Massive collection to view at museum

Owners of a museum which is re-opening for the summer season are keen to make sure everyone knows about all the wonderful exhibits and facilities they have on offer.

Trevor Cass and Rosie Hourihane launched The Museum of Technology: The History of Gadgets and Gizmos, in Throckenholt, in 2016, after relocating from Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

The site re-opens on Thursday, when visitors will able to view their massive collection of items including early cameras, telephones, computers, televisions and weaponry from WWI and WWII.

As well as more than 1,500 curiosities dating from 1850 to 1980, the museum also has a tea room, outdoor picnic area and a community room, which is available to groups for activities including reminiscence sessions.

“We’re really looking forward to the season ahead, and welcoming as many people to the museum as possible,” said Rosie.

“This will be our second full season. While we’ve been closed we’ve busy cleaning up and maintaining the exhibits, Trevor has installed more LED lighting, so all the cabinets are well lit and he’s also set up a new exhibit of a pedal dynamo, which people can turn to see if they can make a lightbulb come on.”

The museum was borne out of Trevor’s passion for collecting vintage pieces of technology as a child. Rosie persuaded him to put his vintage telephones on display in a redundant showroom at his former business premises and things snowballed from there when they started collecting in earnest.

“The wonderful thing about our museum is that we can demonstrate the majority of things we have on display,” adds Rosie. We can demonstrate our A to B telephone, various scientific experiments and we also have a table set up where people can actually handle the artefacts too.

“We also have a fantastic community room which groups, charities and care homes can come in and use for reminiscence work.”

During the coming months Rosie and Trevor also hope to seek funding to create a display space for a 1980s military Land Rover in an area outside the museum too.

• The Museum of Technology – The History of Gadgets and Gizmos, Throckenholt Farm, Old South Eau Bank, Throckenholt, PE12 0QR re-opens Thursday.

Opening hours are 10am to 4pm Thursday, Friday and Saturday or by appointment for groups of ten or more.

Visit www.museumoftechnology.org.uk or call 01945 700772.