Saturday 9th September 2017
I had hoped that the Gods would smile on us and grant us a sunny autumn day, the sort of day we often get here in early September. We were lucky, besides a few errant drops of fine rain just as I commenced the service, the sun shone and white clouds drifted above us.
We had gathered to unveil the memorial stone to ‘The Godmanchester Stirling’, an aircraft that had crashed to earth close by 75 years ago this year. The past five years had seen me slowly peel away the layers of time and discover the story of a bomber crew, just one of many, but for me and the local area one that had become a token of what so many crews went through in those long off days.
For me this was the culmination of 5 years work, following the book launch earlier this year at IWM Duxford (‘Stirling to Essen’), this was the moment it all came together.
Over 50 family members made the trip to Godmanchester, they came from across the UK. From Edinburgh and Stirling, from Norfolk and Suffolk, from Surrey and Sussex, from Yorkshire and London. One family came over from Ohio, USA to pay tribute to her grandfather, a family we had only found a few months earlier (and who’s appearance halted the publication of the book as I had to update two chapters)
Read more: The Godmanchester Stirling Memorial Dedication Day
The Porch Museum is opening on April 30th and May 1st with some nice things for you all to see. On the Sunday we have our Roman capitols loaned to us from OAE. They come from Godmanchester and the thinking is that they come from the basilica (town hall) which was on the Stiles. This is surmise from OAE and Professor Stephen Upex, but there is associative scholarship to back up the theory. Either way, these capitols show a different Imperial Roman look for the town of Godmanchester with at least one important public building created in an urban Roman classical style.They were excavated in 1991. Professor Upex is to do an isometric drawing of how the basilica may have looked.
We also have some new jewellery – Roman and Tudor – another local loan.
We continue with our WW1 exhibition about the soldiers who came home to live the life they fought for. Including how they suffered from PTSD and a good coverage of Portholme and William Rhodes-Moorhouse who flew his ‘planes there, built them, caused a world record there and was killed flying in 1915 – awarded the VC. Not a Godmanchester man, but spent years here working with families like the Thackrays and of course the Hinchingbrooke Montagues .
We also have a selection of now non-explosive shell tops from WW1 – been tested by our friends at the Bomb Squad.
Monday May 1 is very good for people with children as the Norris people come with masses of dinosaur and stuff games to play and to dig and things to make.
This was a smashing event last year.
I will have a baby mammoth’s tusk found in Godmanchester – verified – to show for the day. Found in The Avenue.
I attach posters for both the Porch Museum and the Norris visit. If there is anybody who you know who might be interested do please send them on, or tell them about us.
Do pop by – we always love to see you.
Subcategories
Past Events
The Porch Museum holds special exhibitions or events each year.
In May 2010 the Porch Museum showed its first produced film'Godmanchester Remembered', based on interviews with a remarkable man, Neville Markham at 96 one of our oldest residents. The film includes wonderful historic photographs from private collections, the museum and archives.
The film was a great success with over 100 visitors coming to view the film on its first showing. With many requests to purchase a copy of the film it has now been made available on DVD and can be purchased from the Museum Shop.
A preview of the museums second film Children of Godmanchester was show before the museum closed for the winter months. Again over 100 visitors attended and many requests were made to purchase a copy of the film. The museum hopes to release this DVD for sale in Summer 2011
The Porch Museum also made available to purchase, on CD a copy of the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar school Pence Book 1850 and 1855. A copy can be purchased from the Museum Shop.
A new addition to the museums family history boards was the story of George Cross a Godmanchester hero which now forms part of the museums collection.
Museum Open Days
The Museum is now closed for the winter months.
Opening dates for 2014.
| Sunday 6th April | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 4th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 5th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 25th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 26th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 15th June | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 5th July | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 6th July | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 24th August | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 25thth August | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 14th September | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 28th September | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
Newspaper Articles
A selection of Articles featuring The Porch Museums events and achievements.
Bridge Magazine
Articles in this section were first published by Godmanchesters Community Association in The Bridge magazine.
The Porch Museum would like to thank them for giving us permission to reproduce these articles covering the past 35 years.
Some of the articles have had relevant images added by The Porch Museum.