Today was one of
Ryedale Folk Musuem's community days which give free admission to local residents (you have to prove you live in certain postcode areas) and I thought I'd visit. The last time I visited the musuem was six years ago when I was teaching countryside management and the musuem has expanded considerably since then.
I decided to start with the exhibits at the far end of the musuem first as it was quite busy at the beginning and the exhibits I hadn't seen were at the far end.
First stop was the iron round house a huge structure, beautifully thatched and lime plastered, then I wandered through the farm to the fold yard. There were a variety of chickens and some pygmy goats. I spent most of my time looking at the farm machinery and would really like a grey Fergie with the attachments!
My ideal tractor.
Next was the new Harrison collection which has recieved huge amounts of publicity and I was really looking forward to seeing. The part of the collection which is on display is housed in a beautiful stone barn. There are some stunning artefacts on display such as the huge ginger bread moulds from Scandinavia but unfortunately this is all that has stuck in my mind. I didn't understand why the collection was set out as it was, everything was dsiplayed in glass cabinets but the items were not individually labelled so it was difficult to work out what was what! The first display case contained Tea, Tray and something else beginning with T which included fish paste moulds, a teapot and I can't remember anything else. Other cases had old tins in them and old chemist jars, medicines and surgical instruments which was a repeat of the Post Office/Grocers and Chemists at the beginning of the musuem. The individual artefacts were fantastic but I learnt nothing from this display about the artefacts it was like going back in time where all musuems were full of glass cases.
I then worked my way back to the beginning of the museum starting with the barn with the threshing machine and horeswheels. I would not have persauded Misty to have walked round in circle all day to thresh corn! The village hall with its 1940's cinema and Victorian school room was odd I think that may have been to cater for school groups. The mining heritage dsiplays have been removed since my last visit but the photographic studio is amazing it is like walking into a different era. There is a painted back cloth and clothes so you can dress up and take your photo!
Hessian sacks hanging up in the fold yard. Sacks could be hired!
The model village has been beautifully reconstructed as you walk around it you can see elements of different Yorkshire villages it does though have the overall look of a West Yorkshire or Dales village rather a Moors one with its slate roofs rather than pantiles. It was a shame that visitors, especially children, could not walk in and out of the buildings in the model villages it would give a Gullivers Travels feeling.
The beginnings of the reconstruction of the Elizabethean glass furnace from Rosedale (which has an amazing industrial past) is next to the model village and potting shed which is another odd grouping but the Beehive and wall with the reveals for the bee skeps is not labelled! As a walked into the Crofters Cottage garden I saw a verjuice stone with ridges carved into it for squashing apples on to make cider vinegar, probably a common sight in times gone by but I have not seen one before. Inside the cottage you can have a go a carding wool. The Wash House and Dairy and White Cottage are my favourite buildings, a fully equipped wash house would be perfect for dyeing in!
The Wash House would be perfect for dyeing wool.
The Diary.
The White Cottage has a number of beautiful rag rugs on the floor and a rather nice spinning wheel in the parlour.
The Manor House originated from Harome and is a stunning building but the display of archeological finds in here was odd I would have preferred more about life in the building or the process used to dismantle it in Harome and rebuild it here.
Life must have been hard in Stang End and cold the flag floor reminds me of my living room floor!
The village trades are fascinating I did not spend as much time here as I would have liked as these are very popular exhibits with children (and older peopl remeniscing) as you walk in they are so well set out it is like stepping back in time. It was good fun to spot the brands we can still buy in the Post Office/Grocers.
There is a new cafe called Fat Bettys. Fat Betty is a stone on the Lyke Wake Walk, there was alot of writing about the Lyke Wake Walk before outside the Cafe but I didn't notice it on the way in (very hungry and thristy)! One of the windows in the cafe was etched glass with names of various places on the North Yorks Moors including Wheeldale Lodge (where I used to live) and Two Howes which is not far from Wheeldale Lodge. Sat there drinking my juice and eating my cake I couldn't think of why Wheeldale Lodge was on there it was later at home I realised they were all places on the Lyke Wake Walk! There was a case of ramdom costume items in the cafe as well which I feel should have had something about the Lyke Wake Walk or achealogical finds from the North York Moors in it. The food and drink is basic but reasonably priced.
Overall it was an enjoyable morning the older exhibits in the museum were significantly better than the newer ones. The museum has expanded significantly but has lost something. And just as I was adding the photos I remembered toys were the missing T!
