Shipston’s past comes to life with fascinating exhibits at town centre museum
STEP back in time and watch the past come to life as the story of Shipston and the Stour Valley is re-told at a new museum which opens this Saturday and is free to enjoy.
Anyone who loves delving into the past is in for an forgettable history lesson at the Shipston Museum in Old Clark House, West Street, which takes visitors from prehistoric times right through to the 18th century onwards.
A settlement around Shipston probably existed during the Anglian Ice Age 480,000 years ago. There’s a Mesolithic model of a shelter in the museum which shows how people lived in 8,000 BC. Shipston has had 29 pubs and possibly more since 1540. In its heyday Tredington, Brailes and Shipston were bigger than Birmingham due to the thriving wool trade in this area.
The remarkable story of the Stour Valley is revealed in the museum which will house both permanent and temporary exhibits the latter being flexible enough to be changed when required.
The passage of time on show takes us through the following progressive stages of life in Shipston: prehistoric, Iron Age/Roman, Anglo Saxon, medieval, post medieval and the 18th century.
Thanks to the dedication, hard work and vision of volunteers at Shipston-on-Stour and District Local History Society, the museum will open its doors to the public this Saturday 5th August at 1pm.
Trustee and historian David Burge said: “It all started back in the days of the Shipston local History Society when it was founded in the mid-60s. A whole range of items from local people were given to us and with joint curator – Mike Ashley – our first museum was opened. It’s had several temporary homes since then but this new museum now shows how historic Shipston really is. We know for example our market was granted by Henry III in 1268.”
Sadly, Mike Ashley didn’t get to see the new look museum as he passed away in 2019 but he did know the museum was happening and that is a source of comfort to his daughters, Rebecca Ashley and Justine Taylor who are keeping up the family tradition by becoming trustees so their father’s wish for a museum for all is achieved.
Rebecca, who is head of scenic art at the RSC, said: “We are proud and excited about this. It shows us how the town had ended up being a community and it’s like we’re getting to know an old friend again. Future generations will benefit as well because children will understand the concept of time and where we are in their future.”
The museum brings the history of Shipston, Tredington and the district into the community and makes it immediate once again. Many artefacts are kept in glass cases with information cards describing what can be seen and specifically what it means.
Agriculture, wool merchants and brewing are all celebrated and there’s an important reference to the Stratford to Moreton Tramway the second largest of its kind in the country.
Other artefacts include a sheep shearing wheel, Roman pottery and coins, dozens of old photographs and posters and a Mesolithic model to show how people lived in 8,000 BC created by volunteer, Brian Meredith.
Also on site is a handling room for families and children where historic items of pottery that have been unearthed can be held as we contemplate who might have held them before us and what did they eat or drink from them?
A Victorian shepherd’s smock and a huge set of blacksmith bellows illustrate the farming revolution taking place across the landscape with an industrial revolution and steam not far behind.
By today’s standards, Shipston was an economic success with plenty of work options to choose from so you could be a baker, brewer, metal smith, carpenter, glover, shoemaker, tailor, fiddler or farmer.
It’s clear the trustees care deeply about the museum and its tales from the past but they also have an eye on the future and what sort of legacy will be there for the children.
Martin Russell is another trustee at the museum who is a graphic designer and artist and
takes part in Anglo Saxon re-enactments. He also enjoys taking history to the classroom.
“I’ve been involved in an outreach programme at schools and I get everybody’s attention by dressing up as a soldier. I took a gramophone to a primary school and the children loved it. This museum explains so much about Shipston, how it got its name, the importance of sheep farming and the wool industry and how the town featured one of the earliest public railways with a branch to Shipston built in 1836,” Martin said.
It’s fascinating stuff and it’s all free at Shipston Museum so take time to browse and read and enjoy this little treasure of history repeating itself.
L The official opening of the museum is 1pm Saturday 5th August - preceded with drummers and Civil War Society soldiers in uniform starting from the Museum at 12.30pm and marching to the Square for a town crier announcement, then back up to the museum for some short speeches and ribbon cutting by David Burge.
It’s believed Prince Rupert’s Royalist troops marched through Shipston nearly 400 years ago so the sight of the Civil War soldiers will be historic.
www.shipstonmuseum.co.uk/about
