Museum is real hidden treasure (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Museum is real hidden treasure
7:20pm Monday 26th December 2011 in News By David Wiles
THE RICHARD Jefferies Museum is a hidden gem.
Tucked away on the border of Coate Water, the birthplace of Swindon’s most famous Victor-ian writer is often overlooked by passers-by.
But now the Richard Jefferies Society, with help from Forward Swindon, is seeking to develop the newly-reaccredited museum into a popular attraction.
Jean Saunders, the secretary of the literary society for six years, says many people do not know the facility exists, because it has not been promoted enough by owner, Swindon Council.
However, visitors are increasing – with 1,000 people stepping over the threshold this year – and there are plans to open up a new section on Victorian agriculture and local archaeology.
Jefferies and the land around Coate, known as Jefferies Land, have come to the fore in the recent planning inquiry, and Mrs Saunders says Swindon people are lucky to have the museum.
She said: “People travel from all around the country and all around the world to visit it.”
The museum was opened in 1960 and run by council staff for about 25 years before the responsibility was taken on by volunteers from the Richard Jefferies Society, which has just under 300 members worldwide.
The building, which was part of a dairy farm, and Jefferies home until the age of about 27, has about 500 items related to him and his family.
The attic is a recreation of the author’s study-bedroom, and includes his original writing table, his parents’ dining table, and a trunk in which he kept some of his handwritten manuscripts.
Other gems include the original manuscript of his children’s fable, Wood Magic, and photos of him and his family.
This summer the garden – which still has some original trees from Jefferies’ time – was the focus of the revived Richard Jefferies Festival.
Forward Swindon has set up a Trust which is expected to take over the running of the museum and will be able to more easily apply for grants.
However, Mrs Saunders, who has been heavily involved in the Save Coate Campaign, says she would not be surprised if the development is approved.
She said: “If we win this case, it’s going to be on detail rather than principle, because Swindon Council has already set the principle of developing. And that’s going to be difficult for the planning inspector to overlook.”
The museum is open on the second Wednesday of each month from 10am to 4pm, and also on Sundays from 2pm to 5pm, between May and the end of September only.
For details call 01793 783040.
Comments(45)
Gooey
says...
12:29pm Tue 27 Dec 11
jerry59 wrote:Speak for yourself.
No one's interested! It's boring, and the Council should sell it to help pay for street lighting.
Make progress
says...
6:20pm Tue 27 Dec 11
Robfm
says...
9:11am Wed 28 Dec 11
As for Swindon's most famous Victorian writer, I think many would say that accolade belongs to Alfred Williams.
http://www.alfredwil
liams.org.uk/tickets
/index.html
The Hammerman is to be performed again in Swindon at New College in March.
itsamess
says...
12:28pm Wed 28 Dec 11
Alfred Williams had nothing published before 1908/9. Not in the Victorian Era.
Richard Jeffries however was published in the Victorian Era and was born at Coate--hence the link to Coate and the museum which was his home for years.
Much of Williams work was rewritten as he was semi-literate.
Robfm
says...
12:43pm Wed 28 Dec 11
Williams was born in South Marston and has a world wide following, a 1000 people watched the musical about his life and many more attended a lot of other events during last years celebration week.
Robfm
says...
12:56pm Wed 28 Dec 11
Swindon Web
itsamess
says...
2:07pm Wed 28 Dec 11
However the article here is about Jeffries and his links to Coate.
Williams was famous for his illiteracy and first hand knowledge of the railworks--you cannot term any item be it furniture--painting or literature as Victorian if it is not produced in the victorian era--that is a fact.
AGINGER
says...
2:26pm Wed 28 Dec 11
itsamess wrote:Right then "itsamess", Be very careful what you say in public about Alfred Owen Williams 1877-1930 was NOT semi-literate ,he had a quality that he knew nothing about, and if you only knew the truth about his forebears ,including his mother Elizabeth you would have a shock, yes, shock.
Someone is not very good on local history--yes you Bob. Alfred Williams had nothing published before 1908/9. Not in the Victorian Era. Richard Jeffries however was published in the Victorian Era and was born at Coate--hence the link to Coate and the museum which was his home for years. Much of Williams work was rewritten as he was semi-literate.
Read what you want in the writings by others about his life.
He was a great man and sacrificed his health to write,Poetry and Prose ,but we do not think of him as that, just "Uncle Alf" a Prince in the GWR darkness.
AGINGER
says...
2:35pm Wed 28 Dec 11
itsamess
says...
3:14pm Wed 28 Dec 11
I have a very good knowledge of our local writers and his family history. He was indeed born in SM and indeed his father deserted the family. Born in Cambria Cottage and worked on the farms untill he worked in the railway. That does not alter the fact that he was self taught and his first attempts to have his work published failed as it was not fully understood.
It is a matter of opinion who produced
the better work and his railway related stories were well received.
You cannot change history and he wrote after work and as i said tried to get his work published--only when he received help did he achieve that.
Some of his jottings were kept from early works and are in museums. I take nothing away from the man as his works are quite remarkable. My family have had a presence in SM back to victorian times and the family have books on most of the well known characters during that time.
There are numerous true accounts of the family history all refer to his lack of schooling and attempts to learn which adds credit to his works.
itsamess
says...
3:29pm Wed 28 Dec 11
It is Alfred Mason Willams for the record.
jerry59
says...
3:36pm Wed 28 Dec 11
Gooey wrote:I did?????
jerry59 wrote:Speak for yourself.
No one's interested! It's boring, and the Council should sell it to help pay for street lighting.
Allways Grumpy
says...
9:18am Thu 29 Dec 11
AGINGER
says...
10:56am Thu 29 Dec 11
itsamess wrote:Whatever are you writing about "itsamess", all that you will ever be able to quote about on Alfred Owen Williams has been extracted from the two biographers,the second published in 1945 and has so many "facts" that are devoid of the truth because the author was inadequate in his research.
Asinger It is Alfred Mason Willams for the record.
Do not underestimate what the existing family members know of his life because we are proud that such a man causes a stir amongst you bloggers, and to those in the Society that bears his name,thank you for what you have done and we are grateful that his name has a place in local history.
Knobfm
says...
11:05am Thu 29 Dec 11
Allways Grumpy wrote:Seconded.
It would be best if Swindon remembered BOTH of its' famous writers.
itsamess
says...
3:52pm Thu 29 Dec 11
Perhaps you should inform the official website they have their facts wrong.
Both writers--as has been said are important to local history and should be credited as such although the styles were very different. You can hardly deny that he travelled widely collecting folk songs and fables and used material gained in poetry and prose he published. I am i must say surprised that you as a family member have not contacted the various websites to amend the incorrect information--my family did when we discovered errors.
Many of the Jeffries sites have been updated as more information was challenged.
Always Grumpy
says...
4:48pm Thu 29 Dec 11
Knobfm wrote:Neither as well read as Desmond Morris from Purton.
Allways Grumpy wrote:Seconded.
It would be best if Swindon remembered BOTH of its' famous writers.
Robfm
says...
6:07pm Thu 29 Dec 11
http://www.alfredwil
liams.org.uk/life.ht
ml
Once again you claim knowledge simply gained from the web. One of the trustees of Alfred's Society is a weekly Sunday lunch patron of ours with her sister, so be very careful what you now say.
Alfred was renowned for as you say being self taught and he received great praise for his reading and understanding of the works of Shakespeare.
Much of his apparent lack of literacy was due to the speed he wrote down his thoughts, and less than knowledgeable historians have misrepresented his tenacity in recoding his thoughts incorrectly.
He would later go back over his works to correct his errors.
1 2 Could B
says...
7:33pm Thu 29 Dec 11
itsamess
says...
7:36pm Thu 29 Dec 11
One thing i can assure you of--i do have a far greater knowledge of Williams than you ever will.
Do look at your favourite site wikipaedia as they incorrectly named him Alfred Mason Williams. My chosen English Lit subject was Williams due to my links to SM. There was a host of information in the MI library. There are numerous sites that still carry incorrect claims as to the history of the man. Bob--you are a newcomer to the village with no family history here and have only contributed here to have a go at me.
My family has had a presence in the village long before the Williams arrived. There are others who are direct or indirect ties to the Williams and many have contributed to the history. Amongst the jumble of inaccuracies is his education or lack of and the courses he abandoned. It is very hard to have all the inaccuracies rectified although i feel sure there are many far afield who can fill in the blanks or have documents that are helpful.
It does not help when the village busybody and know it all posts boasting knowledge that means zero.
Do not ever tell me to watch what i say as if you had not noticed there are several sites claiming to be Williams societies with such varied information--why has none of them corrected the inaccuracies of the many sites. Sadly the man did not achieve the success he deserved in his lifetime and faced many rejections.
Try reading some of his genuine early works--you may learn something. Even better read the local papers shortly after his death--tributes from the locals.
Always Grumpy
says...
10:23pm Thu 29 Dec 11
itsamess wrote:No doubt you'll be telling everyone you've also read all 7 million books in the Bodlean Library as well.
Bob
One thing i can assure you of--i do have a far greater knowledge of Williams than you ever will.
Do look at your favourite site wikipaedia as they incorrectly named him Alfred Mason Williams. My chosen English Lit subject was Williams due to my links to SM. There was a host of information in the MI library. There are numerous sites that still carry incorrect claims as to the history of the man. Bob--you are a newcomer to the village with no family history here and have only contributed here to have a go at me.
My family has had a presence in the village long before the Williams arrived. There are others who are direct or indirect ties to the Williams and many have contributed to the history. Amongst the jumble of inaccuracies is his education or lack of and the courses he abandoned. It is very hard to have all the inaccuracies rectified although i feel sure there are many far afield who can fill in the blanks or have documents that are helpful.
It does not help when the village busybody and know it all posts boasting knowledge that means zero.
Do not ever tell me to watch what i say as if you had not noticed there are several sites claiming to be Williams societies with such varied information--why has none of them corrected the inaccuracies of the many sites. Sadly the man did not achieve the success he deserved in his lifetime and faced many rejections.
Try reading some of his genuine early works--you may learn something. Even better read the local papers shortly after his death--tributes from the locals.
Robfm
says...
8:29am Fri 30 Dec 11
Then please tell the forum why it was you not me or Abinger who wrongly named him, even correcting Abinger,
'itsamess says...
3:29pm Wed 28 Dec 11
Asinger
It is Alfred Mason Willams for the record.”
Then to compound the error you then mention in your last post that wikipaedia got his name wrong. Ergo your information source was said site, unlike mine being a member of the Society whose family is actually mentioned on the official site.
I some how think you would have failed your 'lit' project not even being able to get his name right.
Perhaps you ought to stop before you make yourself look an even bigger idiot.
itsamess
says...
8:48am Fri 30 Dec 11
Perhaps if you read back you will note
i pointed out many sites have made errors--one of which is your main source-wiki--which rarely gets its facts correct. Fortunately i do have some original work which i will pass on to whichever society has shown the most factual.
Do stop trying to make mischief Bob--you are hopeless at it.
Robfm
says...
9:00am Fri 30 Dec 11
I am not seeking to make mischief merely highlighting the fraud you are. You claim to have written about Williams but couldn't even get his name correct.
And there we go again, Walter has 'original work'. The most accurate site is the one I posted which is made up of extended family and friends, and is 'The Official Site'.
I am sure my sister customers would happily receive the information to include on the site. You can send it C/O the pub, and I will happily advise this forum that you did indeed have such 'original work'. Can't say fairer than that.
AGINGER
says...
9:31am Fri 30 Dec 11
We will never be offering the "Official" websites any information,their info, as I have said is Mainly Extracted from non family Biographers and public records,the existing kin have declared that we keep our verbal and written family information of what we know,to ourselves and we are sorrowful that such a man as Uncle Alf put so much effort into his writings and self education to ruin his health,but so happy that there are so many people worldwide that appreciate his works.
Robfm
says...
9:49am Fri 30 Dec 11
Alfred is spoken very highly of by members of SM's elderly community and the 'sisters'.
His works are an inspiration, not just because of the adversity he faced when so young, but because he never lost sight of how much worse things were for others.
It is indeed a shame that some misrepresent the man, and the 'Official Site' does indeed do it's best to put those matters right.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about a clearly loved man of South Marston.
itsamess
says...
10:32am Fri 30 Dec 11
Aginger--if you read back gave his uncles name incorrectly in the first instance. When i prepared my thesis as part of my degree course--although you are hardly aware that in gaining a degree students have to study other subjects--i had a wealth of both friends and family of Williams to rely on to present a far more accurate picture of the man--his life and his work.
I would respect the wishes of descendents of the family not to hand over any material i gained at that time. They are clearly of the same opinion the true life of their relative has never been accurately been told.
I have read numerous claims by so called societies-biographer
s and websites that simply get basic facts wrong--which include his date of birth.
You would be the last person i would trust as you have no genuine interest and will never be accepted as a villager--you are just a busybody who has many times gone against the villagers wishes on the notion you believe you know what the villagers want--you do not.
You claim so many times--usually when a story comes up that you have patrons of your pub with inside information and then make very ridiculous claims. How can anyone trust a word you say as so often have written on numerous sites you are the owner of the pub--when everyone knows Arkells own the pub. You now claim you are just an employee. How many folk did you anger over turbines. A recent landmark ruling by the courts puts beyond doubt the noise levels as a bulding 800 mtrs from turbines was ruled as uninhabitable through noise--how many villagers are up in arms at the proximity to their homes of solar panels--with only adverse affects.
Time you learned to tell the truth.
I 2 Could B
says...
10:36am Fri 30 Dec 11
Knobfm wrote:Seconding your own posts now? Get some help.
Allways Grumpy wrote: It would be best if Swindon remembered BOTH of its' famous writers.Seconded.
Robfm
says...
10:57am Fri 30 Dec 11
As for his date of birth the reasons are clearly outlined as to how those claims came about. Nothing mysterious or in essence wrong merely a conflict between the Certificate and the information of the family as to it being the 6th not the 7th.
So Walter what do you claim Alfred's real name is.?
As for the sisters, very real and part of the family of Alfred's first friend. I shall see them Sunday so perhaps you would like to pop in and meet them, oh but given you know so many villagers you will undoubtedly know their family as they have indeed been in the village since Victorian times.
As for the ruling citation please.
itsamess
says...
12:23pm Fri 30 Dec 11
Do stop talking piffle as i have clearly pointed out how he has been given numerous names on this thread alone. Aginger 28th 2-27= Alfred Owen Williams.
Aginger 9-31 friday= Owen Alfred Williams.
Have you pointed this out to his relation? i.e. a relation that had to revise the name.
Do you disagree that wiki also had his name wrong which i pointed out.
For my thesis i spoke to friends and former workmates of the man and the
papers held from his uni studies which is a more accurate account of his life and his many passions and as i have stated--there are so many claims in sites claiming to be Williams official sites which do not reflect the true nature of the man.
This applies to many of our poets and writers including Dickens-Chaucer and Shakespeare.
To a half-wit like yourself who cannot read the numerous claims and see none of the sites appear to agree on the basic facts does no justice to the man and his life. Do explain why so many sites--and family differ in basic facts--they all claim to be the genuine version--so do tell which is the true story?
itsamess
says...
12:24pm Fri 30 Dec 11
Do stop talking piffle as i have clearly pointed out how he has been given numerous names on this thread alone. Aginger 28th 2-27= Alfred Owen Williams.
Aginger 9-31 friday= Owen Alfred Williams.
Have you pointed this out to his relation? i.e. a relation that had to revise the name.
Do you disagree that wiki also had his name wrong which i pointed out.
For my thesis i spoke to friends and former workmates of the man and the
papers held from his uni studies which is a more accurate account of his life and his many passions and as i have stated--there are so many claims in sites claiming to be Williams official sites which do not reflect the true nature of the man.
This applies to many of our poets and writers including Dickens-Chaucer and Shakespeare.
To a half-wit like yourself who cannot read the numerous claims and see none of the sites appear to agree on the basic facts does no justice to the man and his life. Do explain why so many sites--and family differ in basic facts--they all claim to be the genuine version--so do tell which is the true story?
Robfm
says...
12:42pm Fri 30 Dec 11
The switching around of Owen and Alfred does seem to have happened, but your insistence that Mason formed part of his name was incorrect and you never made any reference to other sites until after you were shown to be wrong.
However true to form rather than acknowledge your stupidity you now write your diatribes trying to distract from the truth.
itsamess
says...
1:06pm Fri 30 Dec 11
You are simply trying to create an argument from nothing as clearly sites have given Williams different names.
Fact--wiki named him Alfred Mason.
Fact--aginger titled him Alfred Owen.
Fact--aginger titled him Owen Alfred
Fact he has always been known as Alfred Williams.
Fact--6 different sites give wholly different accounts as to his life and his studies--they cannot be all correct.
So which version is the truth?
Grow up and accept there will always be disputes as to history. You are proving nothing.
I Too
says...
4:14pm Fri 30 Dec 11
He's proved he's ........
THE BORED BARMAN
Robfm
says...
5:24pm Fri 30 Dec 11
Nothing more to be said.
itsamess
says...
5:46pm Fri 30 Dec 11
Thank the lord you have shut up with your nonsense.
Robfm
says...
6:25pm Fri 30 Dec 11
AGINGER
says...
9:04am Mon 2 Jan 12
Robfm
says...
9:20am Mon 2 Jan 12
Then to blatantly state you didn't know your own Great Uncles name was incredible, needless to say he now is trying to twist that as he always does, and implies yet more intimate association with your family.
By the way do you know any Nuclear Scientists?.
I had an interesting conversation with the sisters you will be acquainted with yesterday as they are weekly Sunday patrons at our pub.
Good health to you in the coming year and with 3 more performances of the Hammerman, in March at the New College, Phoenix Theatre Alfred's genius will be spread wider still.
itsamess
says...
11:01am Mon 2 Jan 12
Please do not resort to rather silly comments which lead to doubts as to your claim to be nephew/niece to Williams. I have pointed out errors on numerous sites as to the history of Alfred. It would seem you do not want the true record of your uncle to be known. Very surprised you have not advised sites as to the inaccuracy of many claims.
During my Uni days as i stated i wrote as my literary thesis a testament to Alfred and obtained various documents which verified what i had written. One of which Alfred left in an office draw at the rail works when he was taken ill. Given to me by a very dear friend and workmate of his. I have considered many times of handing this over to one of the groups or societies who keep his name alive--but as i have said i have yet to find a group with a truly accurate record of the mans history. If you are truly a family member you would know that Alfred as a tribute to Elizabeth buried an item in an oilskin packet beneath "The Hearth Stone". I too have left a message for you under that same stone--find it and i will hand all the documents i have to you. As far as i know that is only known to family members--tell me what that item is and the documents are yours.
Robfm
says...
11:47am Mon 2 Jan 12
Leaving Walter to continue to claim Abinger is not related to Alfred and no one can ever challenge his contention because he will not say where the Stone is.
Robfm
says...
12:00pm Mon 2 Jan 12
Confused, clearly not as confused as Walter.
Robfm
says...
12:12pm Mon 2 Jan 12
'No Bob i am not stupid enough to write a thesis about SM poet--writer-and folk song writer.'
As opposed to the above,
'During my Uni days as i stated i wrote as my literary thesis a testament to Alfred and obtained various documents which verified what i had written.'
But you said you didn't write one Walter, so which one is it.
Always Grumpy
says...
5:16pm Mon 2 Jan 12
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jerry59 says...
12:12pm Tue 27 Dec 11