Newsletter March 2008 - Number 7
There are four areas that the team would like to update you on.
- A recent talk by the trustees at Bruce Castle in Haringey
- Where are we on the location front
- The Jim Clark Festival
- Potential television documentary about the Lotus 25, Colin Chapman and the Hornsey site.
Bruce Castle
Bruce Castle Museum is accredited by MLA London. The MLA's Accreditation Scheme sets national standards for UK museums.
Bruce Castle is a Grade I listed 16th Century manor house in 20 acres of parkland. William Compton - a member of Henry VIII’s court, built the oldest surviving parts of the building.
Since then the building has been modified several times by new owners including the Coleraine family. One of the wives of the 2nd Lord Coleraine is said to haunt the building.
Sir Rowland Hill's family ran a progressive school for boys at Bruce Castle during the Victorian period. Sir Rowland reformed the British postal system and became famous for introducing the Penny Post.
Bruce Castle opened as a Museum in 1906 and now houses the Borough of Haringey's local history collections and archives.
Key aims
- To acquire cultural material of relevance to Haringey’s past, present and future.
- To manage the collections and the museum to relevant local, regional and national standards.
- To make accessible the building, collections and associated information by means of exhibitions, publications, events, education and outreach work.
- To be relevant, responsive and accessible to all members of the community.
- To care for Bruce Castle Museum and to develop it further as a valued community resource.
- To contribute to the quality of life of Haringey’s residents including a contribution to the regeneration of the Tottenham area.
In January the Colin Chapman Museum and Education Centre were invited to give a talk about the aims of the museum and what we are trying to achieve.
The photos were taken by John Douglas, one of our trustees.
CCMEC at History Fair
The CCMEC flew the flag for Colin Chapman and Lotus at the Haringey (North London ) annual History Fair.
The Fair, held in the Bruce Castle community museum on 9th February, gave local historical and specialist interest groups the opportunity to set out their stalls for the public and show something of the recent history of the Borough. Other participants included the New River Preservation Society – dedicated to maintaining public access to a 17th Century artificial waterway still in use bringing drinking water to central London; genealogical enthusiasts; steam engine restorers and collectors of local maps.
The CCMEC stand featured a display of “then and now” photographs and emphasised the point that a world-beating and highly technologically-advanced enterprise had its roots in a humble bottle store in Hornsey and that one man’s drive and vision took the Lotus badge to the forefront of motor sport through technical innovation allied to the ability to inspire greatness in others.
The CCMEC thanks Deborah Hitchcock, Curator, Bruce Castle Museum, for the opportunity to publicise the museum project.
Some display pictures taken from "Lotus - The Early Years" Peter Ross, Coterie Press and "Colin Chapman, The man and his cars" G Crombac, Patrick Stephens Ltd.
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Neil Duncan
Secretary to the Colin Chapman Museum and Education Centre
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