Friends of Penrith and Eden Museum - Discover Penrith and Eden's Heritage Together

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EVENTS

Events 2026

Events 2027

ARTEFACTS

Preserving local history is a rewarding endeavor that strengthens community identity and fosters pride. One effective way to contribute is by participating in oral history projects, where you can interview long-time residents to capture their stories and memories. These narratives add depth and personal perspectives to the museum's archives, ensuring that the rich heritage of Penrith and Eden is not lost to time. Additionally, volunteering for cataloging artifacts or assisting in exhibition preparations can provide hands-on experience and help maintain the museum's collections for future generations.<h3>Engaging with Your Community</h3>Building connections with fellow history enthusiasts through local events and social media groups can amplify these efforts. Sharing discoveries and organizing history walks or talks encourages broader participation and raises awareness about the museum's role. By fostering a collaborative atmosphere, Friends of Penrith and Eden Museum can create a vibrant network dedicated to safeguarding the town's unique cultural legacy.

How to Preserve Local History Through Community Involvement

Small museums across the UK are increasingly adopting digital technologies to enhance visitor experiences and expand their reach. Virtual tours, augmented reality exhibits, and interactive displays allow patrons to explore collections in engaging new ways, even from home. Additionally, museums are focusing on community-driven content, inviting locals to contribute artifacts and stories, which strengthens the connection between the institution and its audience. These trends reflect a shift towards more inclusive, participatory approaches to preserving and presenting heritage.<h3>Innovations Shaping the Museum Landscape</h3>Social media platforms are also playing a vital role in promoting events and educational programs, helping small museums like Friends of Penrith and Eden to attract diverse audiences. Embracing these trends not only modernizes the museum experience but also ensures its sustainability by fostering ongoing community involvement and support.

Emerging Trends in Small Museum Engagement

Curating an exhibit at a small museum involves meticulous research, careful selection, and creative storytelling. The process begins with identifying a theme that resonates with the local community and aligns with the museum's mission. Curators then source artifacts, documents, and images that best illustrate the narrative, often relying on donations and loans from residents. Every item is cataloged and preserved with attention to detail to protect its integrity, while exhibit design focuses on creating an immersive and educational experience for visitors.<h3>The Art and Science of Exhibition Design</h3>Behind the scenes, the team collaborates closely with historians, conservators, and educators to ensure accuracy and accessibility. Lighting, layout, and interpretive materials are carefully planned to guide visitors through the story effectively. This dedication to craftsmanship and authenticity highlights the passion and expertise that Friends of Penrith and Eden Museum brings to preserving local heritage.

Behind the Scenes: Curating Exhibits at a Local Museum

<h4>ROB DAVID</h4>Dr Rob David was involved in education in Cumbria for many years, and since retirement has been investigating aspects of Cumbria's past, especially minority groups who found themselves living in the county &nbsp;during times of international turmoil. &nbsp;Between 2017 and 2020 Rob was President of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archeological Society (CWAAS).<h4>PRESENTATION</h4>In 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War there were many dozens of, mostly male, Germans and Austrians living in Cumbria.&nbsp; After having lived peacefully in the county, often for many years, and in some cases married Cumbrians, they suddenly became ‘the enemy’.&nbsp; This talk examines who these people were, what happened to them during the war, and how Cumbrians reacted to them before, during and after hostilities.&nbsp; It will follow their story from their homes and places of work in our county to an internment camp in Lancaster and on to the enormous camp built especially for them in the Isle of Man.&nbsp; Case studies will follow the progress of individuals and their families as events unfolded and attitudes changed.&nbsp; A new section to the talk will follow the chequered history of one of these German citizens through internment for the duration of both the first and Second World Wars.&nbsp;<img src="https://cdn.soloist.ai/5f045526-82dd-4015-a8b9-0639458d2e65/0af6a867-aa71-4515-8456-f01a8d1ca680_2048x2048.webp" data-image-fit="fill">The internment camp at Lancaster: the initial destination of many of&nbsp; Cumbria’s German and Austrian nationals in 1914.<img src="https://cdn.soloist.ai/5f045526-82dd-4015-a8b9-0639458d2e65/426440bf-517a-4221-a840-2c1bf1b5d4b1_2048x2048.webp" data-image-fit="fill">Camp Hill, Maryport.&nbsp;The home of a German-born family who were required to move away from the coast in 1915 for security reasons.<img src="https://cdn.soloist.ai/5f045526-82dd-4015-a8b9-0639458d2e65/381661fa-0db3-4545-bfe3-6f9af39a598a_2048x2048.webp" data-image-fit="fill">A danger to national security: the view across the Solway from Camp Hill, Maryport.<a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/events#article-1">BACK TO EVENTS</a>

Waiter, Miner, Butcher, Spy: Germans and Austrians in Cumbria during WW I

Supporting the past for the future<a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/#article-1">Join</a> the Friends of Penrith and Eden Museum in celebrating and helping to preserve the rich history of our market town and the Eden area.We are an independent group who support&nbsp; the museum by assisting in the acquisition of <a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/#article-2">artefacts</a> and treasures to add to the museum’s collection of exhibits.&nbsp;We host <a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/events">informative talks</a> given by knowledgeable and specialist speakers on historical subjects of local and national interest.

The Friends of Penrith and Eden Museum 

<h3>Trustees include:</h3>Jay Maclean (President)Peter Simpson (Chair)Clive Riches&nbsp; (Treasurer)Stephen Lindley (Secretary)&nbsp;Margaret Riches (Programme Secretary)

The Friends of Penrith and Eden Museum is a registered charity.

Become a member to&nbsp; personally receive information about the programme of talks, additional newsletters and invitations to other activities.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is due&nbsp;on 1st September.Single Member £10&nbsp;Couple £15Download and complete the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://drive.proton.me/urls/85K0T25QZW#njfOiQjiv2zl">membership application form</a>.

Friends of Penrith and Eden Museum

Meetings are usually held on the third Tuesday of the month at 2.00 pm at the Quaker Meeting House, Meeting House Lane, Penrith CA11 7TR unless advised otherwise in advance.VISITORS ARE WELCOME for a donation £5 for each meeting attended.

For further information on the event click on highlighted links below.<table style="min-width: 75px;"><colgroup><col style="min-width: 25px;"><col style="min-width: 25px;"><col style="min-width: 25px;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">DATE</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">SPEAKER</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">TITLE</td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">20th October &nbsp;2026</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">Mike Winstanley</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle"><a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/event-details#article-1">Muck, Medicine &amp; Mortality</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">17th November 2026</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">Bruce Bennison</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle"><a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/event-details#article-2">Cumbria 5,000 years ago – the arrival of the first farmers</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">16th February 2027</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">Rob David</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle"><a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/event-details-2#article-3">Waiter, Miner, Butcher Spy: Germans and Austrians in Cumbria during the First World War</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">16th March 2027</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">Harry Hawkins</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle"><a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/event-details-2#article-1">Monks, Shepherds and Wool</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">13th April 2027</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle">Faye Morrissey</td><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" data-text-align="center" data-vertical-align="middle"><a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/event-details-2#article-2">The Armitt: An insight in to &nbsp;the history of the museum and its collection</a></td></tr></tbody></table><h3>Excursion:&nbsp; 8th June 2027&nbsp;</h3>To Armitt Library &amp; Museum Centre,&nbsp;Ambleside&nbsp; (LA22 9BL) an escorted tour of the Library and Museum + presentation&nbsp;about Beatrix Potter which will include an opportunity to look at the museum’s collection of her original work.&nbsp; &nbsp;(N.B. The cost of the excursion is not included in the membership subscription.)

PROGRAMME 2026 & 2027

<h4>MIKE WINSTANLEY</h4>Mike was Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University for 32 years, retiring in 2010, He specialised in the regional history of the North West, particularly in the 19th century and publishing on a wide range of topics.&nbsp; However, he continues to research publish and give lectures to local groups.&nbsp; He also currently organises a series of online talks for members of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society and is actively involved with local societies in North Lancashire.&nbsp;<h4>PRESENTATION</h4>The presentation will explore the ways in which Victorians in the north west of England coped, or tried to cope with the squalor and disease which was generated by polluted or insufficient water…The Victorians were the first to face the challenge of improving public health.&nbsp; They faced enormous problems:&nbsp; polluted water, inadequate sewerage, limited medical understanding and facilities, poor housing and very high death rates, particularly for infants.&nbsp; There was also the thorny issue of who paid for any improvements. When the Public Health Inspector visited Penrith in 1849 he was asked if he had ever surveyed a cleaner town; he replied that he had never surveyed a dirtier.&nbsp;&nbsp;How well did they cope both nationally, in Cumbria and the Penrith district?&nbsp; &nbsp;<img src="https://cdn.soloist.ai/5f045526-82dd-4015-a8b9-0639458d2e65/b13a070e-4755-4609-a554-e14efcc7ebbc_2048x2048.webp" data-image-fit="fit"><img src="https://cdn.soloist.ai/5f045526-82dd-4015-a8b9-0639458d2e65/d3e3d83f-051a-4fc7-8b59-1f1786ab8b3d_2048x2048.webp" data-image-fit="fit"><a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/events#article-1">BACK TO EVENTS</a>

Muck, Medicine & Mortality

<h4>BRUCE BENNISON</h4>Bruce retired as the former County Library Manager for Cumbria in 2015, but he had a long-established career in archaeology and museums before that.&nbsp; He continues to pursue his own origins in archaeology, looking at the early history of Cumbria and indeed still digging whilst his back and knees allow!&nbsp; Most recently, he was involved with excavations at the Roman Fort of Birdoswald which have helped to reveal the story of the people who lived and worked there 2000 years ago.&nbsp;<h4>PRESENTATION</h4>Cumbria has some of the largest prehistoric monuments in the British Isles, dating from over 5000 years ago. Recent work has added much to our understanding of them and this presentation will explore some local sites and Bruce will talk about their origins, the people who built them and where they had come from.<img src="https://cdn.soloist.ai/5f045526-82dd-4015-a8b9-0639458d2e65/31af3278-d9e1-44a9-8976-811de2d221e1_2048x2048.webp" data-image-fit="fit"><a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/events#article-1">BACK TO EVENTS</a>

Cumbria 5,000 years ago – the arrival of the first farmers

<h4>HARRY HAWKINS</h4>Harry attended Goldsmiths’ s College, University of London, but left to take up Highway Engineering first with contractors on air force bases (operated by American Air Force) and then for different county councils. In 1980 he arrived in Cumbria to work in the Highways Department of the County Council at Skirsgill and from 1990 to retirement 1996, in the County Personnel Department. On retirement, Harry began research into Shap Abbey, which involved a detailed examination of&nbsp; the Shap Abbey Records.&nbsp;‘The Chapel at Keld’ and ‘The Premonstratensians at Preston Patrick.’ were papers published in CWAAS Transactions.&nbsp;There are a further two items of unpublished research which can be accessed from the Internet Archive: The Records of Shap Abbey, Cumbria 1180-2000 and Records of Armathwaite Priory, Ainstable, Cumbria c.12-1552. Benedictine Nuns.<h4>PRESENTATION</h4>This presentation has been developed following the detailed research of the records of Shap Abbey.Wool was the most important export commodity and revenue source for the monarchy of England in the Middle Ages and EnglishMonasteries were the largest source for the wool. The presentation seeks to explain the medieval wool market, the quantities produced and the involvement of the monasteries.<a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/events#article-1">BACK TO EVENTS</a>

Monks, Shepherds and Wool

<h4>FAYE MORRISSEY</h4>Faye&nbsp;Morrissey&nbsp;is the Manager &amp; Curator of The Armitt: Museum, Gallery, Library in Ambleside, Cumbria. For the past five years,&nbsp;Faye&nbsp;has been working to raise the profile of the organisation and develop wider awareness and participation in the museum’s activities which now includes annually changing exhibitions, an evolving events programme, group visits and community outreach, and the launch of escape box experiences. Previous to this role,&nbsp;Faye&nbsp;held the position as Head of Operations and Visitor Services at Delapré Abbey in Northampton.&nbsp;Faye&nbsp;is originally from Lancashire.<h4>PRESENTATION</h4>The Armitt is an independent museum and library situated in the heart of the Lake District – Ambleside. But where does the name “Armitt” come from, what does the collection contain, and why is it important? In this illustrated talk you will find out about the history of The Armitt, its significant collections and people, the programming activities taking place and how it continues to play a part in local and wider community.<a target="" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="/events#article-1">BACK TO EVENTS</a>

The Armitt: An insight in to  the history of the museum and its collection

Speakers

The art gallery which is near my college  was on display , and I was interested in it . So my
friends with me had a wonderful weekend .

People passing by Vincent van Gogh’s self portrait and snapping a photo. More info at the Rijksmuseum’s website: https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-A-3262

Museum of the future, located in the heart of Dubai. The 3d building is a museum where unlike the traditional museum history stuff is shown but here it's about the future! The fantastic structure of the building is very attractive and it's one of the hot attractions for tourists.

Instagram - @andrewtneel | Donations - paypal.me/AndrewNeel

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&amp;&amp;p=b6746e77b64ed4f83e415229c837b74642936cc9914f75e495854ac79af573e3JmltdHM9MTc4NzUyOTYwMA&amp;ptn=3&amp;ver=2&amp;hsh=4&amp;fclid=39a6e474-5c81-6204-1929-f1c85d946315&amp;u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20vYWxpbmsvbGluaz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM2ElMmYlMmZ3d3cuZWRlbi5nb3YudWslMmZsZWlzdXJlLWN1bHR1cmUtYW5kLWV2ZW50cyUyZnBlbnJpdGgtYW5kLWVkZW4tbXVzZXVtJTJmJnNvdXJjZT1zZXJwLWxvY2FsJmg9QWRQaVlyUlk4Y2UwMnlTa1NtYkJJNUxiNUo4YWZ5Sk5NN3l0VkFrbnF1byUzZCZwPWx3X21hZ3NtbHQmaWc9ODM0ODcxOTFBMUZCNEVDN0I3NjhCODFBQjVBMTQ2MDkmeXBpZD1ZTkMwODJFNkM2N0RERDdFQTQ">Penrith and Eden Museum</a> is housed in the old Robinson's School building in Penrith alongside Penrith Tourist Information Centre (TIC), 42 Middlegate, Penrith CA11 7PT.The museum is owned and managed by Westmorland and Furness Council.It opens 10am-4pm Mon-Sat. Admission is free.The museum aims to collect, preserve and display material reflecting the history and culture of Penrith and Eden. &nbsp;These are examples of artefacts which have been recently purchased and added to this collection with the support of the Friends of Penrith and Eden Museum group:<img src="https://cdn.soloist.ai/5f045526-82dd-4015-a8b9-0639458d2e65/0e639eac-e7ea-40cb-b6a9-ee81d47d7118_2048x2048.webp" data-image-fit="fit">Charles 1st medallion from Kirkby Stephen dating from 1640<img src="https://cdn.soloist.ai/5f045526-82dd-4015-a8b9-0639458d2e65/c05ae23d-690b-4427-8c77-c55d2fe70e06_2048x2048.webp" data-image-fit="fit">Medieval coin hoard from Crosby Ravensworth

DATE	SPEAKER	TITLE
20^th October 2026	Mike Winstanley	Muck, Medicine & Mortality
17^th November 2026	Bruce Bennison	Cumbria 5,000 years ago – the arrival of the first farmers
16^th February 2027	Rob David	Waiter, Miner, Butcher Spy: Germans and Austrians in Cumbria during the First World War
16^th March 2027	Harry Hawkins	Monks, Shepherds and Wool
13^th April 2027	Faye Morrissey	The Armitt: An insight in to the history of the museum and its collection

EVENTS

PROGRAMME 2026 & 2027

Excursion: 8th June 2027

Speakers

Excursion: 8^th June 2027