WI

Our last two WI meetings have been extra nice ones. In June we had an outing to our city museum, and last week we had our summer lunch.

The Museum is a local history and industrial heritage museum. In 2019, it had a full refurbishment, with a new cafe, interactive displays and new artefacts.

The additional wing at the side is quite modern but blends in well with the original building.

The house started life as a beautiful surburban residence built in 1865 for local industrialist Frederick Wells, a director of the Chelmsford Brewery, on land purchased from the estate of the influential Mildmay family.

The house was used as a hospital in World War I, and when it came up for sale in 1930 Chelmsford Borough Council bought it for use as Chelmsford and Essex Regiment Museum.

It has some wonderful exhibits documenting the history of Chelmsford through the ages.

Prehistoric and Roman

Flint tools, and bones from wild ox, hippopotamus, woolly rhino and woolly mammoth.

The Roman hypocaust central heating system

Hot air from a furnace circulated under the floor which was raised off the ground on stacks of small tiles. The hot air then escaped through holes inside the walls heating the walls too as the hot air moved upwards. The holes were made by building hollow box flue tiles into the walls. That large tile is a rare original.

 

Sword, sheild, pottery, spearhead, knife, cauldron

Infantry

The Essex Yeomanry was a Reserve unit of the British Army that originated in 1797 as local Yeomanry Cavalry Troops. Reformed after the experience gained in the Second Boer War, it saw active service as cavalry in WWI and as artillery in WWII. 

In 1913 four silver sided drums were presented by public subscription to each Battalion as a memorial to the Boer War. In 1922 all ranks of the 2nd Bn subscribed to complete the set of 8 side drums and 2 tenor drums.

Trooper Ray in France 1915 in service dress uniform worn for daily parades and instruction.

His horse had a rope curtain to keep flies out of his eyes.

This was so life like we expected it to suddenly move and say hello ladies!

Fashion

Purple satin mourning bridal gown 1898

Cotton utility dress 1940's

During the Second World War the Government introduced the Utility Clothing Scheme to safeguard materials and labour needed for the war effort.

Clothing had to be simple and practical.

 Silk afternoon dress 1953

It didn't take long for fashion to move from utility to something more luxurious though. When Christian Dior's "New Look" appeared in February 1947 with its nipped in waist and full skirted silhouette it became an instant success.

A-line mini dress circa 1968.

Shell suit 1992 must rank high in the 'most dreadful fashion item' list.

At the time though we all thought they were great.

Children's Toys

a trip down memory lane

Marconi 

Marconi's made radar equipment for defence and navigation

Ships at Sea. Before Marconi there was no way of contacting a ship at sea.

The survivors of the Titanic owed their lives to marine radio.

An accurate copy of the radio room on board the Titanic

Factory Life

Mrs Beaton

My grandmother's cellar had a sink and mangle just like these

More modern

I really liked this trio of pottery.

The middle one has "My gift to you from heart so true" engraved around it.

Medical and neonatal equipment

I'm not a fan of local lad Grayson Perry's work. He has done very well though. This is a bit rude! The clasp is strategically placed. Made in 2019, the handbag is one of ten specially designed by Perry in collaboration with Osprey. Perry's maker's mark, a W and an anchor are embossed on the leather. The clasp features Perry's teddy bear Alan Measles, who is often used as a symbol of masculinity and God.

And finally, our lunch. I didn't intend this to be such a long post, and I've only scratched the surface of the exhibits.

Our annual WI lunch is always a happy event. We all contribute, talk a lot and have a great time. 

I was so hungry and keen to get started I forgot to take a photo of the delicious vittles!

This is what was left towards the back, and at the front the most

scrumptious strawberries for dessert, complete with cream.

My raffle number was called, I chose the hand wash as the

lovely stocks and chocolates had already gone. 

I've been working on more Haikus, this is my latest offering

Roses for beauty

And their perfume is divine

As heady as wine

 

∼ Be safe and well∼

Polly x