Friday 4 March 2011

News - Museums open for free as part of the BBC's Big Day Out (Notts)

Many museums across Nottinghamshire are offering free entry to their exhibits on Sunday, 20 March 2011.


They are taking part in BBC Radio Nottingham's Big Day Out, a celebration of the county's history and heritage.


BBC Radio Nottingham's breakfast presenter Andy Whittaker is behind the idea.


He said: "I think we're all very good at visiting museums and attractions when we go to other cities in the UK, but not on your doorstep."


The presenter added: "It's time to discover more about where you live!


"This is the third time we've done this and the attractions involved all show off what they have in their collections."


Thousands of people took part in last year's Big Day Out, held in March 2010, with several museums announcing record numbers.


Free entry


There are over 30 museums in Nottinghamshire and many of them are involved in the third Big Day Out.


Some are waiving their fees on the day whilst others are opening especially.


All the venues taking part in the Big Day Out are offering free admission in some form.


Please check the details below for the attractions you are interested in as in some cases you will need a print out of this page, or to book in advance.


Calverton Folk Museum, Main Street, Calverton, NG14 6FG, is dedicated to Victorian Calverton, with four rooms exhibiting period furniture and dress. There is also an actual framework knitting machine on display. The museum will be open from 2.00pm until 5.00pm on Sunday, 20 March 2011.


Clumber Park, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 3AZ *** VOUCHER NEEDED *** Three thousand eight hundred acres of idyllic scenery and wildlife, all nestled amongst the remnants of Clumber's grand past. The voucher is not yet available to download on the National Trust website. A direct link to the voucher will appear on this page shortly.


D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum, 8a Victoria Street, Eastwood, NG16 3AW *** PRINT OUT NEEDED *** This house is where David Herbert Richards Lawrence was born in 1885 and is the first of the Lawrence family's four Eastwood homes. Through a guided tour you will be able to learn about his family life and the type of working class home and mining family that shaped his formative years. The venue is open from 10.00am until 4.00pm on Sunday, 20 March 2011. For more information call 01773 717353.


D.H. Lawrence Heritage Centre, Mansfield Road, Eastwood, NG16 3DZ, offers an exhibition on D. H. Lawrence and the local area's proud mining history. As a boy Lawrence would pick up his father's wages from this impressive building, which was the offices of the local coal owners, Barber, Walker & Co. As it's National Science and Engineering week, there are sessions on mining heritage including children's trails and quizes at Durban House. The centre is open 10.00am until 4.00pm on Sunday, 20 March 2011.


Dukes Wood Oil Museum, Eakring, Dukes Wood, NG22 0DR, combines an area of ancient woodland with what was the site of the UK's first oilfield. Some of the 'nodding donkey' pumps have been restored and can be seen on the trail. The museum is situated on the nature trail and contains many artefacts and pictures dealing with the story of UK Oil fields both offshore and onshore. The museum will be open from 10.00am until 5.00pm. For more information call 01623 882446.


Flintham Museum, Inholms Road, Flintham, Nottinghamshire, NG23 5LF, looks at rural life through the eyes of a village shopkeeper. Behind the museum there is a community shop so visitors will be able to see and talk about the differences in shopping over the last 100 years. They will be serving cakes made from wartime recipes and will have the recipes available for visitors to take away. Behind the community shop there is a modern weather installation and visitors will be invited to record the days weather and perhaps make comments about global warming or their experiences during this year's extreme cold. The museum will be open from 11.00am to 4.00pm.


Galleries of Justice Museum, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1HN, preserve the site of Nottinghamshire's old courthouse and county gaol and maintain a vast collection of spine chilling artefacts relating to crime and punishment. The senior curator is offering free unique architectural tours for Big Day Out. Learn about the fascinating building and its secrets and see areas of the building not normally open to the general public. This tour is very different to the museum's family actor led tours. Tours last around 45 minutes to one hour and start at 11.00am and 1.00pm. Booking essential (there are 25 spaces on each tour - first come first served).


Green's Windmill and Science Centre, Windmill Lane, Sneinton, NG2 4QB, was built by the father of notable scientist and mathematician George Green in 1807. Many of our technologies today, such as mobile phones, are based on Green's amazing ground-breaking theorem. Today the still-working mill is a popular museum and science centre, which teaches new generations of children about the valuable work of George Green. The centre is open 10.00am - 4.00pm and as part of National Science Week go along and see for free some hands-on science experiments! For more information call 0115 9156878.


Iron Age Roundhouse, Woodview Farm, Mansfield Lane, Calverton, Nottingham NG14 6HP. The Roundhouse was built in 2006 as a research project looking at construction methods using the same tools, timber and building materials that were originally used over 2,500 years ago. Once completed it became apparent that the house had a second function as an educational resource complementing traditional classroom teaching methods. The inside is set out to illustrate how an extended family of between 12 to 20 people would have lived and worked together. The Roundhouse will be open between 1.00pm and 4.00pm on the Big Day Out. There is no need to book.


Laxton Heritage Museum and Village Tour, Main Street, Laxton, NG22 0NX. Join Stuart Rose on a guided tour of Laxton village and its agricultural heritage. The tour will include a visit to the site of Laxton Castle and the open medieval farming fields ending with a look at traditional Victorian farming tools. Tours will last about three hours so bring outdoor clothing and comfortable walking footwear. Unfortunately there is not access for wheelchair users. The tour commences at 10.00am departing from the Laxton Visitor Centre in the car park of The Dovecote Inn. Please ring Stuart Rose to book your place on 07939228353 or 01777871702.


Mansfield Fire Museum, Fire Station, Rosemary Street, Mansfield, NG19 6AB. There's a new look to the Fire Museum as this is the first event after a major refurbishment. There are new display cabinets and up to date computer and heating systems along side the history of firefighting through the ages. There will be outside demonstrations, plus vintage vehicles and a tombola plus refreshments available. The Fire Museum is normally only open by appointment but will be open for free on Sunday, 20 March 2011, from 10.00am to 4.00pm.


Newark Millgate Museum, 48 Millgate, Newark, NG24 4TS, is housed in a former oil seed mill built in 1870 in a picturesque setting on the banks of the River Trent. The museum is open from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Free entry. For more information call 01636 655730.


Museum of Nottingham Life at Brewhouse Yard, Castle Boulevard, NG7 1FB *** PRINT OUT NEEDED *** is housed within five 17th century cottages. Here you can learn about the people of Nottingham through the objects made, used or owned and the stories they tell us. Brewhouse Yard is at the base of Castle Rock, a location that itself reveals much about Nottingham's social history. The museum is open 10.00am - 5.00pm. For more information call 0115 915 3600. Admission is free for BBC Radio Nottingham's Big Day Out but you must take a print out of this page.


Newark Air Museum, The Showground, Winthorpe, Newark, Notts, NG24 2NY *** PRINT OUT NEEDED *** Located on part of the former World War Two airfield at Winthorpe in eastern Nottinghamshire. There's a diverse collection of aircraft and cockpit sections covering the history of aviation. The aircraft on display include ten national benchmark aircraft, 29 significant aircraft and 18 noteworthy aircraft as listed in the National Aviation Heritage Register. Open 10.00am - 5.00pm. Admission is free for BBC Radio Nottingham's Big Day Out but you must take a print out of this page in order to get in.


Nottingham Castle Museum, Off Friar Lane, Off Maid Marian Way, Nottingham, NG1 6EL *** PRINT OUT NEEDED *** A magnificent 17th century ducal mansion built on the site of the original medieval castle has a vibrant museum and art gallery housing collections of silver, glass, decorative items, visual arts, paintings and Nottinghamshire archaeology and history. Open 10.00am - 5.00pm. Last admission 4.30pm. For more information call 0115 915 3700. Admission is free for BBC Radio Nottingham's Big Day Out but you must take a print out of this page.


Nottingham Transport Heritage Museum, on Mere Way just off the A60 south of Ruddington, NG11 6NX houses a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, and is currently the northern terminus of the Great Central Railway (Nottingham) heritage line. The NTHC also houses a classic road transport collection, and is home to the Nottingham Society of Model and Experimental Engineers. The centre will be running free diesel hauled trains on a short trip during the day and all the attractions will be open for free too.


Papplewick Pumping Station, Rigg Lane, Ravenshead, NG15 9AJ *** PRINT OUT NEEDED *** is Britain's finest Victorian Water Works and the only one in the Midlands to be preserved as a complete working water pumping station. Papplewick Pumping Station was built between 1882 and 1884 to supplement the water supply for the growing city of Nottingham. Admission is free on the Big Day Out only to those with a print out of this webpage.


Stonebridge City Farm, Stonebridge Road, St Ann's, NG3 2FR *** PRINT OUT NEEDED *** will have all the usual attractions available, including animal feeding, small animal holding, kiddies play area, picnic area and farm shop. Admission is always free. The farm will be open from 10.00am to 3.00pm. Get a free bag of animal feed (one per group) with your webpage print off.


Vina Cooke Museum of Dolls, The Old Rectory, Great North Road, Cromwell, Newark, NG23 6JE, is now in its 28th year and houses a large collection of dolls and other collectables dating from the 18th century to the present day. The museum is situated next to the mediaeval church in the tiny village of Cromwell just off the A1, five miles North of Newark. The museum is open from 11.00am to 4.00pm. Free admission for BBC Radio Nottingham's Big Day Out.


Wollaton Hall Natural History Museum, Nottingham, NG8 2AE. is set in an Elizabethan mansion located in a 500 acre deer rark. Daily tours of the hall give you a chance to see behind the scenes, such as the Tudor kitchens or the beautiful Prospect Room with views over the natural landscape. Stylish courtyard café on-site. Car Parking charges apply. For more information call 0115 915 3900.


The Workhouse, Upton Road, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0PT *** VOUCHER NEEDED *** lets you discover how society dealt with poverty through the centuries. Explore the segregated work yards, day rooms, dormitories, master's quarters and cellars, then see the recreated working 19th-century garden and find out what food the paupers would have eaten at the Southwell Workhouse, the most complete workhouse in existence. The voucher is not yet available to download on the National Trust website. A direct link to the voucher will appear on this page shortly.


From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/nottingham/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_9413000/9413601.stm


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