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Fabulous Finds Day- At A Museum Near You April 30 2005
24/03/2005
Will anyone bring in an electric tablecloth? This unique find was reported to 24 HM staff in 2004! © 24 Hour Museum
Saturday April 30 2005 is Fabulous Finds Day at nine museums around the country. People of all ages can take favourite finds to be examined by experts – and for under-16s, there’s even a national Finder of the Year competition.
Fabulous Finds Day is organised by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) as part of Museums and Galleries Month, which runs from May 1 to 31 2005. It brings together two major national initiatives: the Renaissance programme to revitalise England’s regional museums and the Portable Antiquities Scheme, (PAS) which is the country’s largest community archaeology project.
Image: photo shows two gold inscribed rings worn on two hands
These splendid medieval love rings, found and reported by Sussex detectorists, bear the inscription mon cuer entier - 'my whole heart'.
“Some people are hooked on antique fairs; others enjoy rummaging around junk shops or metal detecting on farmland. Fabulous Finds Days give people the chance to learn more about their finds and to have them recorded and displayed so others can enjoy them,” said Mark Wood, MLA Chairman.
Museum curators and experts from the PAS will be present at the museums to identify and tell more about the finds – maybe a fossil from the beach, an old coin or clay pipe dug up in the garden; or something bought at an antiques fair.
On the big day 24 Hour Museum writers will sample the excitement at each of the museums and we’ll bring you news of the more outlandish and interesting things brought in. After Fabulous Finds Day more info about finds and finders will feature in online galleries on the 24 Hour Museum and will be on public display at the participating museums.
Image: photo shows a small green coloured metal pin shaped object held between a finger and a thumb
This find was brought in to the recent PAS roadshows - the experts decided it was a Roman pin. © 24 Hour Museum
For kids under 16, there’s a separate Finder of the Year competition. The coveted title will be awarded to the finder with the best story, rather than the one with the oldest, prettiest or most valuable object. Think about it - your story might be about where and how you found your object and why it’s important to you. What was it like when you found it?
If you can’t get to one of the nine museums, click to download a .pdf version of the entry form for Finder of the Year. For your info - that's a large file, so it might take a few minutes to download on a dial-up modem connection. If your computer won't read the competition form, it might mean you don't have Adobe Acrobat reader on your computer so download Acrobat Reader now. Again, that's a large file, and will take a moment to download.
If you’re not near one of the main venues, there’s also going to be lots of other museums running Fabulous Finds Days throughout May, Museums and Galleries Month. Search for more about the other venues on www.mgm.org.uk..
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PH, Oxfordshire, England
Open: Tues-Sat 1000-1700
Sun 1200-1700
Closed: Every Mon
Christmas and New Year
Donington le Heath Manor House
Manor Road, Donington-le-Heath, Coalville, LE67 2FW, Leicestershire, England
Open: April-September
1100-1700
October-March
1100-1500
Closed: During December/January/February only open at weekends 11.30am - 3pm
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Bethesda Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 3DW, Staffordshire, England
Open: March - October Mon-Sat 1000-1700 Sun 1400-1700
November - February Mon-Sat 1000-1600 Sun 1300-1600
Closed 24 December-2 January
Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, Museum of Norfolk Life
Gressenhall, Dereham, NR20 4DR, Norfolk, England
T: 01362 860563
Open: 16 March - 2 November 2008
10am - 5pm
27 Dec 2008 - 4 Jan 2009
10am - 4pm
14 - 22 February 2009
10am - 4pm
Yorkshire Museum & Gardens, York
Museum Gardens, York, YO1 7FR, North Yorkshire, England
Open: Daily 1000-1700
Closed: Closed 25/26 December, 1 January
Liskeard and District Museum
Liskeard and District Museum, Foresters Hall, Pike Street, Liskeard, PL14 3JE, Cornwall, England
Open: Weekdays 11am-4pm
Saturdays 11am - 1.30pm
Great North Museum
Barras Bridge, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE2 4PT, Tyne & Wear, England
Closed: The Hancock Museum closed its doors to the public on Sunday 23 April 2006 to begin its transformation as part of the Great North Museum - an exciting and innovative world-class visitor attraction designed for the 21st century. The new Museum opens in 2009.
Museum of Lancashire, Preston
Stanley Street, Preston, PR1 4YP, Lancashire, England
Open: Open all year round
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat 10.30 to 17.00
Closed: Closed Thursdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays
Museum of London
Museum of London, London Wall, London, EC2Y 5HN, England
T: 0870 444 3852
Open: Museum and Shop opening times:
Open daily 10am to 6pm.
Last admission 5.30pm
Café opening times:
Open 10.00am to 5.00pm
Closed: 24-26 December
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