Alice in Wonderland cancelled

Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, it isn’t going to be possible after all to stage Friends at Barton’s production of Alice in Wonderland this year at Wilderspin, cancelled due to Covid restrictions in 2020.

Click here for more information and about refunds.

Quiz Night

Everyone’s invited to celebrate Museums at Night with us and take part in our popular Quiz Night on Friday 29 October – which also helps raise funds for further restoration works on the site.  It’s only £2 per person – but you can spend more in the bar!  Teams of up to six can be booked now on (01652) 635172.  The quiz will take place in the Joseph Wright Hall (ground floor).  Doors open 6.30pm.  Quiz starts at 7pm.

Christmas Weekends

Saturdays 4 & 5 and Sundays 11 & 12 December, 10am-4pm

Visit Barton’s only Victorian Father Christmas, with crafts and more.

Book your stall for all or part of these festive weekends.

Tel (01652) 635172

Decimal Place

How did schools and wider society cope with going decimal overnight fifty years ago?

Reminisce in the Chatty Café and share your memories of pounds, shillings and pence and non-metric weights and measures before the big change.

The Teacher is Abroad in the Land

Samuel Wilderspin began his pioneering work spreading Infant Schools throughout the British Isles in 1820.  Ian Wolseley explores the travels, trials and tribulations of this itinerant promoter of Infant education as he journeyed by road and sea just as the railway age dawned – making a four-year “stopover” here in Barton to set up his Model School.  The talk is part of Barton Civic Society’s 2021 lecture programme, and will take place in the Joseph Wright Hall (ground floor) at 7.3opm.  Non members £2.  Doors open 7.00pm.

Fakes and Forgeries: The Art World’s Biggest Headache

Barton Civic Society’s public lecture programme recommences at Wilderspin with a welcome return of popular speaker Marilyn Roberts to take a light-hearted look at how some of the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and museums have been fooled by forgers – including the infamous Garden Shed Gang of Bolton!

The talk is part of Barton Civic Society’s 2021 lecture programme, and will take place in the Joseph Wright Hall (ground floor) at 7.3opm.  Non members £2.  Doors open 7.00pm.

Temporary closure

Face to Face

What was school like in the past?

Was it as scary as they say?

The only way to find out is try it yourself!

Bring the family to meet one of our historical teachers and join a lesson as part of your museum visit – you can even plan a trip to the tea room afterwards to console yourselves and swap schooldays stories!

Remaining sessions still available:

Saturday 28 August     Mrs. Wilson’s Wartime Classroom

All lessons start at 1.30pm and last 45 minutes.

All adults £5.  Up to two children (with one adult) free.  Subsequent children £2.

Booking required – telephone (01652) 635172

Back to School!

Follow in the footsteps of the Victorian children who came to school here full of trepidation and excitement, through from the School Yard and into School, then explore Mr. Wilderspin’s Infant Schoolroom.

Who used the finger-stocks in the Victorian Classroom?

What’s hidden in the desks in the Wartime Classroom?

What was school like for your mum, dad and grandparents?

Explore the world’s only reconstruction of Mr. Wilderspin’s Model Infant School.

Barton Arts – Lincspirational Plants Exhibition

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust presents an exhibition of 30 artworks by Lincolnshire artists chosen to signify the importance of plants in Lincolnshire, and reminding us of the link between plants and creativity and how they symbolise the value and importance of our connection with the natural world.

The pictures will be on show here at Wilderspin (10am – 4pm) and in pop up form at various places around the town during the weekend.

All the artwork submitted will be available for purchase from an online exhibition/auction in October 2021.