MUSEUM FRIEND

Newsletter for the Friends of Lyme Regis Philpot Museum

An illustration by author and Life Member Marie Day

January 2020 (Issue 35)

Patrons: Sir David Attenborough, Tracy Chevalier, Minnie Churchill

Registered Charity No. 278774

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CHAIRMAN’S LETTER

Dear Friends

May I wish you all a Happy New Year! Where do the years go! The Friends enjoyed a successful 2019 and we have another interesting year ahead.

A brief word about the Friends committee: Historically we refer to ourselves as ‘Committee Members’ but we are, of course, registered Trustees of our charity, ‘The Friends of Lyme Regis Philpot Museum’. Our role is to support the museum and we do this in a myriad of ways, many of which pass unseen and unremarked upon. One of my goals is to ensure that we remain ‘fit for purpose’ for the future and that we retain our vitality. With this in mind we welcome Jayne Jones as a newly co-opted committee member. Jayne is a desk volunteer in the museum and has previous experience in the voluntary sector.

The Museum Trust Board (a separate charity) has six new members and we are pleased to have a close working relationship with John Dover, the new chairman. I would like to pay tribute to Stephen Locke, who was chairman for many years and a strong believer in the closest possible link with the Friends. Thank you Stephen!

One notable achievement to report is that the donations to the Friends by John Marriage from his ‘slides to digital’ service have now exceeded £10,000! Well done John and many thanks. There are details about the service later in this newsletter.

Our lecture programme for the coming year is as exciting as ever and is outlined on the accompanying Programme sheet. We are particularly grateful to Tracy Chevalier for accepting our invitation. Tracy is a patron of the Friends and a great supporter of our museum. She spent a great deal of time in Lyme Regis researching her book on Mary Anning, ‘Remarkable Creatures’. On this occasion she will talk to us about her latest novel, ‘A Single Thread’.

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Early last year we were re-united with Marie Day, a ‘lost’ Life Member; it often happens that we lose touch when we are unaware of changes in members’ circumstances. Marie lives in Canada and is an accomplished author and illustrator who, back in 1992, wrote a children’s book on Mary Anning ‘Dragon in the Rocks’. She has kindly donated some of her superb illustrations to the museum, including our cover picture.

We were very pleased to accept Marie’s offer to write a story for this newsletter based on a visit to Charmouth in 1956, when she hoped to glean information relating to the scandal of the diamond necklace commissioned in 1772 by King Louis XV for his mistress Madame du Barry. A brief online search informs us that in the febrile period leading up to the French Revolution the court jeweller, Boehmer, was instructed to make the most exquisite necklace comprising 647 diamonds. Information is very sketchy but it appears that the king died and his successor, Louis XVI, offered the necklace to his wife, Marie Antoinette, who declined (although it didn’t prevent her eventual demise at the guillotine). The necklace was obtained illicitly following an elaborate confidence trick and was broken up and the diamonds sold. Boehmer was not paid. Marie’s story is fascinating, particularly in reference to the Charmouth connection. You can find online the history of No. 2 ‘Hillside’ in Charmouth, which at one time was owned by Prince Charles de Rohan, descended from French nobility. His family paid the debt of honour incurred by Cardinal Louis de Rohan who was duped over the infamous necklace. The debt was repaid over a 100 plus year period to Boehmer.

As editors we cannot be responsible for historical accuracy; we simply hope that you will enjoy an intriguing story from our re-discovered member!

David Cox

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TREASURER’S REPORT

Our income in 2019 was steady. New members and renewing members have helped to maintain our subscription income at around £2,000. We also continue to receive donations from individuals and local businesses for which we are very grateful. If you are interested in making a donation via Local Giving the link is https://localgiving.org/charity/friends-of-lyme-regismuseum

Fund raising continues with enthusiasm. Pocket money prices for children painting dinosaurs, together with other craft activities, are popular and we are able to be part of the museum’s holiday activities programme which is much appreciated. Last year we held three very successful two-day book sales which have raised just under £2,000 and we thank our team of helpers. We are always looking for new volunteers and good quality books.

Gift Aid received in respect of 2018 subscriptions and donations amounted to £1,126. This is an important part of our income and if you are able to sign a gift aid form and not sure if you have already done so, please contact us at lymemuseum@gmail.com or at the address below. Alternatively, if your circumstances have changed and your subscription or donation is no longer eligible for Gift Aid, please let us know.

We continue to invest our funds with the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). Ongoing discussions about supporting various projects are held with the museum. Last year we purchased a piece of crested china by Goss ‘The Lyme Regis Ammonite’ and a painting ‘The Road to Charmouth’ which is a water colour (artist unknown). We have reframed this in a new period style frame with UV protected glass. Both items are now on display.

Our accounts for 2019 will be published in the July 2020 newsletter.

Single membership remains at £8 pa and Family membership at £12 pa. Subscriptions are due in January each year.

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If you can pay your renewal by standing order, this will be very much appreciated. The bank details are:

Friends of Lyme Regis Museum Sort Code: 60-13-57 Account no: 73484172

If your preference is to pay by cheque, please send it to:

Angela Main, Treasurer Launchycroft House Launchycroft Lyme Regis DT7 3NF

Angela Main

OUR NEWSLETTER WINS BAfM PRIZE!

The British Association of

Friends of Museums, BAfM for short, awarded its 2019 FIRST PRIZE to our January 2019 newsletter in its annual competition.

We competed for the Category 2 Award, open to Friends groups with 251-750 members; we currently have 475 members.

We are absolutely delighted and honoured to receive this award and are grateful to Jean

Knight, BAfM Secretary and

National Coordinator, for visiting us from London to present the award in person. We received a certificate and a

cheque for £250.

David Cox

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MUSEUM DIRECTOR’S REPORT

2019 was a peculiar year, especially after the blazing summer of 2018. It was quieter and many of Lyme’s businesses admit to seeing a fall in trade. From the vantage point of the museum’s Learning Centre it was apparent all summer that, even on hot days, the beach was considerably emptier. I am also told by local businesses that ‘you know what’ has impacted on peoples’ desire to spend.

But what specifically of us? We saw a drop in admission numbers due to fewer visitors in Lyme, but with the alteration in our pricing structure we largely mitigated the impact. We also saw a similar performance to 2018 in our retail arm – so all in all, in purely financial terms, we coped well.

Of course, the real joy in what we do is in the impact we have on our visitors. Due to the generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, we had events for families running in the museum on most days through the school holidays. Alongside this, our work with schools continued to thrive and, as ever, we took a large number of children on to the fossil beaches to discover their own ‘Jurassic Magic’. Similarly, our commercial fossil walks remained very popular and performed very well in a smaller market.

We were also able to make further serious improvements to the museum - the Rotunda Gallery on the second floor has been completely relit and refurbished. We also have the funds to completely redesign the Writers Gallery. It’s worth pausing to consider that between Autumn 2016 and Autumn 2019, we have managed to double the size of the museum and reconfigure two of our three galleries.

We also extended our work into the local community. We organised events for Lyme people with memory issues, constructed a series of poetry and art events to help address the growing problem of ‘social isolation’ (or loneliness) and have also started a project with our local primary school, which has a high number of pupils identified with specific challenges. Once again, we issued free annual tickets to

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Lyme primary school children and their families. We are seeking to find money to carry on this work in future years.

The Friend’s patron, Tracy Chevalier, has kindly agreed to be the figurehead for the museum’s legacy programme, which is currently a work in progress.

The museum has also successfully restructured its board of trustees. Its longstanding Chairman, Stephen Locke, stood down at the start of 2019 after leading the museum through the Mary Anning Wing programme and was replaced by experienced trustee, John Dover. We now have a younger board with a higher proportion of women.

But what of the future? 2020 will be a challenging year. The generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund ceased on December 31st 2019 and the museum will need to use its own funds for more of its tasks. There is also a degree of uncertainty about the generous grant from our local authority.

During 2020 we will concentrate on the things our visitors want - a great experience in the museum, excellent school trips, events and temporary art exhibitions and

running informative commercial fossil walks. Now, after several years of expansion, we need to ‘catch our breath’ before embarking on our next major project.

As ever, I’d like to thank the staff and volunteers for their hard work through yet another demanding year. To end with my usual appeal, if you are a Friend of the museum living near Lyme, please do consider volunteering at the museum as, without people like you, the museum can’t operate as it does.

David Tucker

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OLD FOLKS GATHERING – 1939

With the help of an old newspaper cutting, the Museum’s research team has ended the quest of Mrs Marlene Milne for information about this mug bought for her by her mother in a second-hand shop in Plymouth in 1973.

The newspaper article in Pulman’s Weekly News (dated 7th February 1939) describes an Old Folks’ Dinner held in Lyme Regis in February 1939 which had been an annual event since 1905, except for the war years.

The article, summarised below, not only provides the answer to Mrs Milne’s quest, but perhaps it is also a poignant reminder of a life that was soon to be threatened by another World War.

Mrs Milne has very kindly donated the mug to the Museum.

_________________________

More than 80 old folk (over 60 years old) and widows attended the Old Folks’ Dinner in the dining hall of the Royal Lion, Broad Street on Thursday evening. Many walked from their homes. The oldest guest was 86 year old Eliza Broomfield of Silver Street. She remembered attending the dinners before the war.

The hall was decorated with bunting with the borough arms displayed at the head of the table, where the Mayor, Alderman W J

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Emmett, presided. The Mayor was wearing his robes of office and his maces were laid before him on the table. The Mayoress, Mrs Emmett, also attended wearing her chain of office. Town crier, Mr Walter Abbott, sitting on the right of the Mayor, was in his full uniform.

Dinner was a choice of roast turkey, beef or pork, with a liberal allowance of greens and potatoes. Christmas pudding or apple pie came as sweet with biscuits and cheese to follow.

20 further dinners were sent out to aged and infirm folk who were unable to be brought from their homes.

After they had drunk the health of the King and Royal Family, the Mayor read out:

Message from Mayor to His Majesty - The old folks of the loyal and ancient borough of Lyme Regis assembled at dinner desire to wish your Majesty, the Queen and Princesses all good wishes for 1939 and trust that your forthcoming visit overseas may be a safe and happy one.

His Majesty’s private secretary replied - Please convey to all assembled at dinner the sincere thanks of the King and Queen for their kind and loyal message of good wishes which their Majesties much appreciated.

An entertainment programme was arranged by H I Blanchard. Mrs Templeman played instrumental music during the dinner; Alderman Baker, Mr J Marks, Mrs Gordon Baker & J Searle (songs); Misses Greta Granger & Joy Britton (dancing numbers); Mr J Loveridge & Miss Betty Street (vocal interlude); Mr Clifford Bird (pianist); Mr W Froom (country parson); Mr Frank Chaffey (piano-accordion) and Mr Gerald Cheyne (xylophone).

On leaving each lady and gentleman received a souvenir in Honiton pottery, inscribed ‘Old Folks’ Gathering, W J Emmett, Mayor, 1939’. The gifts, provided by subscribers, were handed to the recipients by the Mayor. Ladies also received ½ lb tea and men an ounce of baccy, the gifts of the Mayor.

_________________________

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On the night of the 1939 Old Folks Dinner, mugs were given to the men and the ladies received a jam pot, one of which the museum already had in its collection.

Charles Collard founded the Honiton Pottery in 1918 and remained there until his retirement in 1947.

This annual event continues today in the form of an ‘over 70s’ lunch.

Alderman William J Emmett served as Mayor of Lyme Regis, 1937-44.

Graham Davies

USED BOOKS

We plan to hold more of our ‘New & Used Book Sales’ in July and September 2020.

If any of our local Friends have some GOOD QUALITY books they would like to donate, please contact Richard Wells (01297 442627) or David Cox (01297 443156).

Thank you.

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BITTEN NAUTILUS

In the first of these articles I introduced the idea that fossil ammonites were sometimes victims of a predator that bit through

the shell near the back of the body chamber (between blue arrows). This damage would make it easier for the predator to remove the ammonite’s body. From the complex manipulation required to produce the bite mark in exactly the same place each time, we concluded the predator was probably like the modern cuttlefish with suckered arms that could hold and manipulate the ammonite precisely.

The latest find on a fossil walk is a bitten fossil nautiloid. It is the only example of a ventrally bitten nautiloid so far discovered. However, there are several puzzling features about it. First of all, it has a very short body chamber (red line, about a third the length in modern nautilus. The aperture appears to be undamaged, yet it seems most unlikely that such a short body chamber could have housed the entire body. The bite mark is in the usual position opposite the aperture, but it has penetrated the chambered part of the shell.

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As it grows, modern nautilus periodically moves its body forward in the shell and secretes a partition behind. The new partition forms a chamber that is initially filled with sea water. As the shell continues to grow and increase in weight, the nautilus pumps out some of the sea water and replaces it with air. This increases the overall buoyancy of the animal and offsets the increase in weight during growth. Modern nautilus does not expend energy trying to prevent its shell from sinking to the sea floor or floating to the surface. So, if the nautilus was alive when the predator bit it, the predator would have got a mouthful of air, not food.

On the other hand, the very short body chamber suggests that something had already damaged the shell and probably eaten the fossil nautilus. Yet the position of the damage only makes sense if the predator orientated the shell to bite opposite the aperture – and thus that the shell was the shape it is now with a very short body chamber. I have once seen a thrush vigorously beating a very thick, empty, winkle shell, which it stood no chance of ever breaking (or getting food from). Perhaps the predator of our nautilus made a similar mistake. If so, it helps explain how the predator knew exactly where to bite. It must have felt round the shell until it was opposite the aperture.

Finally, there are at least five separate bites (1-5 on the illustration) the outlines of which are rounded, but modern cuttlefish have pointed jaws like parrot’s beaks and would have produced pointed, triangular bites. This is less of a problem. There is no reason why a Jurassic relative of modern cuttlefish should not have had rounded jaws.

Fossil walks continue to reveal intriguing specimens even after all these years. If you find something puzzling, bring it in. You never know it might be something really exciting.

Chris Paul

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THE ROYAL AIRFORCE IN LYME REGIS, 1937-1964

With the likelihood of war in the near future, the Air Ministry established practice bombing and firing ranges in several areas around the country. One of these was off the Chesil Bank and the eastern half of Lyme Bay in 1937.

A base was established in Lyme Regis to service the ranges, with moorings for seaplane tenders, a large concrete slipway to service the boats, plus barracks and workshops on the site of the old cement works (now the Boatbuilding Academy) on what is now called Monmouth Beach.

Prior to the building of the barracks the servicemen were billeted with local families and from the start relationships were always good. Over the next 27 years there were many marriages with local girls and many of their descendants still live in town. Initially a few of the gentry objected to servicemen wearing uniform in town as it ‘lowered the tone’.

Starting off with a couple of seaplane tenders and a small complement of men, during the war years there were up to five air sea rescue boats and up to 60 personnel. The war years were very active for the unit, saving both British and German pilots, experimenting with various equipment and aircraft and undertaking various duties including standing by off the French coast on D-Day.

At the end of the war there were plans to close the base but these were suddenly dropped and a radar station was established on Stonebarrow. The ranges continued to be used for aircraft and flying research and were serviced by the RAF boats at Lyme.

However in 1964 finances forced the closure of the base and naval helicopters took over rescue duties. The range safety duties were put out to tender. My brother and I were lucky to get the contract and for the next ten years worked part-time duties for the radar station and Boscombe Down Experimental Establishment. This worked well for both parties, the Air Ministry only paying us when

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they needed us and in the meantime we could carry on fishing and running day-trips.

There are still a few in Lyme who can remember the RAF in its heyday, with boats laying at their moorings outside the harbour, the odd launch breaking away and being wrecked on the beach, airmen helping save furniture from the houses wrecked in the landslip, and helping at the big traffic accident in Broad Street, and of course the Brylcreem Boys who stole all our local girls.

Ken Gollop [Editor’s note – Ken will talk in more detail about this subject at

Woodmead Hall on 6th February as part of our lecture programme.]

363 - one of the pre-war launches

Rescued crew from Halifax bomber, 15 April 1942

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1515 – one of the most famous launches on the slipway in 1942

Unit photo 1942

1660 – Modern

range safety

launch 1956

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FRIENDS OF LYME REGIS MUSEUM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at Woodmead Halls on April 4th 2019

1. Apologies: Valerie Hayward, Alison Mitchell, Greg Cattell, Keith and Audrey Vivian and Anne Sankey. 40 people attended.

2. Minutes of the 2018 AGM: The minutes of 2018 were approved. Proposer: Joe Tesoriere. Seconded: Ken Gollop

3. Matters Arising: none. 4. Presentation of Annual Accounts for Year Ending 31 Dec 2018:

The accounts were approved. Proposer: John Dover. Seconded: Graham Davies.

5. Election of Examiner: David Cox thanked Stella Miller for examining the accounts and proposed that she be appointed as examiner for 2019. Proposer: David Cox. Seconded: Joe Tesoriere.

6. Chairman’s Report: The Committee Members were thanked for their enthusiasm, professionalism and hard work. Jane Newby and Laura Cattell, both of whom are standing down from their posts, were thanked for their sterling work; Jane as Secretary and Laura as Membership Secretary. We are proud of our new-look glossy Newsletter, complete with colour pictures and we shall endeavour to maintain the breadth of interesting articles. Our lecture series and fund-raising activities, including three two-day book sales and several children’s craft activities, have all been very successful. Our financial position is healthy, as it must be to enable us to make a significant contribution to the proposed Phase 2 building project. Recently we have made two purchases for the museum; firstly, a Goss china memento from Lyme Regis in the shape of an ammonite and secondly a charming Victorian watercolour of a Charmouth Road scene. Both will be displayed in the museum.

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Finally, our loyal members were thanked and advised that we are proceeding steadily to our target of 500 members by the end of this year.

7. Report from Museum Director, David Tucker: (read by David Cox): The Director reported that in 2018 we welcomed more than 32,000 visitors, double the number recorded in 2008. The museum trust recorded its highest ever trading surplus. Visitors continued to be impressed with our extended museum. We value and rely upon the support of volunteers and continue to seek new recruits. He thanked the Friends for their financial support. This report was endorsed by John Dover, Chairman of the Trustees, present at the AGM.

8. Election of Committee Members: David Cox (Chairman), Angela Main (Treasurer and Co-Membership Secretary), Alison Mitchell (Database Manager and Co-Membership Secretary), Valerie Hayward (Newsletter Editor and Publicity Officer) Richard Wells, Deborah Hodd and Greg Cattell all stood for re-election. Proposer: Ken Gollop. Seconded: John Dover, It was also proposed that Deborah Hodd be appointed Vice Chairman. Proposer; David Cox, seconded Angela Main. A new Secretary will be co-opted onto the Committee in the near future.

9. Resolution to Amend the Constitution: (as per the Annexure to the Agenda): An explanation was given about the minor alterations that have been made to the Constitution to remove inconsistencies. Members will be referred to as members and not Friends for consistency although the term Friends has been retained to refer to the charity as a whole. The term committee member will be used to refer to those members serving on the Committee. Due to administrative changes in the museum, the term Director will be used rather than Museum Curator. Additional wording allows for notices and newsletters to be served electronically as well as via post. Proposer: Deborah Hodd. Seconded: Richard Wells

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10. Any Other Business: A member asked if there would be any advantage in the Friends being registered as a CIC (a Community Interest Company) which can be appropriate for small-scale community enterprises and is simpler to operate. The Chairman confirmed that we have been a registered Charity with the Charity Commission for a long period of time and have no plans to change this. (Post meeting note: there are tax advantages for us as a charity as we can claim gift aid, and the administrative regime for small charities is not unduly onerous). In response to a member’s query confirmation was given that group emails are sent ‘blind’ to members. We have a robust Data Protection and Privacy Policy. In response to a member’s query confirmation was given that members helping at events are covered by our insurance which

is provided via our membership of BAfM (British Association of

Friends of Museums).

Agenda for the Annual General Meeting to be held at

Woodmead Halls on April 2nd 2020

1. Apologies 2. Minutes of the 2019 AGM 3. Matters Arising 4. Presentation of Annual Accounts 5. Election of Auditor 6. Chairman’s Annual Report 7. Director’s Annual Report 8. Election of Committee Members 9. Any Other Business 10. Date of next Annual General Meeting

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MARIE ANTOINETTE’S MISSING DIAMOND NECKLACE - THE CHARMOUTH

CONNECTION - a true story from 1956

‘We’ve rented a car for the day; want to come exploring?’ 'Of course I do!'

It was my friend Mark on the phone. We had worked together in Canada, at the Stratford Festival Theatre founded by the great director Tyrone Guthrie. Mark was visiting London with a colleague from the Theatre du Nouveau Monde in Montreal.

They picked me up early the next morning and we set out.

It was mid-June and the English countryside was at its best, punctuated with ancient buildings and places of worship that were built long before brave explorers crossed the Atlantic to discover 'The New World'. We weren't going anywhere in particular, but after a pleasant few hours we pulled up beside Ely Cathedral. It was thrilling to see the magnificent flying buttresses that had supported the entire building for about a thousand years. The church was empty when we went in to look around.

Pausing in the Sanctuary, my theatrical friends and I seated ourselves on the beautifully carved stone seats reserved for bishops and enjoyed ourselves pretending to be power-wielding medieval clerics who threatened impoverished peasants with Hell and Eternal Damnation if they did not pay their taxes!

When we left the Cathedral and headed south, I heard myself asking Jean Louis and Mark if we could please travel as far as Charmouth.

'Charmouth? Where's that?' they asked, looking a bit puzzled. 'It's by the sea, near Lyme Regis! Somehow it is connected with Marie Antoinette's infamous diamond necklace scandal and I must discover how that is!'

To my surprise, Mark and Jean Louis were willing to take me there.

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The infamous diamond necklace

As soon as we got to Charmouth we headed into a pub for some refreshment. The friendly publican shook his head and said 'no' when I asked him if he knew about the infamous necklace, but he assured me that a retired journalist who lived down the road could probably be helpful. This landlord had served beer to lots of strange customers in his time, but never one who seemed so excited about some old French scandal he had never heard about, until I came along.

My two friends reminded me that they had to get the rented car back to London by dark and I could see they were getting tired of my increasingly obsessive behaviour about the necklace.

'Okay, go,' I said, 'but I'm staying here until I find out what I want to know. I'll bet you ten pounds I will get the information about Charmouth's connection with the necklace within two days.'

So we shook hands on it and they left me, somewhat reluctantly. I had not come prepared for a stay over. No nightgown, not even a toothbrush. By this time it was early evening.

My first interview was with the retired journalist who was courteous, intrigued by my quest, but unable to supply any relevant information. He sent me on to a friend who had a B and B just down

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the road. The friend was glad to supply a bed for the night, but went pale when I explained that I had made a bet with two friends that somehow, I would discover Charmouth's connection with Marie Antoinette's diamond necklace.

The B&B was number 2 Hillside, Charmouth

'Please sit down, Miss Day', he said, almost in a whisper. 'For the past few weeks, I have been replacing rotten floorboards in this house. Yesterday, I pulled up a couple of them and found some old letters and documents stashed in a metal box. I was examining them just before you came to the door. You won't believe what I found! I discovered that the last living descendant of a man named Boehmer, the French Crown Jeweller who made that scandalous necklace, lived here in this very house! I imagine that he kept his true identity a closely guarded secret. During the French Revolution, the necklace mysteriously disappeared and for generations Boehmer's family had been obliged to pay for the diamonds used to construct the necklace. There is a document here that shows he paid the final instalment in 1910!'

I went back to London in triumph.

Mark and Jean Louis were happy to acknowledge my winning bet, paid the ten pounds and even presented me with a fake diamond necklace that sparkled almost as brightly as the real thing.

Marie Day

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AMAZON SMILE

If you buy from Amazon, you could help us raise money to support the museum. And it is really simple to do!

When you shop on Amazon and select the “Smile” option, 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products* is donated to the charity of your choice – which could, of course, be us!

To sign up, go to https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ where you’ll see a drop down option along the top bar which says ‘supporting’. Here you can choose to support the Friends of Lyme Regis Philpot Museum and continue to make your Amazon purchase as usual.

To date, charities have benefitted to the tune of around £2 million. We have already raised some money, but with your help it could be much, much more!

*Products eligible for the donation are marked ‘Eligible for Amazon Smile donation’ on their product detail pages.

A PLEA FROM BAfM

The national body of BAfM (British Association of Friends of Museums) is divided into regions. Sadly no one has yet volunteered to take on the role of coordinator for our South West region, a position that has been vacant for a while. In earlier days we enjoyed an annual one-day conference in the South West and indeed we ourselves hosted a very successful meeting in Lyme Regis in 2011.

If anyone would like to enquire about the role of South West Regional Coordinator, please contact: Jean Knight 83, Grosvenor Avenue, Carshalton Beeches, Surrey SM5 3EN.

BAfM website: www.bafm.org.uk

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ST MICHAEL CHURCHYARD SEAT

On the eastern side of St Michael the Archangel church in Lyme Regis, in the churchyard overlooking the sea, can be found a seat with a dedication plate ‘in memory of Robert King 1900 – 1985’.

The seat is unusual in its design - most people would not give a second glance to the frame, but looking at the end frames there is a design relating to early radar; on the southern end is a depiction of a tower emitting a beam in which there is an aeroplane; on the northern end is a depiction of an A scope, an early type of radar oscilloscope.

What connection there is, if any, to Robert King is not known nor do we know why this seat is in the churchyard at Lyme Regis. So if you can throw any light on the subject the Research Team would love to know.

Please contact Richard Wells at wellsrjw@gmail.com if you can help.

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DONATIONS VIA SALES ON EBAY

Did you know that when you sell items on eBay you can donate money to the Friends of the Museum? Read on to find out how.

(The article assumes that you are already registered on eBay and PayPal.)

Sign in on eBay as normal, select sell from the information bar at the top left.

The sell page will open, select advance sell (top right of page) if you are on the quick listing page.

List your item as normal.

About half way down the page, under selling details there is a box by ‘make a donation’. Click this box. A list of charities will appear. If the museum is not already shown, click on ‘select another charity’. A separate search page will appear. Type in ‘Lyme Regis Museum’ and ‘search’ and the Friends information will appear. Click ‘select’ and that will re-direct you back to the sell page and the museum will be selected. If it is not selected automatically then select it.

Now decide what percentage of the sale you will donate. Click on the box and select the percentage from the drop down menu.

That’s it!

Complete your listing as usual and a donation logo will appear on the listing page of your advert page.

A couple of points to bear in mind:-

Payments to the Friends are made via PayPal so you need to be registered, and don’t forget to complete the Gift Aid section on PayPal Giving so that the museum can claim another 25% on the sale.

The money will be donated to the Friends directly after a couple of weeks have elapsed. You cannot adjust the donation once the item has sold, so unless you wish to donate the postage costs as well it is best to list the item with postage as a separate cost otherwise, if post is ‘free’ (i.e. included in the sale price), you

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cannot retrieve the postage element after the sale has completed.

eBay waives the final value fees for a charitable donation so the listing costs you nothing if you give 100% and pro-rata reduction as the contribution is less.

eBay has a comprehensive information page on charitable donations - click on ‘help and contact’ at the top of the home page and search ‘selling for charity’ and all the information will be displayed.

The Friends has benefitted by a substantial sum over the past few years and any donation achieved in this manner is most welcome.

Richard Wells

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NEW MEMBERS

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to the following people who have recently joined the Friends:-

Mr J. & Mrs A. Tirrell Axminster Ms M. Thompson & Mr L. Morris Lyme Regis Mr J. & Mrs C. Lumley London Mr S. Hunt Crewkerne Mr P. Mason & Ms M. Scott-Jones London Ms J. Newton Lyme Regis Mr G. & Mrs L. Pickett Lyme Regis Mr D. Wood Lyme Regis Mr J. Lewandowski Middlesex Mr A. & Mrs C. Baines Seaton Mr M. & Mrs K. Whittome Uplyme Mr J. & Mrs K. Pickles Lyme Regis Ms A. Box Charmouth

Winter Opening Wednesday to Sunday 10am – 4pm Summer Opening Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm Sunday 10am – 4pm

Adult: £5.95 Child (6 - 17): £2.75 Child (5 & under): no charge Family (up to 2 adults & 3 children): £14.75 Student: £2.75 (with student card)

(Editor’s note - details correct at time of going to print)

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THE HISTORY OF HEALTHCARE IN LYME REGIS VIA ITS HOSPITAL BUILDINGS –

PART 2

This article is a continuation of the article Lizzie Wiscombe wrote in the last issue of the Museum Friend (July 2019 - Issue 34).

Lyme was beginning to outgrow the little four bedded cottage hospital at Providence Place (1873-1889), often becoming over crowded, necessitating the use of a fifth bed, which was usually a linen cupboard, when not required.

The Dispensary (1880’s)

At this time there is mention of a Dispensary as a separate institution although there is no record of its location.

The demand of the sick for Out-Patient care and attendance in their own homes continued to increase. Patients could receive help at the Dispensary if they presented a signed card. Miss Barlow, the Matron, and Dr Bangay, Lyme’s Doctor, promised to give ‘advice gratis to the sick and poor of Lyme Regis provided they presented a signed card by Miss Barlow, at the surgery, at 9am and that they paid one shilling towards the cost of their medicine’ (2). This only served to increase the demand for care outside the hospital and required the appointment of more qualified staff to meet that demand.

In 1887 a servant with certificates in midwifery and a ‘monthly nurse’ was appointed. She attended women in their own homes, during the 'lying in' period (9) of their confinements, staying until after the birth. This was generally about a month (8), either continuously or at set appointments throughout the pregnancy, much like today. This was usually governed by what the family could afford.

Keble Cottage (1889-1897)

This was situated above the town on Sidmouth Road, just above the entrance to Coram Avenue (7). A lease of seven or fourteen years was offered by the owner Mr Burge. He was a grocer and fine wines

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seller in the town. His shop was next to the present day Tesco, now called Ammonite (that still sells fine wines and food!).

Keble Cottage could offer accommodation for three male beds downstairs and three female beds on the upper floor, in each room there was space for a child’s bed, if necessary. There was also a private ward for those who could afford it.

From the beginning it was obvious that the Cottage would still not be the right accommodation for a growing town like Lyme. Its catchment area was large and included Uplyme, Charmouth, Whitchurch, Catherston, Wootton Fitzpaine and communities in the surrounding areas. It was ‘too small, too inconvenient and too far from the town centre’ (7). So the search remained for a suitable building, as the shorter lease came to an end. Central premises, in Broad Street, were looked at, but some residents officially objected to the placement of the town hospital there. Fortunately, the house known as the Gables, in Church Street, became available and the hospital opened on Lady Day, 1897 (2). Keble Cottage was demolished in 1950, when the road was widened.

The Gables (1897-1927)

The Gables belonged to Mrs Freeman and was occupied by Mrs Samson (2) and situated opposite St Michael’s Church. (When the hospital relocated to Pound Road, it became a Hotel. Now closed, the building has been converted into flats, as of 2015.)

Alterations were made so that the men’s ward, now with four beds, was on the ground floor with four beds for women above. Two other rooms provided one private ward and a room for the resident nurse (2).

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The great pioneer of surgical antiseptics, the surgeon Lord Joseph Lister, who had a house in Lyme, at 'High Cliff', gifted an operating theatre to the cottage hospital in 1903. This was added to the back of the building, behind the men’s ward. In those days, not every small hospital was lucky enough to have their own theatre.

The Gables successfully performed tonsillectomies and appendicectomies, often by the family doctors, who were dually qualified, as skilled surgeons or anaesthetists (2). This, yet again, increased the workload of the hospital.

(Lister became the 1st Baron of Lyme Regis in 1897 in honour of his life saving research.)

In 1906 Lister’s brother, Arthur, a wine merchant, bought the adjoining house in Monmouth Street, then occupied by Mrs Goldsworthy (2). She continued to live in the lower part of the house. More ward space was made available in the upper part. Later, since the stairway prohibited its use as a ward, the attic provided nurse’s accommodation. Patients had use of a small enclosed courtyard. There was also space at the back for several sheds, one for storage of bath chairs. But in 1899, when offered a donkey and chair, it was thought not worth the expense or space and the offer was regretfully refused! (2). The Mortuary was housed in one shed and the X-ray equipment in another. Out-Patients continued to be well attended and was accessed at the side of the building.

However, although this site was a great improvement on its forerunners, it was far from ideal. The noise from the playground of the National School next door (to become St Michael’s Primary School, now St Michael’s Business Centre) could be heard - although there was an agreement to keep the children in if there was anyone seriously ill (2). There was also noise from the passing horse drawn

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traffic. The smell from the nearby town gas works was unpleasant and being situated so close to the church, it was agreed, in cases of critical illness, the bells would not be rung (7). Internally, the almost spiral staircase posed a problem, when bringing patients to and from theatre on stretchers. They were carried up and down, either by the doctors or willing neighbours. My own grandfather, Lionel Wiscombe, used to tell of going across to help when he was a carpenter at our building firm (A & F Wiscombe, close by at Long Entry). He would go with one of the other men because negotiating the staircase worked best with one short man and a tall man. Lionel was over six foot! Later they devised detachable bannisters. There is no record of whether this was Lionel’s idea or not! Each room had an open coal fire, including the theatre. It frequently had to be put out, when the use of ether increased, for fear of explosion!

During the First World War the hospital had to cope with shortages of supplies and staff. The Red Cross established a temporary hospital for soldiers at nearby Rhode Hill, just west of Lyme (7). Later in its life it became a cookery school, later still accommodation for the girl boarders of Woodroffe School. Now it has been converted into flats.

Lyme and its cottage hospital were directly involved in two incidents of the Great War (7). On the 1st January 1915 HMS Formidable was sunk by a German U boat in the Bay (7). The sailors were brought ashore, cold and barely alive. Some were cared for at the Pilot Boat pub, still on its original site today, with the dead placed in the bowling alley, to the side of the pub. Famously, one of the dead was revived by the landlord’s dog - a rough coated collie named Lassie, thought to be the inspiration for the films. Her history and pictures can be seen at the pub and in our museum. The grateful sailor was to return to

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Lyme many times to visit his canine saviour. Survivors needing treatment were taken to the Gables.

On 18th April 1918 the SS Gitano was torpedoed and again suffering from the cold, the near dead crew were cared for by local families. Two of them were so seriously ill they were admitted to the Gables (7). The hospital at Rhode Hill closed in 1919 and gave much of the equipment no longer required to the Gables.

A building like this cannot be without its ghost stories. In the early days of the hospital on this site, gypsies would come and camp at Timber Hill, on the Charmouth side of the town, during the summer season. The young girls would come and sell flowers to visitors going to the hospital, in the square. One year there was a terrible accident, a horse bolted with its carriage and one of the girls was injured, getting caught under the wheels. She was taken to the hospital, where she died of those injuries. From that time onwards there was never another gipsy encampment. Sometime later there was a young man visiting his elderly mother, seriously ill in the hospital. Whilst he was sitting at her bedside, she woke up and asked who the sweet girl was, that had brought her a bunch of violets. He could not see any flowers on her bedside table and he knew she was so ill, he didn’t think much of it, but that night his mother died. He told the nurses what his mother had said. They said they had never seen the girl, but many of their patients had told them, just before they passed over, of the sweet smell and girl with the bunch of violets.

Once again I have used up my allowed word count! So the final move of Lyme's Cottage Hospital to Pound Road and tales of its heyday, must be covered in a third part of this article, if the Ed has room!

References

(1) Legg, R. (2003) The Book of Lyme Regis - The Story of Dorset’s

Western Spa. Halsgrove

(2) Cheyne, G. (1973) The Story of Lyme Regis Hospital 1873-1973

C. J. Creed, Broadoak, Bridport

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(3) Nye, E.W. (2019) Pounds Sterling to Dollars: Historical

Conversion of Currency accessed May 2019,

http://www.uwyo.edu/numimage/currency.htm

(4) Calculate Modern Values of Historic Concertina Prices accessed

May 2019, http://www.conertina.com

(5) Gosling, T. & Marshall (1993) Towns & Villages of England -

Lyme Regis Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd

(6) Milton, L. (2008) The Victorian Hospital Shire Publications

(7) Lyme Regis Society (Ed K. Shaw) (2015) Historic Houses of Lyme

Part 3 Lyme Regis Society

(8) Walne, E. (2011) Blog - The Rise of the 'Monthly Nurse'

accessed Sept 2019, http://www.elizabethwalne.co.uk

(9) Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2019) ‘Lying-in’ accessed Sept

2019, https://www.merriam-webster.com

[Editor’s note - unfortunately in Lizzie’s previous article the References were accidentally omitted. This list references the source

material for both pieces.]

Lizzie Wiscombe

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