Amersham & Chalfont's Together November December 2023

JOURNALIST
The ‘Discover Bucks’
Museum Aylesbury
As Christmas approaches it may feel
like a long slog until the Festive Season.
The local ‘Discover Bucks’ Museum in
Aylesbury, has just the sort of collections,
galleries, events and exhibitions to
brighten your run to Christmas! It is
famous for its Roald Dahl section that
hosts regular events for children (and
others) throughout the year.
The ‘Discover Bucks’ Museum has many art
collections including around 1200 pieces
in its ‘Watercolour and Drawings’ collection
with sketches of Britain throughout history.
You feel you can really capture the landscape
and what life looked like. The Aylesbury
museum includes a private album by Harriot
and William Callow (who painted the Chiltens
as a hobby), works of Whiteleaf (painted by
John Nash and Philip Mclagan) as well as
John Piper’s (whose wartime works are in the
Tate Gallery) Group of 20th century mixed
media that became the foundation for the
lithographs in his book: ‘Visions of Stowe’.
My favourite in the Watercolour and Drawings
Collection is ‘Dinton Hall’. Chosen by
‘Discover Bucks Museum’ as a “highlight”
of the Collection, this prominently grey
watercolour piece (John Buckler, 1837) has a
‘haunted’ feel about it. Even more intriguing
when you realise the unusual myth behind
Dinton Hall. Dinton Hall is a “9 - bedroom,
Grade II listed” building in Aylesbury that
went through a £10m restoration in 2021.
When John Biggs (known as “The Dinton
Hermit”) became a notable resident in the
seventeenth century - when the watercolour
was created. the story is said to include “a
royal executioner, a ghost”, and Biggs himself
with “his leather shoes”. One shoe of Biggs
is displayed in the Ashmolean Museum in
Oxford and the other remains in Dinton Hall.
Aside from ‘Discover Bucks’ permanent art
collections, there are many other events
taking place at Aylesbury Museum including,
“I Grew Up 80’s” (October - March 2024).
Created by Matt Fox and featuring his
personal memorabilia, mannequins with the
neon clothes, the much-loved chocolate bars
like “Marathon” and “Opal Fruits” - even
some “Back to The Future” merchandise! For
children under five and their parents/carers,
there is a themed - session of “story, song,
games, play, craft activity and a museum
trail”. The session is on the last Thursday
of every month. You can buy tickets on
the “Discover Bucks Museum” website.
Having been there myself (on Bank Holidays),
I recommend ‘Discover Bucks’ Museum as it
is filled with history, art and more, plus there
is always something going on!
Visit: www.discoverbucksmuseum.org
Sophie Hazzard
Disclaimer
Please note: the opinions and findings expressed in this article are
solely those of the author and should not be assumed to be those of
Amersham and Chalfont Together or its affiliates.
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