‘Austen Age’ Time ‘Tec Taster Brings Antiquarian Academy Open Events to a Close for 2018

Thanks to those who supported Sunday's Heritage Open Days event - ‘Antiquarian Academy’ ‘Austen Age’ Time ‘Tec Taster Tournament! - particularly those who kindly helped with the preparation of displays.

Though still concentrating on the Regency era, this year's HOD was different to that of 2017 in presenting a smaller exhibition, in order to provide more hands-on activities.There were various opportunities for visitors to try their hand at archaeological investigation & interpretation (with lots of 'finds' to handle & examine closely); & small displays on the theme of travel in Regency Derbyshire, and the changing regional landscape at this time.

Both the displays & activities related to the 'Seeking Sophie' history mystery / 'Austen Age' story & 'e-quest' (a series of challenges that can be undertaken using digital material; and for those able to follow a local trail, gathering evidence 'in the field' - providing opportunities to enhance understanding of & actively engage with the historic environment).

By participating in some of the activities, visitors could (with Mrs. Leach's help) to reveal vital clues for the Seeking Sophie Case Files - and learn some of the methods of archaeological & historical investigations in the process. The 'Seeking Sophie' challenge concludes this week (for more information on this 'e-quest', enter 'Seeking Sophie' in the search bar at the top of the page).

More photos of the displays & activities can be viewed in the Flickr album.

This is likely to be the last open / public Antiquarian Academy event for a while. As mentioned on the Antiquarian Academy Events Page, for the remainder of 2018 & early 2019 I intend to principally provide digital learning experiences ('armchair antiquarian adventures', self-guided tours in the local landscape, & challenges); although I may if approached by small groups (or public groups, if enough people express an interest in attending) also provide talks on the subjects they cover at the 'Academy'.

Heritage Open Day 2018 Update #2

To clarify: it is no longer possible to book a place on the micro-workshops (finding myself without an assistant I must unfortunately withdraw this side of the event).

BUT the small 'Austen Age Antiquarian Detection' exhibition is still going ahead - so drop in between 6.30 - 8 pm to see how we're using archaeology to solve this and other history mysteries, and if you like have a go at archaeological methods of investigation & interpretation.

AND you can still take part in the Tournament (with the chance to win a regency-style miniature or silhouette portrait) if you register by email / post / text (or use Facebook comments / messages) before Sunday, or at the event (places are by necessity limited in number, with registration on a first-come-first-serve basis)

So I'll hopefully see some readers there!

(Please park on Broadway if driving to the event)

Seeking Sophie: forthcoming free ‘Antiquarian Academy’ event for Heritage Open Days 2018

I’m pleased to announce the details of the next event at the ‘Antiquarian Academy’, on Sunday 16th September as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days Festival (so free entry!). Although this event continues the ‘Age of Austen’ series, the format and content will be a little different – as might be realized by the title: the ‘Time ‘Tec Taster Tournament’! As this is a bit of a mouth full (and as I may develop similar events in the future), this event also goes by the shorter title of ‘Seeking Sophie’. My 21st - century counterpart, Dr. Jarrett, talks about how and why she has developed this event (including a brief outline of the academic research that informs the approaches adopted) on her blog, here; so I shall here explain what participants should expect” 

Readers might notice that this is a ‘taster’ event; it provides opportunities to experience aspects of the digital & multi-media educational tours that I am in the process of developing (or rather Dr, J. is on my behalf, as the technology is somewhat advanced for my time), which engage with the historic environment in absorbing and entertaining ways, while also providing opportunities to learn about and put into practice some of the methods used in archaeology. 

Seeking Sophie blends fact and fiction (including some of Jane Austen’s characters, and local material and places) in a ‘history mystery’ set in the Regency era, which contestants (there will be a small prize for the winner) – aided by Mrs. Leach and a brave band of associates – can solve by pitting their wits against a gang of vile villains. This challenge is not for the faint-hearted – involving tales of heinous crimes including abduction & forced marriage; false imprisonment – potentially resulting in capital punishment; highway robbery & murder; and other dastardly deeds! But intended to amuse as well as educate, it won’t be too grisly! The incidents, characters, and some of the places portrayed are invented, but informed by real case studies, and through extensive archaeological historical research into crime & punishment; love & marriage; death & burial; travel & tourism; and other topics – which Mrs. Leach examines through various ‘Academy’ events. 

The mission involves completion of several tasks. These include ‘decoding’ documents (in Derbyshire dialect for the braver contestants!) to reveals clues; listening to or reading witness testimony; and following a kidnapping carriage by musing over old maps; to determine the whereabouts of an heiress in dangerous company; and using archaeological techniques of detection to discover the secrets of a stolen hoard and buried body – and so set free fettered friends, and put an end to the rogues’ evil doings. But this is no typical heroine-rescue fantasy, for the theme of this year’s HOD festival is ‘Extraordinary Women’ – and fearless females play leading roles in this story! 

Evidence – in the form of letters and notes between allies – will be shared online in the days leading up to the event, providing background information, and outlining the brief, and providing a challenge that may be completed before the workshop. Anyone may try their hand at online tasks, but in-it-to-win-it contestants (whose entries will be scrutinised by Mrs. L., to be considered for the prize) need to attend a single short (c. 15-minute) workshop at the HOD ‘Antiquarian Academy’ event. In order to enable more contestants take part, the ‘micro-lesson’ will be repeated several times during the event (at 6.30 pm, 6.50 pm, 7.10 pm & 7.30 pm). 

Mrs. Leach will get contestants started on their quest (under her supervision & instruction) at a mini-workshop, using against-the-clock challenges to develop the basic archaeological skills needed to solve the case – including identifying ‘forensic’ evidence through artefact analysis, and interpreting ‘crime scene’ records. Completing the challenges reveals a code that permits access to the online case file and brief (contestants without internet access should contact Mrs. Leach after obtaining a ticket & at least 7 days before the event, to arrange access to hard copies of material, a small number only of which may be made available on request). Contestants may enter as individuals, or in a team (on a single ticket). If entering as a team, only one member attends the workshop; but the rest of the team are of course welcome to come along to see the displays (some of which may help them in their challenge). 

After the session, contestants will continue the challenge in their own time, elsewhere, which may include gathering evidence in and around the town, and perhaps the county (though it may be possible to complete challenges using local knowledge & other information and resources, such as search engines, and Google Maps; but contestants will perhaps get more out of the challenges if venturing out ‘into the field’, encountering late Georgian routes and sites that are still with us today – including pubs!). 

Contestants have a fortnight to submit their entries by email (submission of entries by post may be arranged prior to the HOD event). If there are several successfully completed entries, the winner wil be drawn. The prize for an individual winner will be a Regency-style miniature portrait; if a team wins, they will receive a group Regency-style silhouette portrait; in either case, this will require the individual or group to send in photo (instructions will be provided), or to come to the ‘Academy’ (by appointment) to have a photo taken. Individuals and groups taking part might instead (or as well) like to share photos taken during participation on the ‘Academy’ Facebook Page, Twitter, and / or this Blog, which might be used if winners. 

Places are limited, so pre-booking is strongly advised: participation cannot otherwise be guaranteed (mailing-list members are given priority access to tickets: to join the list, see this page). If all the places are not filled prior to the event, it may be possible to take part on a first-come-first-serve basis; please do not arrive at the venue more than a few minutes before the event begins, or if intending to participate, after the start of the final session. Please note that there is only sufficient standing space at the venue for a small number of visitors, so visitors (including would-be contestants & teams) might have to wait outside for some time until the display space is clear, should the venue be full on arrival. (Benches will be provided; but it may not be possible to provide cover – so bring an umbrella in case of rain or hot sun; also note there are no public toilets or refreshments at this venue.) 

The event is listed on the HOD website; and tickets will be available via the Eventbrite ticket page, here, or by contacting Mrs. Leach (using the details given on the HOD event page, here). Please note, receipt of (not application for) a ticket confirms participation in the 'tournament'; tickets not required for visitors not taking part as contestants. 

The letters through which the story unfolds – and which contain clues to solve the mystery – will be posted here over the next few weeks, and postings notified via the mailing list, Facebook, or Twitter: readers can subscribe to this website or the mailing list, or follow on Twitter or Facebook so as not to miss out. 

Mailing list members (to join the list, see this page) have priority access to tickets here (password access) until 31 August, at which time they will be made generally available (no password required).

Material Worlds of Jane Austen Exhibition: 10 Sept., 6.30-8.30 pm, Derby

Just a quick post to announce another upcoming exhibition by Mrs. Leach that explores material culture of the late 18th and early 19th centuries as part of her Jane Austen bicentenary celebrations: The Material Worlds of Jane Austen.

This free-entry 'pop-up' exhibition will take place as part of this year's Heritage Open Day events, on Saturday 10th September, 6.30-8.30 pm.

In addition to the material presented in the previous Archaeology of the 'Austen Age' exhibition (held as part of the 2017 CBA Festival of Archaeology) - which included a wide range of household objects, illustrations, and written sources of the period (in particular considering Derby and Derbyshire in the late Georgian era), the Material Worlds exhibition will display information on Jane Austen's homes, family domestic artefacts, and her burial.

As before, visitors will be able to handle artefacts dating to the late 1700s - early 1800s, and there will be activities that provide opportunities for archaeological analysis.

The exhibition will feature some of the materials, and examine various topics, that Mrs. Leach intends to incorporate within talks, tours, and workshops focusing on everyday life in and around Derby during this period, to be held over the following year (October 2017 - July 2018). 

The topics that will be considered in events that are currently under development are: for Halloween, Death and Burial; on the run-up to Christmas, Yuletide Customs; Love and Marriage, for Valentine's Day; for Mother's Day, Motherhood and Family Life; at Whitsun, a Summer Picnic, on Tourism and Antiquarianism; and in July, for the 2018 Festival of Archaeology (TBC), an Archaeological Detective Adventure. 

Participation in the above events will be by pre-booked ticket only (on a first-come-first-serve basis). Depending on venues (TBC), maximum numbers will be 8 - 15 persons, and minimum numbers 3-8 participants.  To be sure of a place, and to ensure that these events will go ahead, please contact Mrs. Leach ASAP to express interest; to book at ticket (it is anticipated that tickets will cost between £5-25 each, again depending on venue, and on whether the event includes a meal, refreshments, and / or souvenir booklets etc.); or for more information.

Mrs. Leach looks forward to seeing readers at these events.