We had a Dickens of a Time

For many years, the first Friday of December has been Dickensian Evening in Wantage. The streets are full of stalls, there are fairground attractions in the Market Square and there's lots of late night shopping. This year's event was especially successful, as the weather was dry and the organising committee had extra worked hard to make it a great night out. They'd even got a skating rink in the Market Square!

The Vale & Downland Museum is proud to host the planning meetings for Dickensian Evening. And on the night itself, we run a full programme of events in the Museum and Visitor Centre. Even when the weather is inclement (and who can forget the rainstorm on Dickensian Evening 2005?) we provide loads of fun in the warm and dry. This year, however, we were amazed by the numbers who came to the Museum. Between 5.30pm and 9.30pm about 800 people visited us - the highest number since we started keeping records 8 years ago, and almost twice as many as last year! Proof, were it needed, that the Vale & Downland Museum is at the heart of community life in Wantage, Grove and the Vale.

So what was the attraction? In a nutshell, there was something for everybody. As you entered the foyer, assistant curator Ruth Howard and education volunteer Annie Harris were running a 'make a Victorian-style Christmas card' event. Across the foyer, the Country Market ladies offered all kinds of fine festive fare. A little further on folk band Pandemonium performed a wide variety of footstomping melodies. Later the choir of St John Vianney's church sang Christmas carols and seasonal songs.

As you ventured deeper into the Visitor Centre, you came to the book and gift shop, with a great range of stockingfillers. Our three volunteer staff were, like many other stallholders, dressed in authentic Victorian style. Meanwhile, our cafe was doing a brisk trade, selling mince pies, teas, coffees, soft drinks, excellent mulled wine and other alcoholic beverages. Just round the corner, you could visit our Victorian downland kitchen (very appropriate for Dickensian Evening) and then go into the Squires Room to see our exhibition of traditional Oxfordshire and North Berkshire basketmaking. Then, up the stairs to the Upper Gallery to meet local weaver Angela Pawlyn, demonstrating a traditional loom, surrounded by her fine exhibition of luxury scarves and other hand-woven textiles.

A special feature of Dickensian Evening is free admission to the main galleries, but first you had to pass Santa's Grotto. Organised by the Friends of the Vale & Downland Museum, the grotto was created by volunteers Howard Raimbach and Liliana Fludra. More than 60 youngsters visited Father Christmas during the evening, guided by Friends chairman Doug Eels. On through the galleries, you had a chance to see the Anglo-Saxon skeleton, our special exhibition on 100 Years of Scouting in the Vale, and many other exhibits, including Damon Hill's Formula 1 world championship car. Then, a unique opportunity to witness the first public running of a model train on of our 'rail in the Vale' model. Dr Michael Watts, a leading authority on railway modelling, was on hand to demonstrate a ‘OO’ scale 1930s Great Western railcar and to talk with visitors about what we should feature in the model, now that the rails have been laid.

Thanks to everybody who came along on Dickensian Evening and we wish you a very Happy and Prosperous 2008!

Tony Hadland

Museum Administrator