There are several exciting things happening at Wells and Mendip Museum within the next few weeks.
The long-running display of the Bronze Age urn from Beacon Hill, Shepton Mallet, with its excellent explanatory panels, will continue for several more weeks; probably till the end of May. The urn contained the cremated remains of a young woman, and they have been reinterred in the round barrow grave where they found her, this time in a modern replica pot replacing the heavily broken and restored original.
In the foyer, with free admission, we have the exhibition by artist Mark Noble, “Untamed Somerset”. This display of dramatic pictures has been described as showing, “the power and majesty of the natural world”. Now showing, it will run till 14th March and pictures can be bought – several having been spoken for already.
For a more active approach, visit “Treasures of the Earth” running from 28th February till 16th May. This is a touring exhibition of finds loaned from museums all over the West Country, and moving around the region to give everybody a chance to see it. In addition to the Iron Age gold coins from Cornwall, a Romano-British statuette of Mars from Somerset and medieval pottery from Plymouth, Wells museum will be showing landscape and community archaeology and a display of finds by local metal detectorists. Details of educational events will be published nearer the time. ‘Treasures from the Earth’ has been put together by a consortium of Museums – the Royal Cornwall Museum, Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery. It is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Renaissance South West.
Wells museum is always worth a visit, for is own exhibits of Mendip life in past ages, as well as a fine exhibition of early 20th Century caving equipment, likely to give intense claustrophobia to the uninitiated and severe misgivings to health and safety officials. Situated to the side of the Cathedral Green it is within five minutes walking distance (or less) of a dozen places to eat, have coffee or enjoy something stronger. Visitors who come on Wednesday or Saturday can enjoy our small but very lively market just across the green and through the arch, readily found just by listening out for the buskers!
Opening times. Weekdays 11.0-5.0. Sundays 11.0.- 4.0.
Wells and Mendip Museum, 8 Cathedral Green, Wells, Somerset BA5 2UE.
Tel. 01749 673477. Website www.wellsmuseum@ukonline.co.uk.
