ORGANISERS at the Frome Museum have been celebrating what has been a successful year for the museum with a variety of different exhibitions proving popular such as the ‘Celebrated Women of Frome’ as well as ‘Prehistoric Frome’.
Frome museum’s exhibition officer, David Lassman said, “The main highlight of the year was the ‘Celebrated Women of Frome’ exhibition. This ran between March, when the museum opened for the season, and July, which coincided with the Frome Festival.”
The exhibition, curated by David Lassman, celebrated numerous women who had made a considerable mark in their chosen fields and who had a strong association with Frome.
These included Christina Rossetti, whose mere yearlong residency in the town, running a school with her mother, belied the major influence the family had on Frome during the mid-late nineteenth century.
Other women highlighted included Mavis Tate, the town’s only female MP in its history of being a parliamentary constituency; Clara Grant, the well-known educational reformer; and Alice Seely, Lady Harris, who photographs of abuses in the Belgian Congo in the early 20th century shocked the world and led to her becoming known as a pioneer humanitarian and one of the first female photographers. This also encompassed an event about her in collaboration with PhotoFrome.
“Another highlight for the exhibition, was the restoration of poet Elizabeth Singer-Rowe’s portrait,” added David. “Other exhibitions included Andrew Edwards’ ‘Prehistoric Frome’, the conservation of J.W. Singer’s negatives, and a trio that focused on births, deaths, and marriages, curated by Colin Wisbey.
“Several events were put on at the museum throughout the year, including a talk on the Monmouth Rebellion by Gary Kearley, Nevertheless Productions’ The Auditions, and the Write Place’s A Write At The Museum, the latter which included the use of objects for inspiration. “Although now closed for the winter, the museum opened for the Christmas independent market weekend, when a nativity scene was displayed in one of its basements and the front entrance was open to public to enjoy the decorated staircase, along with several costumed figures. Online, the museum volunteers created an enviable catalogue of research materials and publications.” For more information visit: https://frome-heritage-museum.org
