Bringing the Past into the Present... for the Future
- it CAN be done!
Tucked away in West Norfolk - not far from Norwich, Kings Lynn, and Cambridge, is the picturesque town of Downham Market. Apart from its historical significance as a Market Town, it shines as a jewel among the Fens, with the Anglican Church of St. Edmunds atop the hill, the spire of which can be seen from the west and south for miles around. Approached from the west across wide acres of flat Fenland, Downham Market lies ahead on the first high ground. Here, the prehistoric ancestors had dry land, safe from flooding, on which to build their homes, raise their cattle and crops, and still enjoy the wealth of fish, eels, and wildfowl from the fens.
My sister and her husband have lived in this town for decades and have become cornerstones of the community. This is obvious in that you cannot walk through the town with them without several people stopping them to say hello!
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| Some of the people who 'made it happen'. Dave is in the centre, and my sister, Jess, is second from the right, (wearing a hard-hat) |
So, it was no surprise to me when I heard that they had got involved with the Downham Market Heritage Society. In fact, they were more than involved - Dave became the chairman of the society, and, together with his committee members, oversaw the transition of the Heritage Centre from the town hall to the Old Fire Station that was no longer in use.
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| The Old Fire Station as it was before the Heritage Centre took it over |
Funding had been promised to the society, and plans were made. However, these plans were nearly shelved after a knock on the door revealed a representative from the funding organization who announced that the funding would not, after all, be available. Not to be daunted, Dave went back to the committee and suggested that they raise the funds themselves. Although the majority of members agreed to take on the challenge, there were a couple of nay-sayers who said, 'You'll never do it!'. That comment was all that Dave needed. Recently he told me that this was the catalyst that galvanized him into massive action and he gathered those who agreed with him to join him on the venture.
Four years later, in March, 2016, the Discover Downham Heritage and Learning Centre was opened to the public and has been thriving ever since. It is a magnet that draws people from beyond the limits of the town - in fact, from miles around. Through exhibitions and displays, the Heritage Centre tells the story of the area and its people through the ages.
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| The Heritage Centre - "Discover Downham" |
During our recent visit to the U.K., we were able to spend some time in the centre. We knew that it would be great; we didn't realize just how amazing it would be! So many of the artifacts on display were donated by the local residents, so typical of the supportive community.
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| Butter Churn |
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| Gift Shop |
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| Sports paraphernalia - including ice-skates worn by Philip Doubleday - winner of the National Speed Skating Championship in the 1980's. |
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| Old Servant's Bell (shades of Downton Abbey??) |
Mark had to try out the Servant's Bell - Lord Grantham - watch out!
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| Various implements used in olden days |
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| Hands on exhibits for children to practise weighing items using old-fashioned scales |
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| Portable Siren from World War II |
Interactive displays focus upon the concepts of work, leisure, local trade, Fenland life, and conflict through the ages. There are also research facilities with a small library, archives of maps, and computers (with free wi-fi) to find out more about the heritage of the town.
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| Research Centre |
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| Map Drawers |
Glass display cases show off the exhibits in authentic settings, and there are other free-standing figures that give an idea of life in earlier times.
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| Display telling the story of the 1816 riots - "Blood or Bread" |
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| Tribute to the Fire Service |
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| Washing Day |
As a teacher, I really appreciated the hands-on activities that are available for students and how some of the displays feed directly into the U.K. National Curriculum.
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| Animal Sounds and 'guess what it is' objects featuring the local landscape as it would have been in ancient times |
Mark loved trying out the various sounds!
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| Part of a time-line of significant dates to the town |
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| Hands on, pre-decimalization currency |
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| Matching pictures of buildings, past and present |
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| I love this matching activity |
The centre also features a large room that can be hired. It can accommodate 60 people seated, and boasts a small, but functional, kitchen with full equipment and tableware, which makes the space suitable for gatherings.
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| Kitchen and equipment - great hiring facility for formal/informal functions |
(In fact, we celebrated Jess & Dave's 60th wedding anniversary at the facility!) Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, sent special greetings to them to mark this milestone in their lives together!
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| Floral tribute and Celebration Cake - together with personalized card from Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II |
There is also a screen and projector that can be used for more formal meetings/gatherings and it's a really good venue for talks, workshops, and other programs.
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| Perfect for presentations |
This undertaking shows so clearly what CAN be achieved when people have the right mindset, the perseverance to overcome obstacles, and the ability to work with a team to get things done; it also demonstrates what can be achieved when leaders step up to the plate and make things happen.
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Enjoy these pics taken from around the town:
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| The Town Clock |
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| Anglican Church of St. Edmund |
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| The Town Sign |
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| The Castle Hotel |
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| Another view of the Town Sign |
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| So many beautiful walkways |
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| The Old Priory |
Facebook link: Discover-Downham-Heritage-and-Learning-Centre
If anyone in the UK wishes to help raise funds for the Centre, at no cost to themselves, they can do so by clicking this link and signing up as a supporter. They can then use the outlets partnered to the site to shop at no extra cost and a donation will be made to the Centre for recommending the site and using the service. Amazon, Tesco, and many, many more are listed on the site.
