Dishing the Dirt

Yesterday I had a very pleasant and educational afternoon looking at Roman coins, Anglo Saxon jewellery, belt buckles, rare Anglo Saxon coins, lead weights from a long extinct market, Norman "bling" and Civil War musket and pistol balls, some of which had obviously hit something...

This was part of the Archaeology Day at The Edward Jenner Museum, Berkeley, where the finds that had been discovered over the last few years on the University of Bristol digs were displayed and a very interesting talk given by Pete Twinn, Archaeologist and Metal Detectorist. One could also try Geo Physics (a la Time Team) in an undug part of the garden and a field walk looking for finds on the freshly dug spoil from the last trench that had been dug in June.

I know a lot about various periods of history but as for the Anglo Saxon era I'm still learning. The decoration and beauty of the tiny Anglo Saxon finds were quite breathtaking, especially as we tend to think of the Anglo Saxons as a fairly uncultured bunch who were rescued from obscurity by the invading Normans of 1066. Far from it.

It was the Normans who killed off all the beautiful art and decorative pieces by subjugating the population, building their massive castles and waging economic warfare on the Anglo Saxons. The latter had to conform to survive and so much that was existing before 1066 was lost. It is thought provoking to realise that one fifth of land in the UK is owned by the descendants of those invading Norman Knights from 1066.

The medieval bling was mainly pendants, coins and some heraldic pieces that may have been worn on a horse or on armour. Some heraldic devices have been identified and so we know that these people visited Berkeley, even if it is not backed up by written evidence anywhere else. The medieval weights and measures found demonstrate a thriving market and the slag found helps to confirm that there was a mint in Berkeley too.

The Civil War finds were interesting as the Museum's garden was a battlefield as well as that of the adjoining 13th Century church. Have a look at the West Door and you can still see the musket loops, bullet holes and axe marks from the fight. The defences at Berkeley were started in 1643 and these were found this summer by the University dig. Another piece of corroborating evidence was the number of pistol balls found on the site: we know that after Prince Rupert was defeated at Bristol that cavalry was sent to Berkeley, and they all carried pistols. And there is the evidence, a great quantity of small calibre pistol balls.

It is odd sitting in a tranquil garden on a sunny day, listening to the history (often violent) off the patch of land your are sitting on, but I am looking forward to the next Archaeology Day at the Museum as seeing what has been found and having the privilege of one to one talks from the experts who found the finds, and place them in context in the garden's history is fascinating and has inspired me to learn more about our Anglo Saxon forefathers.

For events at the Museum see www.jennermuseum.com and look out for the talk by Dr Stuart Prior from the University of Bristol, on the history of the site (including the exciting Roman discoveries in Berkeley) in the Old Cyder House.






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Edward Jenner website now live

The new website for The Edward Jenner Museum in Berkeley has gone live. Designed by Eberlin and produced by Copper Phoenix. Tim Davies, Managing Director of Copper Phoenix said "We're very pleased with the new look of the website that will make it much easier for the museum to communicate to thepublic its facilities, including the ability to hire the Old Cyder House venue - plus of course a wealth of information on Dr Jenner and when to visit the museum!"

Old Cyder House Talks, Berkeley 2009/10

1.
Walking on Dinosaurs: Trampling on God?
Rev Richard Avery & Prof Tim Walsh,
Thursday 24 September 2009 7.30pm
Cost: £6 including glass of wine
Advanced booking advised, as places are limited.
01453 810631
education@edwardjenner.co.uk

The publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species a hundred and fifty years ago was deeply offensive to many Christians, and yet on his death he was buried with great ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
Can Christianity and Evolutionary theory be reconciled? Are Christians bound to follow the lead of many transatlantic brethren and become Creationists?
This promises to be a fascinating evening for believers and unbelievers alike, as we attempt to unravel the history and clear up misconceptions.

Richard Avery is vicar of Berkeley and has been a teacher of secondary school science and a former student of Richard Dawkins at University of Cambridge.
Tim Walsh is the Professor of Medical Microbiology & Antibiotic Resistance at Cardiff University.

Audience members will also have the chance to look round the museum’s temporary exhibition Walking on Dinosaurs, part of the Darwin Bicentenary celebrations.



2.
The Making of Mr Gray’s Anatomy – the story of the ‘Doctor’s Bible’
Dr Ruth Richardson,
Sunday 11 October 2009 3.30pm.

Cost: £10 including tea, cake and free entry to the museum earlier in the afternoon.
Advanced booking advised, as places are limited.
01453 810631
education@edwardjenner.co.uk

Gray's Anatomy is to the human body what Mrs Beeton's is to cookery or Roget's is to thesaurus. It started out as a student text in 1858, and became so indispensable that it has been called 'The Doctor's Bible'. The book has never been out of print. This talk tells the story behind the famous medical text, how it was created by two young medical men in mid-Victorian London: Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter.




Ruth Richardson:
The Wall Street Journal described Ruth Richardson's most recent book, The Making of Mr. Gray's Anatomy (Oxford University Press) as 'one of those rarities, history that reads like a novel'. The book has won the 2009 Medical Journalists' Open Book Award.

Ruth Richardson's history of the corpses in UK dissection rooms - Death Dissection and the Destitute - is now a standard work and teaching text. She has also authored Vintage Papers from The Lancet, and co-edited two volumes: Medical Humanities: An Introduction and The Healing Environment for the Royal College of Physicians, London. Her historical introduction to Gray’s Anatomy, has just appeared in the latest 40th edition of the famous textbook itself. Dr Richardson is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.



3.
Location: WOTTON ELECTRIC PICTURE HOUSE

The Incredible Human Journey
Dr Alice Roberts
Tuesday 3 November 2009, 7.30pm
Wotton Electric Picture House
18A Market Street, Wotton-Under-Edge
www.wottoneph.co.uk
Cost: £12
Advance booking essential.
Contact the Edward Jenner Museum: info@edwardjenner.co.uk or ring: 01453 810631
Tickets will also be on sale in Clarence’s Gift Shop in Wotton High Street.

Who are we and where do we come from? Genetics, archaeology and fossils come together to provide some answers. Amazingly, we can all trace our ancestry back to Africa, where our species appeared around 200,000 years ago. Dr Alice Roberts, presenter of the BBC series, tracks the ancient migrations that took our ancestors to the corners of Earth: through stones, bones and genes, the story of our incredible human journey unfolds.

Dr Alice Roberts is a biological anthropologist, author and broadcaster. Medically qualified, she taught clinical anatomy to undergraduates on the medical course at Bristol University for over a decade, and continues to teach postgraduate surgical trainees.

She has a PhD in palaeopathology, the study of disease in ancient human remains. She is interested in what old bones can tell us about human evolution, the diversity of the human species, and about diseases that have affected us over time. She is also interested in burial archaeology, and has joined an international research team investigating the archaeology and anthropology in Mongolia.

She is also passionate about public engagement with science, and is involved with planning Cheltenham Festival of Science. On BBC2, she is part of the team presenting the hugely popular Coast series. She wrote and presented two series of Don’t Die Young, exploring anatomy, physiology and health issues, and the 2009 landmark science series, The Incredible Human Journey, about the origin of our species and the ancient colonisation of the world. She also wrote the books to accompany both these series. She has recently ventured into radio, presenting Costing the Earth on Radio 4.



4.
The Crown Jewels – the inside story
Keith Hanson
26 November 2009, 7.30pm
Cost £10 including a glass of wine
Advanced booking advised, as places are limited.
01453 810631
education@edwardjenner.co.uk


What’s it like to live in the Tower of London and to be responsible for the display and security of the world famous Crown Jewels? Do you lie awake at night?... or is that the fault of the ghosts of those incarcerated long ago? As the Chief Exhibitor of the Crown Jewels, Keith Hanson should know.

Keith's main responsibilities are towards the security and display of the Crown Jewels, and the Crowns and Diamonds exhibition. He also looks after the running of the oldest part of the Tower of London, the White Tower, which contains unique artefacts belonging to the Royal Armouries, such as the armour of Henry VIII.

Keith is also a member of the Queens Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard, which involves attending many State and Royal events.

The Importance of Hi Vis

The Importance of Hi Vis
Originally uploaded by CopperPhoenix

You need to be seen on the site.

Petition to Return Statue to Trafalgar Square Gains Momentum

A campaign to return a statue of Edward Jenner to Trafalgar Square has been re-launched in his 260th Anniversary year. The Statue used to stand on a fifth plinth in Trafalgar Square but was moved to Kensington Gardens in 1862. Next year sees worldwide celebration of the 30th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox: Edward Jenner discovered the vaccine against smallpox and was the Father of Immunology. It is therefore highly appropriate that this “Great Britain”, should be honoured in 2010 and his statue restored to its original position.

The Gloucestershire country doctor received worldwide recognition after his smallpox discovery on May 14, 1796, receiving various international honours and awards including a letter from United States President Thomas Jefferson.
In his home country it was not until after his death that a statue, with permission from Queen Victoria and support of Prince Albert, the Prince Consort and a keen supporter of vaccination, was erected in Trafalgar Square.

The statue, paid for by world subscription, was unveiled in May 1858 on the anniversary of Jenner’s birthday but sadly in 1862 the statue was removed and taken to Kensington Gardens apparently a non-military statue in Trafalgar Square was inappropriate.

However, with the 30th anniversary of the World Health Organisation announcing world eradication of smallpox, The Edward Jenner Museum wants to honour the doctor’s contribution to saving millions of lives by relocating his statue to its original site.

Sarah Parker, Director of The Edward Jenner Museum in Berkeley, said: We’ve started a petition on the Number 10 Downing Street site and support is growing. It's such a shame that people in the UK don't seem to remember who Jenner was and his significant part in the eradication of smallpox from the world. Sadly we have forgotten what a truly horrible and disfiguring disease it was, killing one in three children.

He gave the world vaccination and was at the forefront of other medical breakthroughs. His statue quite rightly used to be in Trafalgar Square; we need to get Jenner back there and back into the public’s awareness.

There is much discussion at the moment concerning the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square; it would be an ideal setting for Jenner’s statue.

To sign the online petition on the No 10 Downing Street site to return Jenner’s statue to Trafalgar Square go to

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Jenner2010

or visit the museum’s website

http://www.jennermuseum.com/

and follow the link from there.

From an Edward Jenner Museum Newsletter of 2008

This has proved strangely prophetic as the Attic rooms are now open to the public in 2009.

From the Archives

We asked Tim Davies, Marketing Manager at Berkeley Castle to tell us about his favourite item in the Museum and archive.... but Tim went a little higher than that:

One of the most interesting experiences I have had at the Edward Jenner Museum was a quick tour of the Attic. As I originally trained as a building surveyor I have always been fascinated with old and historic buildings and especially those that have evolved over time, naturally working at Berkeley Castle is therefore very pleasing!

But back at the museum, a “secret” door from the first floor landing takes you to a bare board staircase and after walking up and around following the roof structure you emerge onto a landing with rooms radiating around you. These would have been for maids/staff in years gone by and, like all accommodation for these people, it is fairly Spartan – you don’t waste luxury on the hired helps. But look beyond the apparent emptiness and bare features and you can see the remains of ancient wallpaper, paint and old repairs within the roof structure. My favourite part of all and relating to the evolution of the building was being able to look through an access hatch at the original roof of the house that pre-dated the present building. You understand then what a big change in size and status the current building achieved.

Very simple, very interesting and slightly spooky, it would be great if the roof space could be utilised or shown to more people, but perhaps then it would lose its charm and air of mystery. That’s my favourite part of the Museum, and I apologise if it is not specifically Jenner related!

Edward Jenner Museum Ghost Image

Edward Jenner Museum Ghost Image
Originally uploaded by TMR Davies

This was the picture that started the massive media hype for The Edward Jenner Musem. Copper Phoenix has now been asked to develop ghost tourism at the Museum, as a much needed extra income stream. This will be boosted by the recent filming by Living TV's "Most Haunted" at the Museum.

The ghost is seen in the doorway. Who is the ghost? We'll let you know if we find out from any of the groups, who intend to visit the haunted attic!

Co-Op and Edward Jenner Museum in an English Country Garden

On 30^th June 2009, 14 volunteer gardeners are visiting Berkeley for the day to give the Edward Jenner Museum a tidy-up/make-over in Jenner’s former garden. The Museum run by a charitable trust is the Co-Op’s chosen recipient for assistance this year out of the whole Mid-counties region, which has delighted staff at the famous Gloucestershire attraction.

As part of the Co-op ethos staff have to do ‘community hours’ which must go towards a worthwhile project. Museum Director Sarah Parker said: We are very grateful to the Co-op team for their most generous offer to help us in our efforts to improve and renovate our garden. We hope eventually to re-plant Jenner’s garden to as it was in the 18/19^th Century. We are working with garden designer, Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall on the project but need support, research and as a charity, above all funds.

The Museum currently operates with one part-time Gardener/Maintenance Manager who apart from looking after nearly one acre of garden, also looks after Edward Jenner’s 200 year old vine, planted from cuttings taken from the world’s oldest vine at Hampton Court Palace in 1801. The delicious dessert grapes (Black Hamburg) will be on sale at the museum from August and cuttings are also available.

The assistance the Co-Op volunteers will provide is an immense boost to the Museum’s “outdoor look”. After the Co-Op team has left long-term volunteers in the garden are needed for ongoing assistance and the Museum is looking for an Apprentice Vine-Keeper, to learn the ancient craft of vine-keeping.

Jenner himself apparently experimented with blood as fertilizer and was a keen gardener, along with his world famous medical research activities.

This year celebrates the 260^th anniversary of Edward Jenner’s birth and his garden has one noticeable scar on the lawn. The trench left by the University of Bristol’s archeological dig is being left open for visitors to see Saxon Berkeley. Sarah Parker said We doubt that Jenner would have been aware of how much history was under his lawn!

Human Skull.

Human Skull.
Originally uploaded by TMR Davies

A rather moody scene from a very well known murder room in Gloucestershire.

Pipped by "more interesting news"

Looks as though the news release that Banksy is exhibiting at Bristol Museum has knocked any BBC coverage of the dig due today at Berkeley on the head.

Although I love art it is only because Banksy is a "mythical" figure that so much coverage has been given to him, whereas here we have a story of international importance with a discovery of a monastery enclosure the size of Winchester in Gloucestershire!

So frustrating.

Talk by Dr Stuart Prior

Just had a long tour of the University of Britstol's dig at Berkeley. Amazing progress made, medieval buildings uncovered, possibly St Michaels Lane, Roman finds, coins, etc and of course evidence of the Anglo Saxon Monastery they were looking for.

Some bits will be covered over for next year's dig but others will be left open for display for the next few months.

All very exciting and hopefully the BBC will give it good coverage on Friday.

Half a William the Conqueror coin

Half a William the Conqueror coin
Originally uploaded by TMR Davies

From the dig at Berkeley in the garden of The Edward Jenner Museum. Half a coin from 1067, cut in half for payment before lower denomination copins were "invented"

Old Cyder House

Old Cyder House
Originally uploaded by TMR Davies

A Sunny day to show off The Old Cyder House conference centre at Berkeley, which Copper Phoenix is currently promoting for The Edward Jenner Museum.

Glass Bottle Remains from Edward Jenner's Rubbish Pit

Glass Bottle Remains from Edward Jenner's Rubbish Pit, originally uploaded by TMR Davies.

It seems as though Dr Jenner's rubbish pit has been found and it is possible these broken bottles/phials belonged to him. Further investigation is needed though during the Bristol University annual dig at Berkeley.

Summer is Over - But it seems to have finally arrived

Here in Berkeley we've had a tough summer, like many parts of Gloucestershire lots of flooding and wet weather has caused huge problems for businesses. We got away with it relatively well but as a charitable trust, Berkley Castle has suffered from the lack of income, notably the loss of the concerts and JOUST. But as the calendar says summer is over we're getting lots of sun and warm weather! Aaarrgghh!!! Just too late for the year to be saved.

On a more positive note (with reference to the picture above!) our Ghost Tours with Richard Felix look like they may sell out for next week and we still have the Edward II play to look forward to. So we can get some more people in hopefully. Where is the skull? In Edward II's Cell, where he was murdered........

Events for next year need to be planned now - this is the busiest time for tourist attractions: not sure when I fit in my 6 weeks leave I'm due to take before the end of December!