MUSEUM OF CAMBR I DGE
“People feel like they’ve been transported
back into the past”
include Elizabeth Woodcock, a farmer’s wife from Impington, who became trapped in deep snow for eight days, surviving on nothing but chestnuts and the brandy in her hip flask. “We have Elizabeth’s nutcrackers in the museum,” says Jan, “and even though she didn’t survive long after the snowdrift, her story is one of our favourites.” The guest room celebrates the many colourful characters who visited the pub over the years, ensuring they will be remembered for generations to come. The museum’s collections are characterised by the work of its longest- serving curator, folklorist Enid Porter. Enid spent the best part of three decades curating the collections at the museum, gathering objects that have provided us with unique insight into the past. “Enid was amazing,” says Lesley, “she basically collected most of what we have in the museum today on her own, as well as running the place – she even lived on- site!” The museum’s Enid Porter Room pays homage to the integral role she played in the museum’s curation, celebrating her legacy and the countless stories and memories she recorded. By continuing to collect stories of change and development in Cambridge, the museum hopes to revive her ethos and ideas in order to preserve local heritage for future generations. One project doing just that is Capturing Cambridge, a local initiative working in partnership with the museum to piece together the mosaic that makes
IMAGES The Museum of Cambridge not only contains various artefacts, but stories of local personalities
pass, so you can come back as many times as you like. Children aged 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult, or are otherwise eligible for a lower concessionary fee. Now well on the way to its 90th birthday, the Museum of Cambridge continues to provide visitors with a sense of place and identity. Being independent, the museum survives on funds raised through admission charges, shop sales and fundraising – along with a few charitable donations – and receives no core funding. Many of its staff members are volunteers. “Currently we have around 70 or 80 volunteers, but we’re always encouraging more people to join us,” says Jan. If you’d like to get involved with volunteering, you can visit museumofcambridge.org.uk
up Cambridge’s intricate social heritage. Featuring stories from as far afield as North Yorkshire and Kent, the project aims to put local history on the map in and around Cambridge. You can have a look through some local stories and even contribute some of your own on the website: capturingcambridge.org With the future of Cambridge folklore in mind, the museum is keen to get the younger generation interested in local heritage, offering plenty of events in the school holidays. “We’re planning lots of activities in the February half-term, so you can keep an eye out for those,” enthuses Lesley. “Our exhibitions are always changing, too. We don’t like to be stagnant.” Best of all, the £6 museum entry ticket doubles up as an annual
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C A M B S E D I T I O N . C O . U K
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