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The Society of Bexhill Museums host a wealth of lectures throughout the year. The 2011/12 lecture programme is available to download here:
We will aim to bring you reports of the lectures on this page. For past lectures, please visit the Lecture Archive page: Lecture Archive
Museum Evening Lectures
Almost everyone reading this will possess at least one pair of spectacles and might have wondered where this indispensable piece of equipment came from. Frank Barraclough, who practiced locally as an optometrist for 50 years, will explain in his opening talk for the new evening lecture series at the museum on Wednesday 14th March. The title is ‘The History of Spectacles’ and there will be an opportunity to look at a display of early examples donated to the museum by Mr Barraclough.
The second talk on March 28th is ‘A History of Coopering’ by David Thomas. He has made a detailed study of barrel making and, after an historical introduction, Mr Thomas will show some tools of the trade and demonstrate their use.
On April 18th David Powell, who was formerly responsible for weather recording in Hastings , will explain the importance of this work in his lecture ‘Meterorology in Hastings ’. He will show instruments used and explain how cloud formations are still a valuable diagnostic tool.
The last talk, on May 2nd, is ‘The Techniques of Blacksmithing’. Mark Mason practised as a blacksmith for several years, using traditional tools and techniques. He will tell us something of this most ancient craft and describe how it is carried on today.
All these talks will be held at the museum in Egerton Road starting at 7.30pm. Advance booking is highly recommended as space is limited. Tickets are 4 ( 3 for members) from the museum and include refreshments – call in or phone 787955 or 787950.
Society of Bexhill Museums
A very interesting aspect of Bodiam Castle was shown to the audience during the lecture at St Augustine’s on 15th February. Alan Stainsby, National Trust volunteer at Bodiam for many years, described in his well-illustrated talk how high-status feasting of the late fourteenth century might have been conducted at the castle and similar properties. Although today the castle externally appears much as when built in 1385 by Sir Edward Dalyngrigge, most visitors know the interior to be a ruin. However, enough of its walls remain to show the arrangement of the Great Hall, with three doorways still in place which served the Kitchen, Buttery and Pantry. Mr Stainsby’s photographs of other grand Medieval properties illustrated well the layout of such hall and kitchens, so it was easy to imagine how it would have been at Bodiam. An interesting point regarding the management of catering on this grand scale in the Medieval period was that this was an all male occupation; women were not involved in the preparation and serving of food. Copies of a typical meat-day banquet menu were distributed among the audience. This consisted of six courses indicating plenty of choice for the favoured guests, who were no doubt impressed by the artistic and colourful presentation and use of costly spices, a prime object of their host. As the Church stipulated Wednesday, Friday and Saturday as non-meat days, the quantity of fish required meant this mostly had to be dried. It has been suggested by some historians that this demand for fish may have brought about a need to build stronger ships to cope with fishing in the North Sea, thus establishing a ship-building industry capable of producing a fighting fleet when required. Mr Stainsby’s detailed study of catering in the Medieval period conveyed such feasting in a very entertaining way.
The lecture at St Augustine’s on 29th February A Walk Through Hastings Old Town will be given by Brion Purdey at 2.30pm. As always, visitors are very welcome.
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