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Newsletter 8,
Attractions @ the  Shop
Since the last Newsletter, at Christmas 2003, we have continued to develop the facilities at the shop and it doesn’t stop there. A lot of work has gone on during the winter improving the shop, increasing the variety of stock, and developing new ideas for the gallery. Clare Diprose has joined the team to help us with the display in the gallery and with Ellen’s help, now that she has returned from her travels around the globe, this is now becoming an inspirational gallery. Currently we are running two exhibitions, ‘Extraordinary Hats’, featuring hats by Clare, Marion Edwards and Tia Swan. We are very fortunate with the second exhibition, which is courtesy of Ian Ormerod and features his amazing collection of ‘Cash Registers’. This includes one of the first cash registers ever made and, probably the best known Cash Register, from Arkwright and Granville’s Shop in ‘Open All Hours’.
The generosity of people who continue to contribute to the development of the
Shop/Museum is quite remarkable. Without it the museum would not have become the collection of memories that appeals to our increasing number of visitors. At present we are looking into the ramifications of creating a Trust to protect this unique collection in perpetuity. We already have a list of people who have supported the development of the shop by becoming a Friend of the Shop, and we hope to be able to create a structure that would allow the Friends to manage the collection.
The mix of history and function has enhanced each of the spaces that our visitors so enjoy. We often have to choose one particular period of history to be reflected iMarch 29, 2005er the years. The Gallery is the most striking example of this having at different times been the pressing room for the laundry, a chicken-house, a place where the youth club met, and we still do not know its original purpose. In many ways we are just following in the tradition established by the Thomas family of recycling the buildings to meet the needs of the day.
Fernando continues to add his particular artistic flair to the project. The cobbled court-yard is a work of art. He is currently working in the drying room creating new magical spaces that will provide workshops for artists and craftspeople to be seen working on site.
We are slowly building our collection of distinctive gifts and we intend to be able to provide gifts that are suitable to all occasions, including, weddings, Christmas, birthdays and events.
Liz’s Pantry, with Dorothy, Liz and Ellen at the helm, is developing its line in home made marmalade, jam’s and preserves. The scones are already a hit locally – the Radnor Forest Scone have to be tasted – who ever heard of a chocolate scone! We recently had our very first mail order for marmalade, so ‘marmalade to the world’ could be the next enterprise. Not sure whether Dorothy is ready for this!
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