MUSEUM
Young V&A, London, Open now – http://www.vam.ac.uk/young
After seven years of planning, Young V&A – formerly the V&A Museum of Childhood – has opened its doors in Bethnal Green. The museum showcases objects from the Victoria & Albert Museum’s vast collection of art, design, and performance, exploring the power of creativity in children’s lives. Co-designed with children and teenagers, Young V&A offers a variety of hands-on experiences to inspire young people and families. Entry to the museum is free. Check the website for information about new exhibitions in the coming months.
EVENTS
The Celts are Coming, The Scottish Crannog Centre, Kenmore, 28-31 July 2023 – https://crannog.co.uk/whats-on/
For one weekend, the Scottish Crannog Centre will be taken over by talented artists, craftspeople, and musicians from across the UK and beyond, giving them a chance to share their knowledge of the traditional crafts that have been part of life for thousands of years, from metalworking and leatherworking to stone-carving and creating natural dyes. The event will offer interactive activities, handmade products to buy, and a friendly space to chat, share, and meet new people. Tours run all day, every 45 minutes from 10am, and the café will be open. Tickets cost £7, with family tickets available.
Stories of London – a day of talks, Southwark Cathedral, London, 15 July 2023 – https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/whats-on/stories-of-london-a-day-of-talks
Discover more about London’s past with this day of talks in the library of Southwark Cathedral, covering topics spanning more than a millennium, including the great North Wood that once covered most of south London, everyday life in the city from the Anglo-Saxons to the Tudors, the story of the area surrounding St Paul’s Cathedral, and the social history and influence of Piccadilly Circus. Tickets cost £20 (plus a booking fee) and include entry to each talk, as well as 10% off in the Cathedral Shop.
CONFERENCES
Above and Below: the archaeology and history of Essex castles, Essex Record Office, Chelmsford, 16 September 2023 – http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/above-and-below-the-archaeology-and-history-of-essex-castles-tickets-648794641237
Essex Record Office presents a fascinating one-day conference examining the history and archaeology of Essex castles (some of which is being shared for the first time). A panel of expert speakers will give talks on the castles at Clavering, Colchester, Hedingham, and Pleshey. The day will finish with an overview of the themes and conclusions highlighted by the talks from castle and fortifications expert Professor Robert Liddiard of the University of East Anglia.
EXHIBITIONS
Unforgotten Lives, London Metropolitan Archives, Until 27 March 2024 – http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/events/unforgotten-lives-exhibition
This exhibition presents the stories of Londoners of African, Caribbean, Asian, and Indigenous heritage who lived and worked in the city between 1560 and 1860 and are recorded in London’s archives. Informed by an ongoing research project, the exhibition celebrates well-known figures from London’s past and introduces some of the thousands of names discovered in the archives so far, telling stories of community, enterprise, family life, hardship, and resilience. Admission is free and booking is not required, but please check the London Metropolitan Archives website for opening times.
VIRTUAL VISITS
Virtual Australian Museum of Palaeontology, Australia – https://sites.flinders.edu.au/vamp
Discover Australia’s rich fossil record with this new virtual museum, created by several collaborating universities and museums, which features 3D scans of specimens spanning 600 million years of evolution.
National Gallery, London, UK – http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/virtual-tours
Visit a variety of virtual exhibitions and galleries featuring highlights from the National Gallery, take a tour of some masterpieces with Google, or explore the institution’s collection online.
Carter House, Egypt – http://www.arce.org/carter-house
Take a virtual tour of Howard Carter’s historic house in Luxor and find out more about the Egyptologist’s life and work while he was there, as well as a recent project to conserve and restore the building.
Hatra, Iraq – https://qaflab.com/vr-tours
Explore the ruins of the ancient city of Hatra or discover virtual-reality reconstructions of other famous sites in Iraq, such as the Al-Nouri Mosque and the Al-Nabi Yunus Mosque, destroyed in modern conflicts.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Mexicana – https://mexicana.cultura.gob.mx/en/repositorio/home
Discover the digital collections of Mexico’s Ministry of Culture and explore resources from various institutions, museums, libraries, and archives around the country through this integrated open platform.
Past Track – http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk
Dive into the history of Staffordshire with thousands of photographs, images, maps, and documents, available through this online resource from Staffordshire County Council’s Archives and Heritage Service.
Screens of the Stone Age – https://pasc-scpa.ca/sotsa
Enjoy this entertaining podcast in which scientists review films and TV shows about prehistoric people, from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark to A Flintstone Christmas and Early Man.
#AskAnArchaeologist – http://www.archaeologyuk.org/festival/festival-event-listing/askanarchaeologist-day-.html
Get ready for #AskAnArchaeologist Day on Friday 21 July, part of the CBA Festival of Archaeology (see p.60), when archaeologists around the world will answer any questions you might have on Twitter.
FAMILY FUN
Hidden Treasures of the National Trust – http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ltts
Go behind the scenes at National Trust properties around Britain and find out how some of the UK’s most beautiful and historic homes and the objects they contain are protected and conserved.
Ancient Egypt by Train with Alice Roberts – http://www.channel4.com/programmes/ancient-egypt-by-train- with-alice-roberts
Join Alice Roberts as she travels around Egypt to find out more about one of the world’s oldest civilisations, exploring the country’s famous sites, hidden gems, and new discoveries.
Upstairs and Downstairs – http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/kids/great-houses/upstairs-downstairs-game
In this game from English Heritage, it’s 1833 and you have just applied for a job as the new footman or maid at Audley End House – will you be able to impress your employers and avoid the pitfalls along the way?
History Detectives – http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z6wg3j6/articles/z2h3ydm
Travel back in time with this game from BBC Bitesize to explore key moments from the past and use your historical enquiry skills to analyse and evaluate some of history’s burning questions.
Tail Trail – http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/Resources/interactives/tail-trail-online
Try out this interactive game from the Museum of London, which takes you back through London’s history as you search for the rat relatives of Riley Ratcliffe in pictures from different periods.
