The centenary of a Thetford museum was marked with a special party last week, with dynamic new displays unveiled to the public.
Community members, funders, supporters and museum staff gathered on Wednesday, 100 years to the day since Ancient House opened its doors as a museum.
The occasion also saw new displays telling the story of Maharajah Duleep Singh whose son, Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, gifted Ancient House to the town.
Members of the History Club perform their play about the founding of the museum. Picture: SubmittedAncient House’s birthday cake and celebratory cup cakes with the Lottery logo. Picture: SubmittedRecreating a 1924 opening photograph with (l to r): Cllr John Ward, Chair of Norfolk Joint Museums Committee; Cllr Robert Kybird, Chair of the Breckland Area Museums Committee; Chris Starkie, The National Lottery Heritage Fund; Glynis Irish; Sat Bance; Oliver Bone, Curator, Ancient House Museum; Linda Harvey, Mayoress; Melissa Hawker, Learning Officer, Ancient House Museum; Cllr Chris Harvey, Mayor of Thetford; Peter Bance; Robin Hanley, Assistant Head of Museums, Norfolk Museums Service; Steve Miller, Director of Culture and Heritage, Head of Norfolk Museums Service. Picture: SubmittedThe new displays about Maharajah Duleep Singh. Picture: Submitted
Oliver Bone, curator of Ancient House since 1988, said: “It felt very special to be there exactly 100 years after the opening.
“I was very pleased we were able to involve children and young people from the museum’s after school history clubs in the anniversary event – perhaps these are the budding historians and museum curators of the future as we look forward to the next 100 years.”
The celebrations began with a short play about the founding of the museum from members of the museum’s history club before Cllr Robert Kybird, chair of Breckland Area Museums Committee, spoke about the importance of the centenary.
Chris Starkie, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and members of the museum’s History Club about to cut the ribbon to declare the displays open. Picture: SubmittedChris Starkie of The National Lottery Heritage Fund takes a closer look at the three detailed models of room settings at Elveden Hall. Picture: SubmittedMembers of the History Club about to tuck into their cup cakes. Picture: SubmittedThe new displays – featuring the Treasury case containing personal objects belonging to the family, many from the collection of Sikh historian, Peter Bance. Picture: SubmittedThe detailed model of the sitting room at Elveden Hall. Picture: Submitted
Then Cllr John Ward, chair of Norfolk Joint Museums Committee, presented badges to history club members and Cllr Chris Harvey, Thetford Mayor, and his wife Linda cut a celebration cake.
Chris Starkie, representing National Lottery Heritage Fund, cut a gold ribbon to officially open the new displays.
The displays include personal objects owned by the Duleep Singh family alongside new interpretation bringing the Maharajah’s story to life. This includes intricate models of three of the rooms at Elveden Hall, the Maharajah’s country house.
Guests at Wednesday’s event also enjoyed the museum’s centenary exhibition A History of Ancient House in 100 Objects, which is part of the first phase of the centenary programme. The second phase will be developed through 2025, while events and activities throughout the year will also mark the centenary.