Artefacts collected by Spalding Gentlemen’s Society’s earliest members which included Grantham’s Isaac Newton and Holbeach’s William Stukeley, have gained Arts Council England designated status
One of Spalding’s best kept secrets will be getting greater recognition after winning a prestigious status – which could lead to greater funding opportunities.
Members and volunteers at Spalding Gentlemen’s Society are celebrating after receiving designated status by Arts Council England for its original collection.
Made up of several thousand items which were gathered by the society’s earliest members, the Original Collection is just the second archive in Lincolnshire to receive this status – which will not only raise the profile of the museum but also help open the door to additional funding.
Spalding Gentlemen’s Society (SGS) is Britain’s oldest provincial learned society and second-oldest museum after being founded in 1710 by Maurice Johnson, of Ayscoughfee Hall. It’s membership included some well-known historical figures including Grantham’s Isaac Newton and Holbeach’s William Stukeley.
Current members are waiting to hear the results of a £2million application bid for a new museum with an education and research area to be created in the the former business centre in Broad Street while the society’s existing building needs extensive work due to the sinking of a 1960s extension.
One person who is over the moon with the designated status is the society’s Librarian Dr Dustin Frazier Wood.
Dr Frazier Wood, who is also the the lead researcher of the Original Collection, said: “I am delighted that SGS has received designated status.
“The society’s early collections have inspired scholars and artists for 300 years, and testify to the vibrant cultural history of Spalding and the Fenlands in the 18th century.”
Arts Council England’s Designation Scheme identifies pre-eminent collections of national importance held in England’s non-national museums, libraries and archives.
This award demonstrates the significance of SGS’s collection and its commitment to continued preservation and promotion of these objects for the enjoyment of generations to come.
The Original Collection includes the founding museum, library and archive holdings.
It is made up of several thousand objects ranging from medieval manuscripts to classical antiquities to works of fine art and sculpture.
But it also tells the stories of Spalding residents and visitors, many of whom played crucial roles in the shaping of the town as it is today.
The Original Collection represents one of the best sources for understanding provincial intellectual life in the Enlightenment, and the history of museums and collections in Britain.
The society will host a series of public events and exhibitions to celebrate the Original Collection and explore its links to local, national and global histories and cultures.
Liz Johnson, Director, Museums and Collections at Arts Council England, said: “We’re delighted that the magnificent Original Collection of the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society has been awarded designated status.
“Museums, and their collections, help communities to understand their culture, and in turn, themselves. The Designation scheme celebrates collections of outstanding importance that help deepen our connection to the world we live in. The Original Collection at Spalding Gentlemen’s Society has inspired people for generations.
“Made up of an eclectic mix of objects collected by members in the 18th century, it tells the fascinating stories of those who’ve lived, visited, and worked in the town. It is one of just two designated collections in Lincolnshire and only 164 in England.
“This award will put the collection in the spotlight, raising its profile locally, nationally, and internationally. It will also ensure the collection can continue to inspire, empower and enrich people’s lives for many more years to come.”
Some of the society’s artefacts have been on display in Ayscoughfee Hall, which belonged to its founder Maurice Johnson.
The Lincolnshire Archive is the other collection to have designated status to celebrate the Lincoln episcopal rolls and registers. These are a key archive from English history from the 13th century to the reformation in 1542.
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