At Lowewood Museum, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, EN11 8BH
14 January – 29 April 2017
Free Admission
It’s just over a month to go until the new exhibition celebrating the work of James Pulham & Son opens at Lowewood Museum. The exhibition features objects from the Museum’s collection, including two flowerpots designed by Michael Angelo Pulham; loan items including an original Preston Vase, and full-scale replicas of two Pulham vases manufactured by Haddonstone Ltd – the Ascott Urn, originally designed for the Rothschild family at Ascott House, and the Westonbirt Urn.
The exhibition puts Pulhams’ work in the context of garden fashions in the Victorian and Edwardian period, and explores their work at seaside resorts. Using objects from the Museum collection, it also looks at what it was like to work for the company, and the sort of jobs undertaken.
A highlight of the exhibition will be Virtual Tours of 5 Pulham gardens – at Dewstow (Wales), Highnam Court (Gloucestershire), Sheffield Park (Surrey), Waddesdon Manor, and Danesfield House (Buckinghamshire). Filmed by Splash TV with audio commentaries by site owners, the Museum and Val Christman, these tours are an engaging way to explore these beautiful gardens.
To support the project, the Museum purchased 154 images of Pulham gardens, funded by the Hertfordshire Association of Museums. The photographs were taken by professional photographer Jenny Lilly – originally for Claude’s book – and will form an important archive here at the Museum. Many of these photos will be on display in the exhibition.
The exhibition has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and is part of a partnership project between Broxbourne Borough Council, B3Living – who own the Pulham site – and the Museum. Claude Hitching and Valerie Christman have also provided invaluable assistance with this project.
To find out more visit: www.broxbourne.gov.uk/lowewoodmuseum
Museum Opening Times:
Wednesday – Friday 10am – 4pm
Saturday 10am – 5pm
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The Exhibition Tour
From summer 2017 the exhibition will be available to tour to venues across the country. The exhibition hire fee is £300 per month, and includes:
- all the hardware,
- digital content and pop-up text banners,
- select objects,
- set dressings,
- marketing materials, and
- an education resource pack.
If your venue would be interested in hosting this exhibition, please contact the museum on 01992 445596 or by emailing museum.leisure@broxbourne.gov.uk
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Launch Event
The Pulham Manufactory and Exhibition Private View
3 February 2017
On Friday, 3 February 2017, the Museum and B3Living will be organising a special launch event to unveil the conserved manufactory site, which will have an updated garden and new interpretation signage. Three site boards, written and designed by the Museum, discuss the history of James Pulham & Son, the manufactory site, and the types of gardens the firm designed.
The day will include a visit to the exhibition at Lowewood Museum. Claude and Val will be attending, along with others involved in the project. If you would like to find out more about this launch day, please contact the Museum.
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Pulham Event Day
11 February 2017 – 11 am – 4 pm
FREE
Join us for a day of free family crafts and activities in the Museum, inspired by the work of James Pulham & Son. The Exhibition’s Creator will also be on hand to conduct tours around the exhibition.
Pick up a trail guide in the exhibition to explore the Pulham Manufactory Site and other sites of interest around the town connected with the company.
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Pulham Conference
9 March 2017 – 9:45 am – 4:30 pm
Tickets £25 (includes buffet lunch)
A Special Conference to celebrate the work of James Pulham & Son and this latest partnership project. It will take place at the Spotlight Theatre and Lowewood Museum, and details are given in the poster image below. Val and I will be giving a new Presentation – compiled especially for this event – entitled . . .
‘Carry On Digging!’
. . . in which we shall bring the story of my researches into the lives and work of James Pulham and Son since the publication of ‘Rock Landscapes: The Pulham Legacy’. Other speakers include Simon Scott from Haddonstone Ltd – a contemporary cast stone company who manufacture replicas of Pulham ornaments, and Tina Rowland and Kate Bannister from the Hertfordshire Gardens Trust’s research into local Pulham sites. B3Living, who now own the former Pulham Manufactory site near Broxbourne station, will also talk about the recent conservation of the remaining Grade II listed Pulham brick kiln and puddling wheel.
The talks will finish at 2:30 pm, when there will be the opportunity to join a guided tour of the exhibition at Lowewood Museum, and take part in break-out sessions in the Museum with Claude Hitching, Valerie Christman, and the owners of Pulham venues.
The online booking system will open on 2 January 2017. For more information and to book, visit www.broxbourne.gov.uk/lowewoodmuseum or email museum.leisure@broxbourne.gov.uk
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Family Fun for British Science Week
18 March 2017 – 11 am – 4 pm
FREE
Inspired by the Pulhams’ work, join us for a day of science activities – including a series of drop-in experiments with natural and artificial rocks – with the Essex Rock and Mineral Society.
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Lowewood Museum Blog
The Museum has a blog site with regular posts on the Pulham Project, as well as other exciting news.
The Pulham Legacy 