This season the Porch Museum presents the town with a series of sparkling events for your entertainment. Energetic fund raising and the benefit of a £460 Godmanchester Community Association grant kindly raised by citizens of the town will enable the museum’s precious collections to be displayed in well lit new wall cabinets. This is perfect timing as St Ives’ Norris Museum has lent us a selection of their unshown secrets, for display in these cabinets. The artefacts range from a dinosaur bone found in Godmanchester, to the town policemen’s equipment, dating back to the early 19th century, including a whistle and handcuffs.
On April 17th there will be a World War11 wedding exhibition put together by committee member Sandy Ferrelly which will include an extraordinary wedding and bridesmaid’s dress from a local family. There are also precious items from a war bride’s wedding day provided by Godmanchester resident Catherine Short. These delightful old things include a loving letter to the bride from her father. He had sent her ration book which was vital to give the honeymoon hotel who may otherwise have been unable to feed the young couple.
On May 1st and 2nd, we will present a fascinating ‘ Homemade In Godmanchester Exhibition ‘which will touch on the good, solid history of skilled wives, mothers and daughters of this town, who made the families’ clothes and furnishings. Women were judged in past times by their domestic skills.
This has been a wonderful opportunity for the organisers Sandy Ferrelly and David Bowers to collect contemporary examples of sewing, knitting, patchwork, embroidery and other allied crafts.. There will be an opportunity to watch people at work. If you are a passionate patchworker, embroiderer, knitter or practiser of any other magical sewing arts we would be very pleased to see your work.
We are also excited to tell you that on May 29 and 30th St Ives Norris Museum comes to Godmanchester and is hosted here by the Porch Museum. Currently undergoing a redesign, the Museum will bring many curiosities including some of their mammoth and prehistoric collection. (A baby mammoth tusk was found in The Avenue last summer and verified at the Norris Museum.
At the Porch Museum we’re taking a look at stylish men and women during World War 11 and in the forties. So here is a message to all men and women who were dressing with oomph at that time – could you please dig out a photograph of yourself or your friends and send it to us at the Porch Museum.
To all families - can you find a World War 11 or 1940s photograph of your mother, grandmother or favourite aunt, and that means father, grandfather and favourite uncle too. Send it to us with their name, date if you can, their age and what they were doing at that time.
Or if it’s you, just your name, age and date it was taken. If you don’t want to put your age, don’t worry. We may want to include your picture in our exhibition, so if you are emailing your picture, please give your permission for us to use your picture in the museum. Please include your telephone number.
Please Email your picture to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or send it to Kate Hadley 7 Post Street, Godmanchester, PE29 2BA Or email to Gillian Hall at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 5 Saxon Close, Godmanchester, PE 29 2JL
Subcategories
Past Events
The Porch Museum holds special exhibitions or events each year.
In May 2010 the Porch Museum showed its first produced film'Godmanchester Remembered', based on interviews with a remarkable man, Neville Markham at 96 one of our oldest residents. The film includes wonderful historic photographs from private collections, the museum and archives.
The film was a great success with over 100 visitors coming to view the film on its first showing. With many requests to purchase a copy of the film it has now been made available on DVD and can be purchased from the Museum Shop.
A preview of the museums second film Children of Godmanchester was show before the museum closed for the winter months. Again over 100 visitors attended and many requests were made to purchase a copy of the film. The museum hopes to release this DVD for sale in Summer 2011
The Porch Museum also made available to purchase, on CD a copy of the Queen Elizabeth's Grammar school Pence Book 1850 and 1855. A copy can be purchased from the Museum Shop.
A new addition to the museums family history boards was the story of George Cross a Godmanchester hero which now forms part of the museums collection.
Museum Open Days
The Museum is now closed for the winter months.
Opening dates for 2014.
| Sunday 6th April | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 4th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 5th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 25th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 26th May | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 15th June | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 5th July | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 6th July | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 24th August | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Monday 25thth August | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 14th September | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
| Sunday 28th September | 2.00pm – 5.00pm | Admission free |
Newspaper Articles
A selection of Articles featuring The Porch Museums events and achievements.
Bridge Magazine
Articles in this section were first published by Godmanchesters Community Association in The Bridge magazine.
The Porch Museum would like to thank them for giving us permission to reproduce these articles covering the past 35 years.
Some of the articles have had relevant images added by The Porch Museum.