GALLERY: Third season for gadgets and gizmos museum in Throckenholt
Owners of a museum which boasts more than 1,500 technological curiosities are preparing to open its doors for a third season.
Trevor Cass and Rosie Hourihane launched The Museum of Technology: The History of Gadgets and Gizmos, in Throckenholt, in 2016 after relocating to South Holland from Hemel Hempstead.
Visitors will be able to view their massive collection of items which includes early cameras, telephones, computers, televisions and weaponry from WWI and WWII when the museum re-opens today (Thursday).
As well as more than 1,500 curiosities dating from 1850 to 1980, other facilities include a tea room, outdoor picnic area and a community room, which is available to groups for activities including reminiscence sessions.
Since closing for winter, Rosie said the couple have not been resting on their laurels, but cleaning artefacts, introducing more LED lighting to display cabinets, preparing new additions to their collection, designing and printing new publicity material and also creating a small shop area to sell surplus items left over from Trevor’s electronics business.
“We’ve been very busy behind the scenes,” she added, “Trevor has just finished wiring up a Morse Key; all those in National Service and even the boy scouts had to learn it, although it has been done away with now.
“There’s a great sense of nostalgia to it – it’s been wired up across our telegraphy wire, so when you press the Morse key the dots and dashes can be picked up on the other side of the room.
“People really seem to like our hands-on displays so we’re hoping that will be of interest.”
The Museum of Technology was borne out of Trevor’s passion for collecting vintage pieces of technology when he was a child. Rosie persuaded him to put his collection of vintage telephones on display in a redundant showroom at his former business premises and things snowballed from there when they started collecting even more items.
During the coming months they are also hoping to complete a display area for a 1980s military Land Rover, which saw active service in Belfast.
“We’ve been having some framework made for it, which is due to be delivered shortly, and then it’s all got to be put together, rather like a jigsaw,” said Rosie.
“It won’t be ready in time for the opening, but people will be able to see it as a work in progress. The Land Rover itself is all kitted out for radio, we used to take it to shows before we had the museum and it was always popular, so we’re looking forward to getting that on display.
“This will be our third season open to the public; we’re really looking forward to welcoming both new visitors and those who have been before.”
* The Museum of Technology - The History of Gadgets and Gizmos, Throckenholt Farm, Old South Eau Bank, Throckenholt, PE12 0QR re-opens today (Thursday, May 9).
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.
