History of Agricultural Education in Wiltshire - Lackham Countryside ...
History of Agricultural Education in Wiltshire - Lackham Countryside ...
History of Agricultural Education in Wiltshire - Lackham Countryside ...
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T J WITCHELL, PART-TIME CURATOR 1965<br />
I f<strong>in</strong>d this job both <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g and reward<strong>in</strong>g, as dur<strong>in</strong>g the last few months we have<br />
been presented with several very good exhibits. Among these are the Archimedes<br />
water lift, which was rescued from oblivion at Britford, near Salisbury. I knew when<br />
I saw this old piece <strong>of</strong> mach<strong>in</strong>ery that it was unique, also that it must have been<br />
made by some village craftsmen. Subsequent <strong>in</strong>vestigations proved this to be<br />
correct. It was made to lift water from the River Avon <strong>in</strong>to the various irrigation<br />
channels or "Carriages" <strong>of</strong> the water meadows, which are found <strong>in</strong> that part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
County. The mach<strong>in</strong>e was orig<strong>in</strong>ally worked by a horse gear. "Buzzer" Brooke first<br />
located this mach<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> his "bee travels".<br />
The second large exhibit we have <strong>in</strong>stalled is the Donkey wheel, which was also found<br />
by Mr Brooke at Coombe Bissett, Salisbury. This huge wheel, 12 fet <strong>in</strong> diameter was<br />
turned by a donkey walk<strong>in</strong>g round <strong>in</strong>side. It was used to br<strong>in</strong>g up water <strong>in</strong> buckets<br />
from a very deep well. S<strong>in</strong>ce <strong>in</strong>stall<strong>in</strong>g this wheel at <strong>Lackham</strong> we have located<br />
another <strong>in</strong> <strong>Wiltshire</strong>, which we have had reluctantly to refuse.<br />
These exhibits, with many others just recently acquired, make our collection quite an<br />
impos<strong>in</strong>g one. We are at the moment about to re-house them <strong>in</strong> a more spacious<br />
build<strong>in</strong>g. I look forward to the time when they will be displayed properly and<br />
catalogued.<br />
Several <strong>of</strong> these exhibits have recently been on Television programmes, arid we are<br />
constantly hav<strong>in</strong>g enquiries and visits s<strong>in</strong>ce these features appeared. I will be pleased<br />
to show you and your friends the Museum at any time. Don't forget to look us up.[i]<br />
The museum has been largely self-support<strong>in</strong>g. Substantial subscriptions and gifts<br />
have been received from the Old Students' Association and from many other k<strong>in</strong>d<br />
friends <strong>of</strong> the College, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the Marquis <strong>of</strong> Bath and Col. C Floyd for their<br />
ancient and attractive granaries.<br />
The rapid development <strong>of</strong> the Museum has caused the exhibits to be moved to larger<br />
premises from time to time:-<br />
1950-52 Exhibits <strong>in</strong> Front Porch <strong>of</strong> <strong>Lackham</strong> House<br />
1952—60 Exhibits moved to old loose boxes <strong>in</strong> stable yard<br />
1960-65 To old Carpenter's Shop under oak tree near Science<br />
Laboratory. Foundations rema<strong>in</strong><br />
1965 To new Museum built by Mr Fraser, Estate Carpenter,<br />
and Students
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