History where you least expect it- a smelly passage (not that you dirty person!)

Please excuse my delay for again not posting sooner, deadlines have meant that my time is limited to library, coffee drinking and stressing out.

'Steelyard Passage- trust me it smelt, there was a poo on the floor.'

As a public historian, I strive to entice people in exploring history in as many forms as possible. Many forms of public history can be easily identified as attempts to make people engage with the past. Often when asked by people 'What is public history?' I reply 'Making history accessible using TV, radio, museums, that sort of thing' which usually does the job.  However, as public historians, we are encouraged to think of dynamic ways to present the past in order to keep it up-to-date with modern trends and make it interesting. This explains the trend for historians to be blogging, using their Twitter accounts and creating apps to deal with the demand for interactive ways to capture the public’s imagination. But this should not be limited to looking at and tapping a screen. Whilst in London, I found myself confronted with a form of public history which I have only experienced within historic houses and the London Dungeons and made me refresh my opinions about the best way to reach the public.

I was walking with my friend Helen, chatting away merrily, on our way to a pub for dinner when she took my down a creepy looking passage named Steelyard Passage (right of London bridge, Bank side). As we entered the walkthrough, I suddenly stopped. I could hear sounds of ships going past and the waves lapping against the side of the bank. As we carried on through the passage, new sounds materialised; shouting of men to each other, horse hooves, people talking, footsteps and the constant noise of the ships passing by. Helen did not react as dramatically as I did- she had walked through before and knew what to expect. Although this is not groundbreaking, it made me stop and think. A simple instillation can catch people unawares, make them look around and wonder about how life was in years gone by through engaging their ears. By grabbing people’s attention through listening rather than just visually, you are intriguing people in an unexpected manner. If there had only been a visual plac about the working river in times gone by, many would have walked passed without taking any notice but by making it auditory, you have the element of surprise. You could argue that people will walkthrough without noticing if they are listening to music but what matters is that you can provoke some people into thinking about the history of the city which is a start. To make it more effective, perhaps a plac to explain how this was created, with information about the working river and potentially a website advertised or QR code to scan. By engaging as many of the senses as possible, you can reach a larger demographic of people in a variety of ways, actively making people take notice of the history around them and their own.
Steelyard Passage Plans 2012

  

For a more interactive experience, you can lick a dock workers armpit- mmm authentic...

Museum musings: A short rundown of my latest public history adventures!

I'd like to start today's post by apologising for my recent failure to post anything for ages. Birthdays, hangovers, lack of funds and failure to get into exhibitions has meant that I have been lazy and failed to keep up the regularity of my postings. To make this up to you, instead of flowers and chocolate, I am going to give you a rundown of my recent historical activities- lucky you! 

 

'Oh! What a treat, another blog to read!'

The Geffrye Museum, Shoreditch:

Tucked away on Kingsland road is the Geffrye Museum which is dedicated to showing the visitors what English middleclass homes looked like throughout the centuries. The building itself is impressive- former almshouses owned by the ironmongers guild, one of which you can visit fairly frequently to see what life was like for poor people in the 18th and 19th centuries. The main focus of those who run the Geffrye is to provide an educational experience for children of all ages and abilities. While we were there, we took part in one of the many activities offered to the children when they visit with their schools. We were given an object and asked a series of questions about what we thought it was, its purpose, what time period it was from, etc. After much discussion as a pair, we eventually worked out that the replica statue of the nun-like lady was a salt holder from the Tudor period! This was very engaging and lots of fun. The Geffrye is very skilled at making the experience enjoyable for the children through interactive talks about the rooms while looking at them, handling objects and allowing children to discover for themselves about the history of the house by using ipads to research objects. As I child, I would have really enjoyed the inclusive ways the museum makes children feel interested and furthers their understanding of history in the home. 

However, as an 'adult' visitor (I use the word 'adult' loosely as I still partake in burping competitions and enjoy dressing up as medieval lady, see Museum of London photos) I found the museum underwhelming. The narrow corridors meant that I felt I was constantly in someone else's way while looking at the rooms, meaning I rushed through the museum and took little in. Without moving the rooms to a larger space, there isn't really nay resolution to be found. I would recommend the Geffrye as it is an interesting museum but be prepared to murmur 'sorry' and 'excuse me' every few minutes as you attempt to squeeze past others.

Geffrye Museum

The Geffrye Museum, photograph taken by the wonderful Gillian Gryz

The Museum of London, London Wall:

Having visited this particular museum a couple of times before, I thought I knew what to expect: a literal walk through London’s colourful history from archaeology to present day, focusing on a range of topics throughout with many interactive activities as you went along. Due to prior commitments, I had to rush through the museum in the space of an hour, meaning I was not as fully engaged as I could have been. Saying that, the majority of the museum  did not disappoint. To my shame, I am not hugely interested in archaeology and so breezed through that part which then led me to the Roman and Anglo-Saxon part of the museum which has been called 'Our Londinum 2012'. Immediately, my attention was drawn to a case with a magazine showing 'Will and Kate' and a placard and roman coins saying 'Wealth'. Confused, I turned to my friends and asked them whether they understood what was meant by placing a magazine and Roman coins together. With no clear answer, I looked at the other objects in the cabinet and saw that they too were making dubious links between the modern day and Roman Britain. As I continued through the exhibit, I was in a state of confusion and annoyance at the blatant dumbing down which have been used to make it relevant for children. This included displaying a Roman kitchen with accurate equipment then a packet of coffee and a spray can of oil as well as showing Roman tools and a modern hard hat with the placard saying 'Do you think Romans cared about their safety?'

But this isn't the worst example of trying to make history relevant we saw. In one part of the exhibition, a film showing two young people discussing how the Romans were similar to us today was shown on loop. In theory, this would have been a very good tool to make history relevant for younger people, who doesn't like watching things?! However, despite their good intentions, the film was patronising, at time irrelevant and over simplistic. There was about 30 seconds of comparison e.g. 'I wear earrings, so did the Romans', then 2 minutes of footage of one or both of the teenagers walking about the street, sharing fags and having a casual conversation about where to go for lunch. It was poorly edited and not at all engaging in a positive way. From my understanding, 'Our Londinum' was created through working with Junction, the museum's youth panel. In my teenage years, I would have felt patronised and put off (as I do now) if I came across this attempt to make it relevant for my age group so I find it interesting that it was the youth who helped to create the exhibition. I would be fascinated to see how much say they had over the creation of the juxta-posed object, over simplistic placards and awful film and to what extent it was the museum trying 'to be down wiv da kidz.' From watching this behind the scenes interview with members from Junction, it would appear that the 'kidz' are partially to blame for the modern objects. I wonder whether they realise they are dumbing down the exhibition or whether they thought that it would be effective? I have concerns that some younger children might come away from that exhibition thoroughly confused about Roman society and asking their parents ‘Did Romans have fake nails?’. This is just my opinion but without the modern objects it is just easy to see the similarities and differences between both societies without dumbing it down. 

Saying that, I really enjoyed the video of the re-enactment of the gladiator fights as it really highlighted the differences between our societies without spelling it out so bluntly. The rest of the visit was very enjoyable, particularly the Pleasure Gardens and the Wellclose prison cell in which you can see the inmates names scratched into the walls. The Museum of London is an excellent museum but needs to be cautious not to patronise teenagers through dumbing down history to try to make it more relevant.

 Yah get me bruv?! 

Museum of London Gallery 

Youtube of how they created the exhibit

Peasant and muddled medieval lady chilling in a tunic, photographed by Gillian Gryz

'Home sweet home' Anglo Saxon style

archaeolog

archaeolog

Daytrip to London: Spies, Nurses and Exploding Rats!

 This week's blog emerged after a walking tour around London we had booked to go on was cancelled and so we decided to take it upon ourselves, as 'public historians' to seek out an appropriate replacement. Maria suggested the Imperial War Museum as it is one of her favourites and so we went! Those who are familiar with the IWM will know that it is currently under redevelopment in order to mark the Centenary of the First World War. As a result, not as many exhibitions were open to the public and the inside looked completely alien but this did not affect the overall enjoyment. We visited several exhibits including A Family in Wartime, War Story: Supplying Frontline Afghanistan, Horrible Histories: Spies and Secret War. Secret War was especially interesting as it contains newly released information about the hidden actions of spies throughout twentieth century conflicts which was intriguing and created self reflection for me personally. Videos showed the process members of the 'Special Operations Executive (SOE) –a secret agency formed by the British government to conduct undercover operations during the Second World War' underwent to ensure they were fit to become spies, showing the dedication that these individuals demonstrated in helping the nation. The presence of cyanide pills and various hand-to-hand weapons really brought home the danger these people faced by going into enemy territory, giving me a new respect for those involved in the war effort.

Forged documents used by SOEs

Maria disguised as a civvy

After experiencing Secret War, it was enlightening to then engage with the exhibition designed with children in mind. Being fans of the book series and TV show Horrible Histories, we could not pass up the opportunity and so we diligently completed the activity sheet to fully understand the exhibition from the point of view of a child. (That's the official reason anyway!) This included queueing in order to stamp our activity sheet and dodging children splatting rats on the interactive floor. The Spies exhibition was extremely interactive and educational; in some ways the presentation of the information has ensured that it have stayed with me after the visit. This was achieved through engaging in answering questions about spy techniques, attempting to crack cryptic codes, cycling to power a radio and disguising oneself as a civilian whilst in enemy territory! Although the exhibit did not shy away from more adult issues, including the use of cyanide by captured spies, the Secret War had more of an emotional impact on me, raising the issues of entertainment, personal resonance and education within museums and the difficulty in striking the balance between the three depending on the audience. In this case, I feel it was important for the children to engage in terms of education and entertainment and to allow them time to reflect upon the actions of the spies after the excitement had subsided. 

After a delicious lunch, we wandered along the Thames and happened upon this memorial. Ordinarily, I am ashamed to say, I would have ignored this and continued walking but we noticed that it was commemorating the work of the SOEs during WWII. Without having gone to that exhibition, we wouldn't have stopped to look at it, showing that new knowledge can expand your perspective on what deserves your attention and enlighten you about the wider impact it has performed in the world. 

S.O.E. memorial

 From there, we decided to visit the Florence Nightingale Museum which was much more engaging than I was anticipating. The periods of her life were displayed in circular structures (as the photograph might show) which you were encouraged to explore. Despite only being in one room, we spent quite a while there, learning about her childhood, her work in the Crimean war, her contribution to nursing practises and the changing attitudes towards nursing in general. One of the more interesting activities you could look at was the records for the nurses who served under Ms Nightingale in the Crimea and the varied outcomes from their time there, with quite a few dismissals for drunkenness! Fascinating museum and unusual to have a person focused museum in Britain but very educational.

Here are a few more photos taken throughout the day:

Maria in an Air raid shelter- cosy!

In the Spies exhibition you followed the stories of select spies- Ms Wake cycled 72 hours straight to deliver a message to and from Britain!

Showing off forging skills through giving Hitler a new identity.

Dead rat with explosives inside them to put in German factories- back fired but meant Nazis were reluctant to burn any of the rat corpses, meaning the spread of disease.

Mac and Cheese- nom!

Victoria Sponge- double nom!

Florence's pet owl Athena

http://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-london/exhibitions
http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk/

Why you should visit Thame Museum (and not just because of the books on Midsomer Murders...)

During the long summer between finishing my BA and beginning my MA it was suggested that we attain some work experience in the heritage industry in order to allow us to develop our knowledge and skills as public historians. I, being very adventurous and daring, opted for my local museum, Thame museum.

'Thame museum: tame by name not by nature.'

I have to admit that before seeking work experience I had never visited Thame museum and so was apprehensive about going in and asking for a volunteering position in a place I had little previous knowledge about. I was pleasantly surprised at how eager the stewards were for me to volunteer and quickly found myself with my first shift in August. One important note I must say before I go any further; everyone involved in running and maintaining Thame museum is an unpaid volunteer, meaning the survival of the museum depends on those passionate about Thame and displaying its colourful history doing their bit as well as donations from the public. Without the volunteers' dedication, the museum would not be able to open and hundreds of years of Thame's history would be forgotten. Also, they are all extremely friendly, lovely and happy to talk to you about anything! Ok, praising over. 

The building itself was the former Magistrates Court and still has the witness box in the main exhibition room and the prisoner's holding cell as a store room! When you first enter the building, you find yourself greeted by a policeman (who I believe is modelled on a member of the museum's relative, Sgt Tom Mott) who may startle some of you (my reaction was to approach it cautiously to ensure it didn't move.)

'Good to know the museum has reliable security!'

Once in the museum, my favourite collection is held in the Tudor room which contains wall paintings from the Elizabethan period in fantastic condition which were discovered in Thame. Although you can see the paintings now, a grand opening will be held in the near future to announce its presence so look out for that! If Tudors aren't your things you may prefer the main exhibition room which has a broad range of historical items from neolithic to modern history including a vast collection of over 40 oral history accounts from residents of Thame remembering their lives (these are available for listening online.)  Thame's main historical draw comes from John Hampden's role during the English Civil War about which the museum provides much information including what a soldier wore during the English Civil War! There are so many other interesting bits of history to be found at the museum- I assumed I would only take 5 minutes to go around this small museum but ended up there for more than half an hour after being captivated by fascinating snippets of local history. 

 Learn from my mistake; don't assume that local history is dull and irrelevant to your life- without local museums like Thame, we cannot distinguish our regions historic differences and similarities with the national experience and thus our regional identities are incomplete and lack meaning and substance. So many of us define ourselves through our regional differences which have been forged through time, it's time to explore and understand your family and regional history. Local history needs supporting so take some time to explore and support local museums before it's too late! I intend to visit again in December to experience the 'Two Hankies and a Ribbon' exhibition on underwear throughout the ages and will certainly report back! 

Plan your visit now! http://www.thamemuseum.org/index.html 

'A Very British Murder with Lucy Worsley: A Taste for Blood' BBC FOUR Monday 23rd September 2013

Having seen quite a number of history programs with Dr Lucy Worsley as the presenter, I was excited to watch the first part of 'A Very British Murder' which combined my love of history with the slightly more macabre part of my personality e.g. fascination with murder, mainly from watching 'Midsomer Murders' (British murder drama set in the rural 'Midsomer' area, actually filmed in Oxfordshire)  from a young age...

'Troy and Barnaby' <3

I was not disappointed; in fact, I was highly entertained by Dr Worsley's keen engagement in dressing up in period costume, singing ballads and acting as both murderers and victims. This approach is entertaining and detracts from the stereotype that history programs are boring and the presenters are charmless, dusty old men who have been hidden away in their offices all their lives who prattle on about subjects only specialists care about. Dr Worsley's enthusiasm rubs off on the viewer, meaning they engage with the subject more fully as the entertainment breaks up the information and lets the viewer relax and enjoy Dr W's comical portrayals. My personal favourite was whilst she was playing the victim, Maria Marten, of the 'Red Barn Murder' committed in 1827 but was quickly adapted into a melodrama enjoyed by many during the 19th century. I found her performance hilarious especially when she paused to read in the stage directions during her character's death. Aside from the entertainment offered, the history of notorious murders was very interesting and well presented with experts brought in for a range of discussions and even a quick sing along in a pub! The wider themes such as the position of women, class, perception of foreigners, respectability, public opinion, transmission of information for the illiterate and public entertainment meant that the wider context gave the viewer a better understanding of society during 19th century Britain and thus a more rounded viewing. I would highly recommend watching this program even if it is simply for entertainment purposes!

'Time to give up a career in history in favour of acting Dr Worsley?'

[As a pedantic end note, I was delighted to see Dr Worsley changing her outfit rather than taking the traditional approach of wearing one outfit in order to ensure continuity through filming. Although this destroys the illusion that all filming occurs on one day, I am pleased to see the change as too many times I have seen presenters wearing one outfit throughout the program without consideration for the changes in temperature e.g. snowy fields or hot deserts, resulting in an uncomfortable looking presenter keen to end film ASAP!]