A local heritage project covering Masham and Mashamshire, North Yorkshire
The Making of Mashamshire
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Bringing back Peacock and Verity... and much more besides

8/23/2019

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As many are aware, we have long been hopeful of restoring and opening a heritage centre in the old bakery at the rear of Reah’s on Silver Street.
With the whole building now up for sale there is a much bigger opportunity presenting itself to the community as well as the chance to ensure the grocery, that has been a fundamental part of Masham life for over 200 years, is retained and cherished.


Older residents will remember it as Brayshaw’s and before that as Peacock & Verity. The memories of taking fancy tea in the upstairs café, the feel of the old wood counters and the smell of the many exotic teas, coffees and fresh goods that were for sale by the pound.


At the same time we look to Masham’s future; ensuring a vibrant streetscape of shops and businesses, embracing important new trends of low packaging, finding places that our young people can afford to live in the town they grew up in.


The bold plan is to purchase the whole building for the community. Establish a fully operational heritage grocer shop (think Beamish!) and Edwardian tea room in the current retail space. A local history centre to the rear (accessed from College Lane) which will be centred on the Victorian bread ovens and include space for educational activities, archiving and research, and local history displays.


Upstairs we plan to convert into much-needed affordable small rental units, ideal for young people leaving home or couple setting up together. The recent Housing Needs Survey undertaken by the local Rural Housing Enabler has provided much supporting evidence of the need we all knew was there.


A new community group is being set up to deliver this plan in partnership with local organisations including the Community Office, the Parish Council and the history groups. We are working closely with the current owners to develop these ideas, and project partners include Harrogate Borough Council, Homes England, Broadacres Housing Association, and the Heritage Lottery Fund.


Masham has always boldly created our own future whilst cherishing our independence – whether that be building our own gas works, generating our own electricity or providing accommodation for our elderly residents at Maple Creek. Is this our next bold step and can you help?


To find out more about these exciting plans or if you have skills, experience or time to help make these plans a reality, please contact Jan Reed on 01765 689702 or jan.reed@wildgarlic.net
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The Bakehouse.... our hopes for a working space..

8/23/2019

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Many in Masham remember the bakery at the rear of Reah's (or Brayshaw's as was) on Silver Street.

In 2016 we worked with the owners and two funders (HLF and Leader) to develop a Heritage Learning Centre. 

The space is large and still has the original wall ovens including a solid fuel one. It is currently just used for storage and needs a lot of work to bring it back into use but our vision was strong!

We can see a classroom space where we can have children taking part in workshops about Masham and town life through the centuries.

We can see a workshop space where we can run local heritage crafts and skills courses - like bread making or straw hat making - did you know Masham was a centre of straw hat making once?!

We can see talks about looking after your older property or how to research your home.

We can see walls covered in photographs, maps and stories about Masham

We can see people coming in to use our resources to find out more about their family history or the history of their house.

We can see the many precious items people donate us, having their own secure home.

All whilst bringing back to life the literal hearth of Masham life.

Unfortunately, due to the sad passing of Mr Lilley, our plans were put on hold. The whole property is now up for sale and we have even bigger plans....more coming soon...




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Why we need a home...

8/23/2019

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Over the past 7 years MoM has been able to develop a strong base of work with pupils from local schools and older people from sheltered housing, church groups, and across the community. Different groups of participants have worked with HLF, Nidderdale AONB, Heritage Schools, and Harrogate Borough Council. We have set up a website and social media presence, which are developing a large online audience, with conversation involving people with Mashamshire links from all over the world.

Our volunteers have produced and delivered talks and displays on a range of topics and produced a number of booklets. We are working with the County Records Office, local history groups, schools, businesses and individuals to catalogue local sources.

MoM has two significant archival collections: one of 25,000+ Masham legal documents from 1770 to 1950; and the other of over 2,000 photographs by George Hare, a local farmer, preacher and newspaper correspondent active from the 1950s-1990s. We also hold a collection of objects of interest, oral interviews, photographs and maps.
 
The need for premises
The overwhelming barrier to MoM’s development is that we currently operate with no office or public space. Our papers and artefacts are in storage, and we have no regular or direct way to meet and share our activities and archives with local people or visitors. For six months in 2013 MoM was donated by a local family business the use of an empty shop, and this physical centre made a massive impact on delivering our aims to protect, explore and celebrate Masham’s heritage.

This premises enabled us to:
  • set up learning workshops and displays;
  • build ongoing relationships with older, isolated local people;
  • recruit a number of volunteers for archiving and project delivery (many of whom would work with us again if there were space for them do so so)
  • offer a safe, clean space to focus on our original documents.
Most importantly, we had a place that encouraged everyone to come and talk and share.

Masham currently has neither a town museum nor an archive; nowhere for local people and visitors alike to find out about the area’s history, culture, businesses and families. This is a significant omission for a town of such unique heritage, historical importance, and growing visitor profile. Heritage education is the primary strand of MoM activities as we aim to showcase the long social and environmental heritage of Masham, and how Masham has survived and remained sustainable when other comparable rural market towns have not.

A heritage centre would enable MoM to reinstate all of the work mentioned above, with an expanded focus on learning and sharing opportunities. We are especially keen to provide a venue that is comfortable for older residents, enabling them to share their memories in comfort, and in the knowledge that their lives will be of interest to people far afield and those not yet even born.

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    Join us on our search to find a permanent home for MOM and our collections

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