Fundraising successWe are extremely fortunate to have been awarded a series of grants over the last few months – it can be a struggle to remember what they are all for! The fundraising for our Prehistoric Wiltshire Galleries is now complete, with a grant from the North Wessex Downs AONB LEADER programme.

Arts Council England took over national responsibility for museums in 2011 and we have been awarded funding from the Designation Development Fund. This not only supports our Prehistoric Wiltshire Galleries, but will enable us to develop a new Anglo-Saxon gallery to open late next year.

Working with Salisbury and Dorchester Museums we have created the Wessex Museums Partnership. Together we have been awarded £175,000, one of the largest grants in the country from the Strategic Development Fund. This is supporting a wide range of projects to make the museums more resilient – increasing donations, cutting energy costs and increasing earned income.

This will all help to address our funding defi cit and Peter Glasson, our Treasurer, is pleased with our progress this year. In these diffi cult fi nancial times, we are very grateful to our members and supporters for all their help.

No. 69December 2012

Newsletter of the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society

50pFree toMembers

WELCOMEAfter all the planning ... the hard work beginsAfter three years of planning and fundraising, our new Prehistoric Wiltshire Galleries are now getting underway. These galleries will tell new stories and our gold objects from Bush Barrow will be displayed permanently for the fi rst time. However, we now have six months of very hard work ahead and the fi rst steps are to remove the current displays ready for installation to start in January.

We are making some changes to help us to concentrate on the work ahead. The fi rst is this reduced Trilithon and secondly we will not be opening to visitors on Mondays between January and Easter, which will enable us to move objects and equipment securely and safely. We will also be opening at 11am on Tuesday mornings to give time for staff training and, unfortunately, we will not be able to run our popular Wednesday lunchtime lectures for several months. As several galleries will be closed we will also be signifi cantly reducing our admission charges.

We are sure that once the new galleries are open, everyone will think that the disruption and hard work has all been worthwhile!

David Dawson

Archaeology in Wiltshire ConferenceThe Wiltshire Archaeology Field Group are organising the fi rst Archaeology in Wiltshire Conference, being held on 16 March 2013 at

Devizes Corn Exchange. The programme will focus on recent work in the county and speakers will

include Phil Harding talking about the Palaeolithic and Richard Osgood on the Project Florence

Saxon Cemetery excavation.

Mini

WHAT’S ON?DECEMBER

LECTURE - Ela of Lacock and OtherWiltshire Nuns, by Dr Virginia Bainbridge

Saturday 8th - 2.30pm. £6 (£3.50 WANHS members).

LUNCHTIME TALK - Wiltshire’s Prisonsby John Girvan.

Wednesday 12th - 1.10 to 1.50pm. £4 (£3 WANHS members)

YOUNG WANHS Victorian ChristmasFind out about a Victorian Christmas and create Victorian style decorations, as well as beautiful glass tree ornaments using a

mosaic and painting techniques. All the family welcome to join in the fun. £4. Booking essential

Saturday 15th - 10.15am to 12.15pm

CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR OPENING TIMES:MUSEUM OPEN:

Thursday 27 to Saturday 29 December - 10am to 4pm, Sunday 30 December & Tuesday 1 January - noon to 4pm

MUSEUM CLOSED: Sunday 22 to Wednesday 26 December and Monday 31

December

ARCHIVE & LIBRARY CLOSED: 21 December - 1 January

JANUARYYOUNG WANHS - Introduction to Archaeology Young WANHS is a club is for 7-14 year olds interested in

archaeology, local and natural history. Saturday 12th - 10.15am to 12.15pm

£4. Booking essential

LECTURE - Wiltshire Landowners in 1066by Dr Chris Lewis

Saturday 26th - 2.30pm. £6 (£3.50 WANHS members).

LECTURE - Stonehenge: results of new research,by Professor Michael Parker-Pearson

Saturday 23rd - 2.30pm. Devizes Town Hall£6 (£3.50 WANHS members)

MARCHJOHN GIRVAN’S NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

An evening of mysterious, spooky, weird and wonderful objects and stories - for Adults Only. (Family event Friday 17 May)

Friday 1st - 9.30pm until midnight £10.

YOUNG WANHSThe Young WANHS club is for 7-14 year olds interested in

archaeology, local and natural history. Saturday 9th - 10.15am to 12.15pm £4.

LECTURE - Climate Change, Epidemic Disease and History: The Case of the Black Death

by Prof Bruce Campbell.Saturday 9th - 2.30pm. £6 (£3.50 WANHS members)

CONFERENCE: Archaeology in WiltshireFocusing on recent work in the County.

Saturday16th - 9.30am (for 10am) until 5pm. £25 (£20 WANHS members), Devizes Corn Exchange.

FEBRUARY YOUNG WANHS

Young WANHS is club is for 7-14 year olds interested in archaeology, local and natural history.

Saturday 9th - 10.15am to 12.15pm £4. Booking essential

LECTURE - The Medieval Cistercian Abbey atStanley and its Impact on the Region,

Dr Graham BrownSaturday 9th - 2.30pm. £6 (£3.50 WANHS members)

HALF TERM HOLIDAY ACTIVITIESTuesday 12th to Thursday 14th February

£4 per child (under 8s must be accompanied)

FAMILY EVENT - CROP CIRCLESSunday 17th - noon to 3pm

There may be a small charge for some activities

APRILYOUNG WANHS: Saturday 13th - 10.15am - 12.15pm

The Young WANHS club is for 7-14 year olds interestedin archaeology, local and natural history.

£4 - Booking essential

LECTURE - The Romans who shaped Britain, by Sam Moorhead (British Museum).

Saturday 13th - 2.30pm. £6 (£3.50 WANHS members).

Saturday 27th - SPRING PLANT andGENERAL SALE10.15am to 2.15pm

LATER IN THE YEAR ...JOHN GIRVAN’S NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM

An evening of mysterious, spooky, weird and wonderful objects and stories - Family Event.

Friday 17 May - 7pm until 9pm.

STONEHENGE EVENING VISITS

INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY SYMPOSIUMTopics will include Brown and May, Royal Wootton Bassett military laundry and Investigations of the First World War

Airfield at Yatesbury. Saturday 9 November - 10am to 5pm

£11 (£10 WANHS members)

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All events, lectures and workshops are held at the Museum, unless otherwise advised. To keep up-to-date with what’s on sign up for our e-mail newsletter, tel 01380 727369

or e-mail: wanhs@wiltshireheritage.org.uk.

Bookings can be made on-line, by contacting the Museum on 01380 727369, calling into the Museum shop or e-mail wanhs@wiltshireheritage.org.uk.

Events can be cancelled at short notice if insufficient bookings are received.Activities for Children (holiday activities/Young WANHS) can be booked either on 01380 727369,

or e-mail: education@wiltshireheritage.org.ukDISCLAIMER. No responsibility can be accepted by WANHS for accidents or injury sustained during the course of

any event arranged by the Society.

Further information at www.wiltshireheritage.org.ukWiltshire Heritage Museum, 41 Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire. SN10 1NS

Following the visit to Ireland in September, several members have asked for a trip to Brittany, as well as the West Coast of Ireland. Diann Barnett has agreed to organise and if enough people are interested it is proposed to visit Brittany in August 2013, with the return visit to Ireland taking place in 2014.Travel will be by coach and the visit will last 6 to 7 days. It is hoped to visit the Celtic festival in Quimper, megaliths at Carnac, chateaux, museums, historic towns and gardens.If you are interested please let us know as soon as possible so that detailed arrangements can be made. Contact - wanhs@wiltshireheritage.org.uk

EXHIBITIONSANCIENT WILTSHIRE – PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETE GLASTONBURYPete’s stunning photographs capture the mystery of Wiltshire’s ancient monuments and landscapes. The exhibition features his knowledge of the monuments of the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site, combined with his deep interest in astronomy and space science. Art Gallery. - until 3 February 2013

FANTASTIC FOSSILS - A FUN EXHIBITION FOR ALL THE FAMILY!Could you be a paleontologist? Come and see our fantastic fossil collections, learn about dinosaurs found in Wiltshire and discover what is was like during the Ice Age. Temporary Exhibition Gallery - until 24 February 2013

Look out for details of our 2013 exhibitions in our e-newsletter and on our website, including:

Operation Nightingale - March and AprilArt of Stonehenge - Easter to August Eeles Family Pottery - May and JuneCinBA Crafts - July and AugustDevizes Camera Club - SeptemberOexmann Art Competition and Exhibition - October to January 2014

MEMBER’S TRIP 2013

OUTINGSOUTING: Chapperton DownTour of the landscape surrounding this

Romano-British settlement, with Roy CanhamSaturday 20 April. £11.50 (£9.50 WANHS members).

OUTING: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Museum has extensive collections including Pre-Raphaelite

galleries showing one of the largest collections in the country. and hosts part of the Staffordshire hoard.

Wednesday 22 May. £28 (£25 WANHS members)

OWN CAR OUTING: SeendRelating local geology to the landscape, building stone, the

former iron industry and wool mearchants’ wealth, with Isobel Geddes.

Tuesday 18 June - 6.30pm. £9 (£7 WANHS members)

OWN CAR OUTING: Stanton St BernardTour of the village examining its history; outing ends

with tea and biscuits.Saturday 20 July - 2pm. £12 (£10 WANHS members)

- includes donations

OWN CAR OUTING: Bradford on AvonA geology themed walk in the Avon valley, from building stone

and canals to the ancient environments 180 million years ago, plus looking at fossils on the Jurassic sea-floor

at a geological site. With Isobel Geddes.Saturday 10 August - 2pm. £9 (£7 WANHS members) Operation Nightingale comes to the Museum

Look out for the first chance to see the spectacular finds from the badger-threatened Barrow Clumps Saxon cemetery at Figheldean. The site is being excavated by the Project Florence team – a rehabilitation programme for wounded soldiers. Finds have included gilt bronze brooches, amber beads, a rare bucket, spears and shield bosses. Watch out for more on Time Team!

The Wiltshire Archaeology Field Group (WAFG) have a new communication’s offi cer, Jon Sanigar. If you want to fi nd out more about the WAFG in 2013 - and get involved - send your email address to wanhs@wiltshireheritage.org.uk and we will add you to our mailing list.

Raffl e ResultsThank you to everyone who purchased tickets for our Prize Draw. Together with donations received we have raised over £3,200 for the Society. The draw was made on 29 November:First Prize (£150) - Ticket no. 3539: Paul; Second Prize (Ravilious in Pictures – Sussex and the Downs, signed by author James Russell) - Ticket no. 8352: Carol Pope;Third Prize (Family Membership of the Society for Twelve months - Ticket no. 3580: Andy Day.

Been to the Museum recently?Want to come to some of our events?Want to help out?Want to join?Want to book for a lecture or outing?Need an object identifying?Interested in researching your family?Want to join the Archaeology Field Group?Like to write an article for Trilithon? Please

contact the Editors to discuss your ideas

Editorial Team: Doug Roseaman, David Dawson, Karen Jones

41 Long Street, Devizes, SN10 1NS. Tel: 01380 727369e-mail: wanhs@wiltshireheritage.org.ukwww.wiltshireheritage.org.uk

Published by the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society.Registered Offi ce: 41 Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire. SN10 1NS

Company Limited by Guarantee no. 3885649. Registered Charity No. 1080096.

VAT No. 140 279 191Founded 1853

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OPENING TIMES JANUARY TO MARCH 2013Museum:Tuesday: 11am to 5pmWednesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm Sunday: noon to 4pmMonday: closed from 31 December to 18 MarchArchive & Library:Open Tuesday to Friday (closed 1-2pm for lunch)Open fi rst Saturday of month by appointment - archive@wiltshireheritage.org.uk or 01380 727369FREE CHILDREN UNDER 16

Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (WANHS) own and operate the Wiltshire Heritage Museum and Archive & Library. Its aims are to foster interest in the archaeology, art, history and natural history of Wiltshire and to

explore, research and publish information on these subjects for the education and benefi t of the public.

NOT ALREADY A MEMBER?This newsletter is sent free to members every six months. Membership also entitles you to free entry to the Museum

and Archive & Library, membership of the Wiltshire Archaeology Field Group, priority booking and a substantialreduction in the price of tickets for lectures and outings, and a copy of the annual Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural

History Magazine. Become a member and help us to continue preserving Wiltshire’s past for the future. Membership of WANHS available from £21. Season Ticket (Museum only) from £10.

Welcome Back LisaWe are delighted to welcome our Curator, Lisa Brown, back from maternity leave. She is working part-time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

WANHS Board of TrusteesAt the 2012 WANHS Annual General Meeting the members elected three new Trustees to the Board, and welcomed back two more. We also said farewell to Dr Chris Chippindale and Prof Andrew Reynolds who retired after six years in offi ce.The new trustees are Tony Aldridge, a chartered

accountant and local businessman, John Baumber, a retired civil engineer, and Richard Broadhead,

a historian with a particular interest in World War Peter Saunders and Bill Perry were re-elected.

At their October Board meeting the Trustees re-elected Dr Negley Harte Chairman for

the coming year, re-elected Peter Glasson as Hon Treasurer and elected Doug Roseaman and

Peter Saunders as Deputy Chairmen.

Changes ...To co-incide with the work on our new Prehistoric Wiltshire Galleries, the Board of Trustees agreed at their October meeting, to simplify the Museum’s name to Wiltshire Museum. We will start using this on stationery, posters, website etc from the New Year. We also have a designer working on a new logo based on our wonderful gold lozenge from Bush Barrow - which will be displayed in the new gallery. The funding to enable us to do this is included in the Heritage Lottery Funded project.

who retired after six years in offi ce.The new trustees are Tony Aldridge, a chartered

accountant and local businessman, John Baumber, a retired civil engineer, and Richard Broadhead,

a historian with a particular interest in World

At their October Board meeting the Trustees re-elected Dr Negley Harte Chairman for

the coming year, re-elected Peter Glasson as Hon Treasurer and elected Doug Roseaman and

Peter Saunders as Deputy Chairmen.

to simplify the Museum’s name to . We will start using

this on stationery, posters, website etc from the New Year. We also

gallery. The funding to enable us to do this is included in the Heritage Lottery Funded project.