The Cake - Spring 2022

LOCAL HISTORY
MUSEUM MATTERS
This Spring finds us
all optimistic (at
the time of writing!)
that the museum
will be open for
a full season this year. Our
first exhibition – “Unfinished
Business” – will examine some
of the changes that have taken
place over the years to the face
of Stone Street and the High
Street. Do come and see the
social history of our town that
is evident in how shops and
businesses have come and gone
over the past two centuries.
The museum opens on Friday
1 April, 2pm to 4.30pm, and
thereafter Tuesdays – Saturdays
and Bank Holiday Mondays. We
will also be open for Nuts in
May, The Garden Safari and any
other events in the town. We
look forward to welcoming you!
Despite Covid and the
winter, we have been very busy.
One of our main ambitions
is to develop our Cranbrook
Colony collection and several
new works have been added
since we were last open. The
most recent is a wonderful
F.D. Hardy oil painting which
was purchased with support
from Arts4Kent. Along with a
delightful Mulready watercolour
and a couple of small Webster
paintings, the collection will be
well worth a visit from anyone
interested in art, the history of
art or Cranbrook’s nationally
important heritage in this area.
Another fascinating addition
to the collection is the discovery
of a long lost stack of 800
photographs from World War I.
Currently undergoing essential
conservation, they will be
displayed publicly in due course.
More to follow on this in a
future edition of The Cake.
The fabric of the museum
“Despite Covid and the winter, we have been very busy. One of our
main ambitions is to develop our Cranbrook Colony collection and
several new works have been added since we were last open”
which is, as you may know,
Grade II listed and dates back
in places to the 15th century,
has been undergoing some
major work with specialist
stonemasons dealing with the
issues. This will be completed
before we reopen. Furthermore,
we have been delighted to
welcome several new volunteers
this winter, who have taken on
specific research and curatorial
tasks. We are always keen to
welcome new volunteers and
have many roles from research
to care and maintenance so do
get in touch if you would like
to be involved in any way. You
don’t need to know anything
about the town’s history to join
us as you will quickly discover
that Cranbrook is a place where
its rich past is ever present.
Mike Huxley
WHEELS OF TIME
Don’t forget the museum (along with the windmill) is part of the
hugely successful Wheels of Time – a heritage trail through Kent for
children and their families with badges to collect!
Great fun for the Easter Holidays! More information on our website
www.cranbrookmuseum.org
The Cake • Spring 2022 29