plants from their own plant sale the previous week.
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