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An Axe Unveiling & the Friends of Henfield Museum Annual General Meeting
Held Wed 19th April 2023
Imagine the wild landscapes of Bronze Age Henfield 3000 years ago, with vast stretches of woodland and a few patches of crops alongside the circles of roundhouses. Our village ridgeline looked down over the wide, tidal marshlands of the river - whatever name the people of the day may have had for the Adur. Nearby, a person whose name is also long forgotten knelt down to bury a horde of treasure... A finely crafted palstave copper-alloy axe head of c. 1400BC along with 17 pieces of associated ingot chunks and casting waste.
On Wed 19th April we put the axe hoard on public display for the first time and invited speakers to add to the picture. Our thanks to the finder Margaret Parnell who talked about her experience of discovery - and metal detecting in the local area more generally, also displaying a wide collection of her other finds. Our Chairman Robert Gordon introduced the general context, some item specifics and our plans for preservation, while Andrew Sharp spoke about the casting process used to form such an object.
We also heard an update on museum projects, AGM business and the election of the committee, which was followed by tea, coffee, cake and biscuits.
Robert Gordon
Chair, Friends of Henfield Museum
On Wed 19th April we put the axe hoard on public display for the first time and invited speakers to add to the picture. Our thanks to the finder Margaret Parnell who talked about her experience of discovery - and metal detecting in the local area more generally, also displaying a wide collection of her other finds. Our Chairman Robert Gordon introduced the general context, some item specifics and our plans for preservation, while Andrew Sharp spoke about the casting process used to form such an object.
We also heard an update on museum projects, AGM business and the election of the committee, which was followed by tea, coffee, cake and biscuits.
Robert Gordon
Chair, Friends of Henfield Museum
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Our HistoryFrom an initial steering group, the Friends of Henfield Museum formed in 2014 under the first Chair, longtime local resident and supporter of the museum Wynn Saunders - to whose initial energy the group owes its existence. From 2017-21 and again from 2022, Robert Gordon served as Chairman, with Leo Jago serving from 2021-22.
From amongst their members, the Friends are run by their committee, the Chair & Vice Chair also sitting on the Parish Council Museum management committee. Our ProjectsIn addition to providing a funding source for museum acquisitions, the Friends carry out various projects and visits to historical and cultural attractions as well as occasional talks. A few of the projects currently organised or supported include:
We sincerely hope that you might be tempted to join us in supporting the museum's mission of bringing Henfield's history to life for the whole community. Robert S. Gordon Chairman, The Friends of Henfield Museum |
Friends visit to East Grinstead for a tour of the new Guinea Pig exhibit and statue of Archibald McIndoe, July 2018.
Wynn Saunders (1935 - 2019), founding force and first Chair of the Friends of Henfield Museum
The second and fourth Chair Robert Gordon finds his calling with a cabinet of crime on a visit to Brighton Old Police Cells Museum, November 2018
3rd Friends Chairman Leo Jago caught kidnapping a costume, Village Evening, March 2020
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A museum volunteer shows off the Luto Collection in 2019. Photo: Christophe Fernandez
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A sepia Friends outing to Seaford Museum followed by Trawlers Fish & Chip restaurant, July 2015
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The Friends Newsletter Archive
We periodically release newsletters to our members. They feature leading articles on aspects of local history, historical images and museum and heritage project updates from the Chair, Curator and Costume Curator.
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Newsletter 1, Spring 2015
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Newsletter 2, Autumn 2016
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Newsletter 3, Winter 2017-18
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Newsletter 4, Winter 2018-19
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Newsletter 5, Winter 2019-2020
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Newsletter 6, Winter 2020-21
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Newsletter 7 (2021 Retrospective), Winter 2021-22
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Newsletter 8 (2022 Retrospective), Winter 2022-23
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