Wayland Heritage Discovery Day - 26th Feb

There will be a major heritage event at the Queens Hall, Watton on Friday February 26. Every one in the Wayland area (and beyond) is welcome to this event. During the day there will be opportunities for visitors to explore all kinds of topics. There will be opportunities to try some online research, local groups will have demonstrations and displays and there will be photograph exhibitions and film shows.

The subjects covered will range from 2 World War photographs, local architecture, parish records, heirloom textiles, traditional crafts, quilting and hands-on have a go at making a rag rug and much more. Local heritage groups will show some of the resent material and activities they have been working on.If any Wayland residents have photographs, postcards, needlework or artefacts of any kind they would like to show or to learn about, we would love to see them too. Everyone can contribute to capturing our wayland heritage for the generations to come. We will have cameras and scanners there on the day so we can record the items that are brought in, so your precious heirlooms will not have to leave your sight. There will be oppotunities to sign-up to take part in workshops and activities during the comming year.

The Discovery Day will run from 10.30am and in the evening at 7pm there will be a special treat when John Davies from the Norfolk Museums and Archaeological Service will speak on ‘Boudica’s Norfolk’. Dr Davies has recently had two books published on the subject, the video clip below shows him talking about one of them. The video was produced by Poppyland Publishing. 

Feb 8th - Workshop - Creating and Printing Digital Images for Creative Projects

Feb 8th - Workshop - Creating and Printing Digital Images for Creative Projects

Workshop - Creating and Printing Digital Images for Creative Heritage Projects – This is a free workshop by the ‘Capturing Your Wayland Heritage’ project.

Feb 8th 2010 – Wayland House, Watton – 10.00 to 4.00 The workshop is now full, there are no places left, but if you are interested in a future workshop could you please email me on sue@wayland.org.uk


The workshop aims to give an introduction to creating digital images with cameras and scanners. It will also cover getting the images on to your computer and making the most of them by making simple adjustments with Photoshop and similar free software such as Gimp.
Printing the images on samples of different fabrics and papers will give participants a chance to compare results and see what can be achieved. The workshop will provide the skills to produce images on paper or fabric that can be used to make creative family or village histories etc.

Participants that have a project in mind should bring images to scan, photo cards, images in their cameras etc with them. On going support from the project heritage officer will be available for the heritage-based projects started on the workshop.

If any one has examples of past work, printing on fabric they would like to bring to show the group, and share their experiences that would be very useful.

Laptop computers, cameras, a scanner and an inkjet and laser printer will be available, but if people would like to bring their own familiar equipment to work with that would be fine.

Tutor - Sue White – Wayland Heritage Officer
Please email sue@wayland.org.uk or phone 01953 880216 to book a place.

Heritage Drop-ins on Wednesday Afternoons - dates for February 2010

The February 2010 dates for the Wednesday 'Heritage drop-in Afternoons' 2-4pm at Wayland House, Watton are Jan 27th - Feb 3rd, 10th, 17th, and 24th.

Pop-in to find out more about the project.

Come in and pick up some tips on how to research your local history on-line.  View your village from the air with Google Earth and discover archaeological features from the air.

We need volunteers for scanning and recording historical photos and documents of Watton, Wayland and the Battle Area, could you help us record the past for the future?

If you have a topic you would like to research or a local story to tell which you would like to pass on to future generations we would be happy to help.

This view of archaeological features from the air at Scoulton where spotted by Julia and Tony Grover on Google Earth. What can you discover in your parish?

Today is Plough Monday

Today is Plough Monday the first Monday after Epiphany, or Twelfth Night. Plough Monday was an important ritual for agricultural workers in the east of England for centuries. In Norfolk the ploughboys performed a dance called molly dancing.

In Hockham the day is still celebrated, after the blessing of the plough on the village green at 7pm, the Hockham Clodhoppers (molly dancers) will be dancing  by torchlight outside the pub near the green. Then the merriment will moving on to the village hall, with local musicians including a hurdy gurdy player, here everyone will be encouraged to participate in some Elizabethan dances. Free refreshments will be provided at the end and a collection will be made for charity during the evening.

To read more about the history of Plough Monday visit http://ploughmonday.co.uk/

Heritage, whose heritage?

Open University course A180 Heritage, whose heritage? You can acces audio talks free through itunes on several heritage topics by clicking on the following link
Heritage, whose heritage?

a novice joining blog. Looking for the evidence of the lost 'castle', court house and post mill in Scoulton.

Heritage Drop-in Afternoons dates for January 2010

The January 2010 dates for the Wednesday 'Heritage drop-in Afternoons' 2-4pm at Wayland House, Watton are Jan 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th. Pop-in to discover more about the project and pick up some tips on how to make the most of your digital camera to record your locality, or search the internet for information on your local heritage. If you have a topic you would like to research or a local story to tell which you would like to pass on to future generations we would be happy to help.