Tenterden Museum

Tenterden Museum has been fortunate to put on display an exhibition of Tenterden lace this year, the lace being on loan from the Winser Family, which has been associated with the Borough for generations. It had been forgotten that lace had been made about the turn of the century by the Misses Winser until the pieces were offered to a local resident for disposal. A permanent home is being sought where it will be available, readily for those who wish to study the art in detail, although some pieces will remain within Tenterden's Museum.

Amongst interesting items are babies' bootees and a wedding veil which will be displayed with a Victorian Wedding dress. The Museum, which adjoins the Western car park in Station Road, has also offered this year an exhibition of Victorian children's toys, books and the like. These include a Rocking Horse from Bethersden (where they are now made), a family sampler dated 1823 by a Miss Winser, aged 7 years, a Paisley handkerchief embroidered by her granddaughter about the turn of the century at Rye in her teenage years and a variety of memorabilia.

From an archaeological point of view, the history of the changed scene round the Isle of Oxney is on view and of hop-growing (much reduced locally in recent years).

A fine model of the Borough in 1850, long before the steam railway was built shows what limited changes have taken place between East Cross and West Cross, i.e. the wide, tree-bordered High Street.

The Museum closes down for the winter months but will reopen in the Spring.

W. Tunstall Bates, Tenterden Museum