Events at the Bailiffgate Museum in Alnwick

1) Bailiffgate Museum Coffee Morning in the Northumberland Hall Alnwick

On Sat 10th March there will be a Coffee Morning with Craft Stalls in the Northumberland Hall, in Alnwick, organised by the Friends of Bailiffgate Museum. A large number of local craftspeople, artists, charities and organisations have taken stalls – everything from embroidery, rag rugging and patchwork, greetings cards to jewellery, home made cakes, tombola and bric a brac. There will be a grand Raffle, including a beautiful Rag Rug artwork ‘The Rose’ by locally based artist Jane Jackson, lots of great ideas for gifts for Mother’s Day and a craft table to keep the children interested. Plus a chance to put in your ideas about the Museum’s future projects. From 9.30-12.30, admission £1.50, including coffee and biscuits. 

2) New Exhibition at Bailiffgate Museum 7th March - 26th March 2012 - As They Really Were – the Citizens of Alnwick 1831

A fascinating exhibition of drawings from 1831 which are the subject of a new book by Professor Keith Middlemas, an eminent historian and author, who comes from an old Alnwick family.

Come and meet Handy Tom the butcher’s man, Wise Willie, Purvis the cow doctor, Henry Trotter the horse farrier and not least Damn you Dog Brosby, among many other interesting characters who come alive in the portrait sketches by Percy Forster (born 1801), son of the Duke of Northumberland’s gamekeeper, who was an artist and exhibitor at the Royal Academy.

Forster’s sketches are a fascinating record of Alnwick townsfolk at the time of the first ever census and before the emergence of photography. They are a unique document in British history and show a true cross section of society – the survival and discovery of the portraits and the details they preserve have enabled Professor Middlemas to explore the social, cultural and political life of Alnwick, at a pivotal time in history, just before the industrial revolution and political reform brought fundamental change.

Admission charges: Adults £2.50, Concessions £2.00, Children Free. Opening Hours Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm, Closed Mondays.  There will also be a Lecture and Book Launch by Prof Middlemas on 13th March 2012 at 12 noon (free entry, but please contact the Museum to book a place)

3) Rag Rugging Workshop at the Bailiffgate Museum 31st March 2012

Locally based textile artists Jane Jackson and Mary Kenny will run a one day rag rugging workshop on Saturday 31st March 2012 at the Bailiffgate Museum. Jane and Mary have taken a very traditional craft, and used it to create fantastic art works – one of them, Matisse Dancers 1,2,and 3, is currently on display at the Museum, and has been generously donated by Jane Jackson – there will be a silent auction throughout the summer to raise funds for the Museum.

The Rag Rugging workshop costs £30 per person, with a deposit of £10 payable, - please book early as there are only 16 places. Please email or phone the Museum to book.

Tel: 01665 605847, E-mail: ask@bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk