Collection: Mildenhall and District Museum

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  Before the Festival of Britain in 1951 the government suggested that local communities did something to join in the celebrations. Mildenhall had a very active Archaeological and Natural History Society that decided it would be a good idea to mount an exhibition of local finds. The leading light in the Society was Lady Briscoe of Lakenheath Hall, a doctor and noted amateur archaeologist. She had led several important digs and had an extensive collection of finds which provided the basis for the display which was in a room above the porch of the old Town Hall [now Cobblers Court in St. Andrews Street].

  It was a great success so much so that it continued to open on Sunday afternoons until 1968. It then moved to two rooms, on the first floor, above the Trustee Savings Bank [now William Brown]. This gave us more space for better and more varied displays. It was during this time that a cataloguing system was started, and more local people were involved. The lease expired in the late 1980s as the TSB needed the space. Everything was put in store for a while as we searched for new premises.

  Forest Heath offered us our current site with an interest free loan to convert the properties. The late Dr Colin Dring led an intensive period of fundraising, and the foundation stone was laid in 1983. The councillors converted the remaining loan into a gift. During the next few years, we became an Accredited Museum which made us eligible for professional advice and grant aid which meant that we could develop proper documentation procedures. Forest Heath helped out yet again by buying in from Moyse’s Hall Museum, Bury St Edmunds the services of a curator who provided invaluable help over the years. The museum has been without the curator since 2019 and Oliver Bone, has been acting as the museum’s Curatorial Advisor.

  As our collection grew space became very tight and in 1996, it was decided we needed to extend the premises. Thus began a prolonged period of negotiations, suggestions for alternative sites and other distractions. We thought it would help if we had a Patron and approached Lord Iveagh of Elveden Hall who after a visit agreed to fill this role.

  Eventually we succeeded in getting plans approved for the current building. It was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the District and County Councils, Museum Society and plenty of local goodwill and encouraged by Lord Iveagh who presided at the official opening in October 2013.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Geology

  This collection includes many pieces of flint that have been shaped for various uses e.g., axe heads, spear heads, arrow heads, scrappers and also used as a building material. There are many pieces of chalk/clunch which have been locally as building materials over the years. A piece of bog oak is an important find.

  Archaeology

  The museum houses many items relating to the local area. The Mildenhall Treasure was unearthed in 1942 while Gordon Butcher was ploughing a field belonging to Sydney Ford in West Row. It is a large hoard of 34 masterpieces of Roman silver tableware from the fourth century AD. The original pieces are in the British Museum however Mildenhall and District Museum raised funds to have each piece replicated for display. The Lakenheath Warrior and his horse, bridle, sword and shield were unearthed during excavations on RAF Lakenheath Base in 1997 and on display.

  Natural History

  The collection demonstrates how the local natural world has been shaped and continues to change by natural process and human intervention. In the Farming display there is information about the rabbit warrens and The Warrener Lodge in Mildenhall. Many books show working life in the Fenlands, Breckland and along the River Lark.

  Fine Art

  The museum has a collection of paintings and prints depicting buildings and rural scenes from Mildenhall and local villages, some paintings are by local artists.

  Costumes and Textiles

  The collection comprises of a variety of women’s, men’s and children’s clothes. Examples of night wear, bodices, dresses, skirts, shirts, work clothes, socks, capes, hats, gloves, boots and shoes, ranging from the Victorian time to near present day. Also within the collection are purses, braces, books with needlework samples, embroidered needlework cases. Examples of souvenir modern day tea towels commemorating Mildenhall to Melbourne Air Race and WW2. There is a large display unit which has examples of Air Force uniforms, a pressurised flying suit for and nurses’ outfits.

  Craft Tools

  The museum has a wide collection of tools ranging from farming implements to domestic items.

  Domestic Items

  The museum has a display ‘Victorian Scullery’ which has many items used in the home at that time: e.g., hot irons, wash board, vacuum cleaner. The ‘1950s Room’ shows the change in items being used at that time. The ‘Fenland’ display houses many farming pieces of equipment and there is a section on eel the history of the eel. A pram, Penny Farthing, and bicycle form part of the ‘Town’ display along with examples of railway memorabilia e.g., railway lamps and a bench from Mildenhall rail station.

  Documents

  The Museum has many documents relating to the town and surrounding villages businesses. Simpsons was a Mildenhall printer, and the museum has a printing press from the shop along with various printing equipment and almanacs. Between 1788 and 1868, about 162,000 convicts were transported from Britain to various penal colonies in Australia. The museum holds a unique collection of information about local convicts transported to Australia and Van Diemen’s land. Deeds of properties in Mildenhall and local villages are stored, along with many Wills of local people.

  Books

  Books on general history and geology, local history and family histories of local families. A collection of books written by Keith Burrows portray a historical collection of the area.

  Newspapers

  Newspaper cuttings, from 1920s onwards, relating to local people and events. There are newspaper cuttings charting the Air Race in 1934 from Mildenhall to Melbourne and visit by King George V to Mildenhall Base.

  Paper Ephemera

  The museum holds a varied collection of paper ephemera including Mildenhall railway tickets, ticket stubs, rent books and postcards of local interest, cards sent during the two wars and postcards.

  Maps

  A collection of maps shows Mildenhall and surrounding villages.

  Photographs

  The museum has over 300 photographs of Mildenhall and local village scenes from past to present.

  Aviation Material

  The museum is the home of The Sterling Society and holds models of different planes, aviation uniform, pictures and a small display showing a Sterling plane.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2023

  Licence: CC BY-NC