Coombe Bissett Landscape Research Project  Experience an archaeological dig Join us for an upcoming excavation of interesting archaeological features, spotted during recent investigations with LiDAR and geophysical surveys.   The excavation will run from Monday 6 May to Saturday 18 May (except Sunday 12 May), 1/4 mile up the Old Blandford Road (just past the black barn).   Experience working on an archaeological dig, and help process the objects that are found. Find the Bronze Age barrow, farm enclosure and lots more…!  To get involved in all or part of it, sign u ..read more

A view of Salisbury Cathedral, from 1824… ‘Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop’s Grounds’ John Constable 1824  This was a full-scale study for the picture of 1826 now in the Frick Collection, New York. It was one of several of this view, following a commission from the Bishop, John Fisher and who appears in the bottom left of the painting. The bucolic view, and casually wandering cattle, tells us quite a lot about Salisbury at that time. Turner portrayed a similar view about twenty-five years earlier… ‘South View of Salisbury Cathedral’ JMW Turner 1797-98 Even today, the meadows for gra ..read more

What’s On?Events on Cranborne ChaseCharacters of the Chase – Performance Evening Wednesday 1st May 7:00 – 10:00pm Ancient Technology Centre, Cranborne FREE ENTRY (Booking Required) Join us, for a very special evening where historical characters of Cranborne Chase will come to life in a performance at the atmospheric Ancient Technology Centre. Book Here The Chase & Chalke resident artists are currently sharing the wonders and stories of Cranborne Chase National Landscape in a special exhibition supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. During Salisbury Library opening times ..read more

Salisbury Museum has a large number of postcards in its collection.  In the “olden days” people’s photographs were made into postcards.  There are many examples of these from before WW1.  We know the dates because of the clear postmarks on them.  Thus we have many photographs of everyday scenes represented in this collection of images.  All the postcards have  been scanned, both front and reverse. With these photographic postcard images we might know the date but usually little else.  As they were not mass produced, there is seldom any information about the s ..read more

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More scaffolding! A sign that things are not yet finished, but we are getting there! Exciting news TODAY in emails to Volunteers….have you checked? A chilly start to the week, but The Salisbury Museum gardens look a treat. Meanwhile, strange things emerge in the Close! Watch this space….or rather THAT space ..read more

If you haven’t visited the Fashioning Our World exhibition yet, there is still time. And my experience has been that one visit isn’t enough. It is full of surprises, interesting ideas and an enjoyable mix of History and fashion. My favourite exhibit is below, though choosing just one was difficult.. It was, of course, the eye-catching garment on the right which drew me to this display, but it is war which is the link between them. On the right is a dressing gown from the Second World War, now more than eighty years old. Made from scraps garnered from anywhere and anything, including a piece ..read more

have you tried Volunteer Mary Crane’s Pitt-Rivers quiz yet? Here are the answers: Born in Yorkshire. His full rank at the end of his career was Lieutenant General. He fought in the Crimea. His first museum was in Bethnal Green, London. The famous Toy Museum is in Bethnal Green today. I wonder if it is in the same building? His later Museum was at Farnham, in Dorset .There is a well-known pub there today, called – The Museum. He inherited the Rushmore Estate, in the heart of Cranborne Chase, in 1880. The current Pitt-Rivers Museum is in Oxford. Pitt-Rivers DID use photography as part of his re ..read more

This blog has, in the past, included a number of items sent in by Volunteers who have enjoyed, and written about, places of historical interest visited on days out, or from further afield. This one is from Research Volunteer Dr Megan Fyfe. How to build a medieval castle from scratch: experimental archaeology in rural France. Deep in the woods of northern Burgundy, Guedelon Castle is a large-scale long-term project in experimental archaeology which only uses techniques, tools and materials available in the 13th century – with the complication of modern health and safety rules and a particularl ..read more

In which county was Pitt-Rivers born? What was his full rank on leaving the army? Which war did he fight in? Where was his first museum? Where was his later museum? What estate did he inherit? In which city is the present Pitt-Rivers museum? Amongst his methods of recording excavations, Pitt-Rivers used photography. True or false? 9. Complete the names of these sites which he excavated: W–K–B–Y; R–H–L–; W–D–C–T-; W– B–R–; W–D–T– 10. Anagrams of words/places associated with Pitt-Rivers. What are they? WOES TODAY; SOUR HERM; FAN HARM; AL GREEN Mary assures me that all the answers are in the m ..read more