Curator’s Tours in the Museum of Epsom and Ewell at Bourne Hall
Every Wednesday from the 11 January there will be an hour-long tour of the museum led by the curator – a chance to learn more of the fascinating people and stories behind the objects on display. It will also be an opportunity to see items the museum has only just acquired and objects not normally on display. Why not bring along that mystery coin or piece of pottery you found in the back garden, or perhaps the heirloom you have at home and wondered what it is or how old. Bring it along and test the experts!
Tours begin at 11am and finish at 12pm. Please meet in the front gallery.
MONTGOMERY BONBON: MUSEUM MYSTERY TRAIL
FAMILY FUN THIS HALF-TERM AT BOURNE HALL MUSEUM!
Families will be able to go undercover and test their detective skills at Bourne Hall Museum, Ewell. as part of the national Montgomery Bonbon: Museum Mystery Trail, organised by Walker Books and Kids in Museums. The exciting new trail celebrates the release of the brilliantly funny new children’s book Montgomery Bonbon: Murder at the Museum written by comedian Alasdair Beckett-King, with illustrations by Claire Powell.
Do you ever get the toe-tingling feeling that a mystery is about to unfold? Meet Montgomery Bonbon (aka Bonnie Montgomery) the world’s greatest ten-year-old secret super sleuth!
Launching in time for February half-term, the trail will run from 11 February until 29 April 2023. Over 50 museums across the UK will be taking part and encouraging families to explore their local museum. Grab an activity sheet at Bourne Hall Museum and test out your detective skills, solve puzzles and have fun! Remember to pick up a free moustache bookmark to get in the mystery-solving mindset!
Wednesday 12 April
11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 3.30pm
Gladiator School
Enlist into our Gladiator School and discover the role of a gladiator within Roman society. Learn about the different types of fighting and weaponry. Witness the resident Gladiators demonstrate their skills. Will it be thumbs up or thumbs down?
Are you brave enough to survive the arena? Come and learn how to be a gladiator and put your new-found skills into practice. Will you be a Murmillo, Secutor or perhaps a Provocator?
Was it really history’s most deadly sport?
Entry £5 per child, 20 children per session you have to book!
Further information available from
David Brooks, Bourne Hall Museum, Spring Street, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 1UF. Tel 020 8394 1734
Ewell History Walks, April 5 10am to 12pm April 6 2pm to 4pm and 7.30pm to 9.30pm
Peel back time and discover Ewell’s hidden past and unseen history with a guided walk around the village. A settlement since pre-historic times, Ewell has a rich history concealed beneath the modern village.
Visit Bourne Hall’s sacred lake were Bronze, Iron Age and Roman folk made offer-ings to ancient gods. Tread in the footsteps of the Romans on Stane Street and dis-cover their sacred shafts. Discover the village’s Saxon cemetery and its long-lost church.
Discover Ewell’s dark past and the tales that some would rather forget. Learn about exploding gunpowder mills. Tread in the footsteps of the body-snatchers and see where they plied their grisly trade. Hear stories of witches, tragic coach crashes and folk who won’t stay dead!
Price £5 per person. Places limited to 20 and must be pre-booked with
David Brooks. dbrooks@epsom-ewell.gov.uk 020 83941734 Please meet at the main entrance to Bourne Hall
Bourne Hall Museum Ewell, KT17 1UF
April 15 10am to 4pm
Contact David Brooks
020 8394 1734
Welcome to the Wild Escape, a major new project uniting hundreds of museums in a celebration of this country’s wildlife and creativity. The Wild Escape invites children ages 7–11 to their local museum where they will create an artwork around an animal in the collection. Their pictures will be brought together in a collective artwork on Earth Day. Led by Art Fund and supported by Arts Council England, the Wild Escape is an opportunity for the next generation to join in the conversation about biodiversity.
Bourne Hall Museum’s animal is the Swan. So, turn up on April 15 for lots of free activities based around swans. There will be:
Hearing storytime with tales and legends including the Ugly Duckling
Making hands-on art with pictures, drawings, and paintings
Meeting the Swan Queen and Swan Fairy to learn more about these fascinating birds and the mini beasts you can find in the garden.
Learning about Swan-upping and using swan feathers to draw their bill markings, write your name using the Victorian style of writing with pot hooks to add to the authenticity.
Looking at the history of Swan-upping, the geographical areas, the crime linked to it, the markings, and statistics and how it helps us today.
Coronation Fete
Bourne Hall Park
Spring Street Ewell KT17 1UF
April 29, 10pm to 4pm
Bourne Hall Museum is holding a Free Coronation Fete to commemorate the enthroning of our new king. There will be a Victorian village fete with Maypole dancing, Punch & Judy, drill with Victorian soldiers, an antique fire engine in action, Music Hall songs, and a children’s Royal Fancy Dress competition. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert will be there along with a Victorian policeman, old-style school and heavy horses. Don’t miss the gift market inside Bourne Hall!
We are looking for teams of eight to take part in our tug of war competition: anyone from schools, pubs, clubs or just a group of friends who want to have a go. There will also be a special competition for primary schools! Trophies will be awarded to the winners of the different groups
Please email dbrooks@epsom-ewell.gov.uk