The museum opened for the 2024 season last Saturday, with a surprise guest to cut the ribbon.
A young author from Hampshire, currently visiting her cousins in Great Bookham, joined us for the day. We understand she has had some success with her writing (novels entitled Pride and Persuasion, or some such) and that she is writing another, set in Surrey. She says EMMA will be inspired by Leatherhead.
Our visitors were also introduced to the first tenant of Hampton Cottage (the 17th Century building that houses the museum). Mistress Fering is the widow of the Falconer, William Fering. Mistress Fering and her 3 children would have lived in some comfort on a local estate until her husband died. As neither she nor her eldest child was able to take on the Falconer's role, the family were evicted. In much reduced circumstances they were installed in Hampton Cottage, which was owned by the church.
Our Mistress Fering is our preferred alternative version of history, where she took her husbands job training and flying birds of prey for the local land owner. We think it's a shame this never happened, though the role of Falconer was often taken by women.
The museum is now open Thurs-Fri 1-4 and Saturday 10-4. Free entry. Come and see our new exhibits including Young Mr. Turner, which we'll tell you more about very soon.
Thank you to all the museum team who have worked hard all winter to maintain the museum and put together brand new displays and fascinating local stories. Bravo!
If you'd like to join us as a volunteer, pop in and talk to a steward. There are lots of fun jobs to do, either guiding and greeting visitors or working behind the scenes with our collections and building.
