Latest news
22.10.08: Local landmark gains Grade II listing
The gravestone in St Mary's Churchyard of former slave George Doney has been given Grade II listed status by Culture Minister Margaret Hodge. George Doney was born in Gambia around 1758. Sold into slavery he taken to West Virginia before coming to England where his was employed as servant at Cassiobury House.
His story and grave had been generally forgotten until Watford Museum's Watford Junction project started to explore his incredible tale. The gravestone is now a protected monument and you can read more about George Doney and other former slaves who came to Watford on this website.
15.06.07: The history of slavery and abolition commemorated
As part of the commemorations of the bicentenary of the abolition of the Slave Trade Act, Watford Museum is hosting an exhibition by the Watford African Caribbean Association. 'A Journey in History - Slavery and its Abolition' will be on display from Saturday 23rd June to Friday 31st August 2007 in Watford Museum's Space2 gallery.
The Watford African Caribbean Association will also be running a series of workshops to accompany the exhibition:
Monday 9th July, 10.00am - 12.00pm
Schools Workshop
Saturday 14th July, 10.00am - 12.00pm
Remembering Slavery through Writing
Saturday 28th July, 12.00pm - 2.00pm
The Slave Trade: Transition and Impact
For more information contact 01923 220810 or email ac.comserve@btconnect.com.
13.04.07: Big Draw rewarded!
Watford Museum received a 'highly commended' award at the prestigious Drawing Inspiration ceremony held at the British Museum on 4th April. The award was in recognition of the success of the event we created for The Big Draw.
In October 2006, 1,312 events took place in 1,100 venues across the UK. Out of all these Big Draw programmes, Watford Borough Council with Watford Museum, Watford Grammar School for Girls and The Harlequin Centre gained a Highly Commended Award for Dream Landings. The prize included a cheque for £50 and a commemorative certificate drawn by top illustrator and campaign patron Quentin Blake.
11.04.07: Abolition of Slavery remembered in Watford
St Mary's Church in Watford, the final resting place of a former slave, has been commemorating the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade.
For more information, visit the Watford Observer website for an interview with the vicar of St Mary's Church, John Aldis.
13.03.07: A Drawing Inspiration Award
Watford Borough Council with Watford Museum, Watford Grammar School for Girls and The Harlequin Centre will receive a prestigious Drawing Inspiration Award in recognition of the success of the event we created for The Big Draw. In October 2006, 1,312 events took place in 1,100 venues across the UK. Out of all these Big Draw programmes, Watford Borough Council with Watford Museum, Watford Grammar School for Girls and The Harlequin Centre gained a Highly Commended Award for Dream Landings.
An exhibition of artwork on pillowcases in John Lewis' Bedding Department revealed personal histories. Shoppers, museum visitors and an entire year group from Watford Grammar School for Girls made drawings to explore their own journeys and dreams.
The award will be presented at a ceremony hosted by the Campaign for Drawing at the British Museum on 4 April 2007, where the project partners will receive £50 and a commemorative certificate drawn by top illustrator and campaign patron Quentin Blake.
The Big Draw sweeps the UK each year with a drawing bonanza, involving over 350,000 people in exhilarating, and often extraordinary, creative activities. Children, parents, grandparents, football supporters, conservationists, designers, artists, cartoonists and scientists meet in venues ranging from castles to shopping centres, national galleries to village halls, libraries to hospitals, universities to nature reserves - to draw with charcoal, paint, mud, even skateboards and robots!
Sue Grayson Ford, Campaign Director, commented that "Watford Borough Council with Watford Museum, Watford Grammar School for Girls and The Harlequin Centre fully demonstrated the Big Draw's aims of bringing people together, engaging them creatively and supporting active learning - all through drawing. I am always amazed how organisers with limited resources but unlimited enthusiasm can expand the boundaries of drawing for all of us".
03.02.07: African Expressive Arts workshops
Mind in South West Herts have organised a series of African Expressive Arts workshops at Watford Museum. Get a taste of Zimbabwean culture through African drumming and percussion, African harmonies and African dance, and boost your confidence while having fun in the process with Butshilo.
The workshops take place on the following days:
- Monday 26th February
- Monday 5th March
- Monday 12th March
- Monday 26th March
- Monday 23rd April
For more information and to book a place, call Samantha on 01923 334053.
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