Donation to Museum from Tim Cutler

Thanks to Tim Cutler who donated his wife Jade's beautiful stang to us recently as a memorial to her sudden passing to spirit earlier this year. The stang is made from twisted wood, is 'shod' with a metal cap at the base & metal horns at the top with a jade coloured crystal between. The horns are fixed with leather and brass pins. A wooden plaque inscribed 'For Jade, 1972-2009. Beloved wife and best friend' accompanies the stang. It will be displayed in our Memorial area near the shrine.

Kat Adams Donation

We were very grateful to receive the book collection of the late Kat Adams this week. These books will be catalogued and added to the ever growing library. Any duplicates will be sold to raise funds to purchase more books and library equipment. The books will be stamped 'in memory of Kat Adams'. Thank you Kat - merry met & merry part & merry meet again.

Builder's Last Day

We'd just like to say thanks to Chris & Marcus who have led the way on the building project at the museum. It's their last day today & we've really been impressed with their professionalism & the speed at which they've worked to get the job finished within schedule. All the guys who've been in to work with them have been great so thanks to them too. Here is a picture of the two lads looking vibrant & attractive as they complete their activities.

Museum Open

Hoorah! The museum is now open for business for 2009. The new roof is on and the museum is spick and span inside. The builders, particularly Chris & Marcus, have done a great job getting everything finished & ready for the deadline. The decorator Sid spent his last day before retirement painting the flat upstairs. We all wish him a fabulous retirement! There are a couple of finishing touches to be made inside, e.g. the dried cats need a nice display area, but all in all it's going really well. We just need lots of visitors now so hope to see you throughout the year.

Thanks to Volunteers & a Picture of Graham's Foot

Well, the museum opens for 2009 today and there's been a lot of hard work going on to get the doors open, particularly with the scaffolding only coming down on Monday. The next stage will be to paint the frontage as it now looks rather tatty from months of roof works. We'd like to especially thank volunteers Claire Meehan and Jane Chatterton who both came in to help with the daunting task of cleaning the museum in readiness for the opening. Much appreciated!

Graham is now exhausted as he sprained his foot last week (falling over some dust sheets) but has been rushing around to get some new displays in place. Here is a photo of his foot for all those sprained foot fetishists out there.

Ray & Linda Lindfield exhibit

If you are in the Eastbourne area during the Eastbourne Festival, make a visit to the Big House on Prideaux Road where you can check out an exhibition of jewellery by our great friends Ray & Linda Lindfield. They are well known for their medieval & witchcraft related jewellery & have supplied the museum with some beautiful circlets in the past. Here is a link to the brochure page with details of venue etc

http://www.eastbournefestival.co.uk/resources/EB+Fest+brochure.pdf

Stang display moves

With the arrival of Stewart Farrar's painting we have made some space in the 'Modern Witchcraft' section of the museum by moving our fabulous collection of stangs to the 'Stone Circle' area. They seem to be very happy there & it adds a bit more interest to the wall by the automaton.

Here I am mid stang all woollened up as it was rather chilly despite being sunny outside. By the way, we're hoping the scaffolding will be coming down tomorrow. It was supposed to go on Friday but it's still there.

Farrar Donation

We'd like to thank Janet Farrar for her recent donation of some of Stewart Farrar's ritual items and one of his paintings. Trevor & Liz from Glastonbury arrived on Thursday with the donation and we have been spending the day setting out the items in the 'Modern Witchcraft' section of the museum. We've also just finished photographing and cataloguing the items so if you'd like to see them in more detail you can go to the website and search the objects database under Farrar. They will all be on display by the time we open on April 1st.

Thanks to Trevor & Liz (pictured right) for making the trip to deliver the items.

There will be more info & pics on this news shortly.

Cassandra Latham

Cassandra spent today researching in the library for her new book which she says, in true Cornish fashion, will be coming out 'dreckly'. Here is a very attractive photo of the aforementioned Cassandra looking very studious in her Penglaze t shirt & serious specs.

Pre Opening Helpers

We had a fun day cleaning the museum today. As we open on April 1st it's important everything is spick and span for the visitors who will be coming along this year. The work on the new roof has meant that the museum is absolutely covered with dust. Laetitia and Phil came along and worked on the stone circle and Joan's cottage, Hanna had a fab time cleaning the hare's den and I spent a lovely day shining thumb screws and scold's bridles in the persecution section. Graham did a job swap with Hannah as he has just sprained his ankle falling down the stairs, no he wasn't drinking, he tripped on the builder's dust sheets. He 's currently trying out the sinew to sinew healing spell. Here are some pics of the motley crew.

Dried Cat Donation

Many thanks to Nat Parker who, this weekend, delivered two wonderful dried cats which were found in a house in Bristol. This discovery was interesting on two points: 1 the two were found together - unusual, and 2. the house was built in the late 1800s which is again unusual to find the cats in a house built so late in time. It is thought that cats were put into the walls of houses poised in a manner which suggests they are about to pounce on a mouse - a protection from rodent activity one presumes. I have called them Marmaduke and Jeremy. Here is a photo of Nat with the dried cats in the box to the foreground.

Hunters Moon Morris at Easter

Once again our great friends Hunters Moon Morris will be visiting Boscastle on Easter weekend and dancing outside the museum on Easter Monday. They are always a popular attraction and there is usually some fab singing & playing and drinking in the pubs on the Sunday & Monday. Come along & check them out if you're in the area.

Request for research volunteers

One of the Friends of the Museum of Witchcraft is doing a research project and is looking for people to volunteer information. PLease help if you can. I am attaching her letter to the Friends which is self explanatory:

Do you feel that Witchcraft has changed the woman you are today?
Dear Friends,
I had the privilege of meeting many of you at the December gathering, but for those of you that I have not met, my name is Ashley Reichelmann and I am an American Masters student of Sociology at the University of Bristol in Bristol, England. For my dissertation, I would like to explore the role of the deity in the daily lives of women who define themselves as “witches”. Therefore, I am seeking female volunteers (over the age of 18) who are willing to share their stories with me as a researcher. The process would entail a series of qualitative research methods, beginning with a brief questionnaire, which—if you are interested—could lead to an interview and a focus group with like-minded females and myself. First and foremost, confidentiality will be the utmost priority. Ultimately, I am seeking to show the many positive aspects of Witchcraft, especially relating to its role in the liberation of women.
If you are interested, I would love to hear from you as soon as possible, but by June 1st, the latest. Please contact me at areichelmann@gmail.com, or via post at 17 Woodland Court/29 Belgrave Road/Bristol/ BS8 2AA/UK, with your interest, inquiries or suggestions. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Blessed be!
Your fellow “Friend”,
Ashley Reichelmann

Simon Costin's plans for a Museum of British Folklore

This weekend we're having a lovely visit from our friends Simon Costin & Marti Bogie and much merriment has been had. Marti is a dancer with Mad Jack's Morris down in Hastings and Simon is a well known set designer. Simon is involved in an amazing project at the moment - he is planning to open The Museum of British Folklore and has just started his fund raising activities. The website is currently under construction but will be open soon. He is looking for premises for the museum so if anyone knows of any fab buildings crying out to be turned into a large museum let us know. Contact Simon via his website for details. Here is a little of what he is trying to achieve:

"I intend to establish a permanent collection and national exhibition centre that celebrates and promotes the Folk Culture of the British Isles. In 2008, I actively met curators, small museum directors and archivists responsible for existing folk collections throughout the country. My research also bought me into contact with the Charity Commission, several fundraising consultants and individual practitioners, writers and musicians, so as to gain a fuller understanding of what might be involved in the programming and day-to-day operation of a small museum. I have drawn up a number of diverse policies and agendas, which would affect the operation of such an institution, ranging from Health and Safety issues to Child Protection, Equal Opportunities to Financial Management Control in addition to the crucial Mission Statement for the museum.
The year 2009 marks an exciting stage in the progress toward the opening of the museum. At the present time, it would appear that the museum would operate as a Community Interest Company. Fundraising will begin in earnest in April of this year, as I take to the roads of Britain in a converted 1976 Castleton caravan, adapted specially to be a traveling Folk Museum in miniature. A taste of what is to come. I shall be touring the country to attend Folk festivals and events countrywide to raise awareness for the project. During my travels, I will compile a mailing list, discover what visitors to the caravan could donate to the collection, share their oral histories and experiences, and generally promote the future museum via coverage in local and national newspapers, television and radio.
A full itinerary of the tour will be posted in the news section of the website, and will be updated as I progress around the country. Reports from each event will be posted on the website's journal in due course."

We wish him well. Keep an eye out for the touring museum at Folk Festivals throughout the year.

Knitstrology

Just thought I'd put a link on for anyone interested in the joys of knitting combined with astrology. The astrologer 'Pearl Wise' is a friend of the museum and writes for Knit.1 - an American magazine for fashion forward young knitters. The Spring Summer issue will be out soon. Click Here for the Fall/Winter Knitstrology column.

Thanks to Mike Howard

Editor of that quality publication 'The Cauldron', Mike Howard, has just donates £298 to the museum following the sale of back issues of The Cauldron. Mike has been a long term supporter of the museum and has done a lot of research here for some of his many books. Thanks for your support Mike - it is much appreciated. If anyone is unfamiliar with The Cauldron and has a serious interest in the craft it is well worth checking out. It is available by subscription only.

Opening for 2009

At this stage we are hoping to open the museum on April 1st. This is dependant on the roof works going to plan as we have a mass of scaffolding over the building at the moment. We will keep you updated via the blog.

Upper floor in museum

Due to the museum roof being replaced Graham has had to move into the museum proper for the time being. Here are some pics of his new bedroom. Hopefully the roof will be finished before the museum opens or it might be a bit tight up there.

Scaffolding goes up

The scaffolding for the new roof has gone up at last. There was a slight delay to the start and now the snow has put the work back a day or two but hopefully by the end of the week the plastic covering should be on so the roof works can start. It's rather massive and makes an interesting sight as one drives around the bend of the new road & looks over the harbour. The flat above the museum is also being worked on and the lovely pink bathroom will be replaced by a fresh white one. Graham has had to set up his bed in the upstairs section of the museum between curses and protection. He's a braver man than I am!

Frozen Boscastle

Although Boscastle is not under as much snow as the rest of the country we are still having some very cold temperatures and lots of frozen icicle action down in the harbour. We are currently experiencing snowfall so hopefully we'll have some lovely white photos for tomorrow. In the meantime here are today's pics.