North Lincolnshire Museum 2023

Women At War

During the Second World War women played a vital part in Britain's success. In 1943 there were approximately 8.75 million women in Britain who were full-time housewives. By 1945 6.5 million women were involved in War work. Housekeeping in wartime was hard. The only usual gadgets were a carpet sweeper, an electric iron and maybe a pressure cooker.As well as keeping house many women were civil defence volunteers. 1 in 6 ARP Wardens were women. As the men went away to fight, more women were needed to fill their jobs. Many factories were given over to war production. Women played a role in making things such as guns and ammunition, aircraft and battleships. Before the war the woman's place was in the home. The war years saw a wide variety of jobs became available to women for the first time, changing the world of work for women forever.

Anglo-Saxon Warriors

Compared to females, male Anglo-Saxons were buried with few grave goods. In this area of England weapon burials are not common. Weapons are occasionally found in graves but not with cremations. Usually the weapons in a grave do not make a full set of war-gear. The most common weapon is the spear, occasionally accompanied by a shield.

Conservation

Decay is a natural process which conservation aims to prevent. When found many archaeological finds are unstable and must be treated in order to survive.Conservation involves three main processes, Examination, Cleaning and Stabilisation.Examination Before work can begin the conservator must know what an object was made of and what lies beneath the corrosion. Analytical tests are carried out. The object is examined under a microscope and is radiographed.Cleaning Cleaning is usually done under a low power microscope. Shape and decoration are revealed and active corrosion is removed.Stabilisation This must be carried out to prevent further decay. It usually involves saturating the object with a chemical to arrest corrosion.Even when stabilised, an object must be stored in the correct conditions of humidity and temperature. Metals must be kept in a dry atmosphere. Wood, bone and other organic materials must be prevented from becoming too dry.

British Steel and The Anchor Project

Close to its peak in 1960s Scunthorpe employed over 25,700 people in the steel industry. This would change with advances in technology as more steel could now be made per employee as machinery replaced manual labour.In 1969 the Anchor Project begun. Costing 200 million pounds this was the largest ever development in Scunthorpe's steel industry. The project increased steel output whilst decreasing the cost of production.The project included a new ore terminal and a new basic oxygen steelmaking plant replaced all open hearth furnaces. New torpedo ladles were introduced, which allowed for effective transfer of molten iron. Redbourn works integrated into Appleby and Frodingham followed by Normanby Park works in 1976.Anchor Village was a set of small houses for workers building the expansion to live. The temporary village even had its own shop for employees to buy supplies. Situated in Ashby Ville roundabout it became abandoned soon after the project ended.

Corals

The remains of small coral reefs litter the rocks to the east of Scunthorpe. They grew as mounds on the floor of a warm and very shallow sea which covered this area about 175 million years ago.Corals are made up of small invertebrate animals known as zooids. They look like tiny sea anemones and feed on small particles of food in the water. Many zooids together form colonies and many colonies form coral reefs.

The Bronze Age

The first metal arrived in Britain around 2,500. Metal was used to make tools, weapons and ornaments. During the Early Bronze Age most burials were accompanied by a pot or nothing. When metal grave goods were included, these were daggers, ornaments and small tools. The Later Bronze Age saw a move away from burying the dead and few graves of this date are known. It is possible bodies were burnt and the ashes and grave goods thrown into rivers. This may help explain the large number of fine metal objects found in rivers.

Ammonite Shapes

Molluscs> Cephalopods> AmmonitesAmmonites evolved into a great variety of shapes, including fat, thin, overlapping coils, snake-like and even uncoiled. Perhaps particular shapes were better for fast swimming, deep water, or life near the sea floor. As ammonites evolved rapidly, many species only lived for around 300,000 years.Geologists often call the ammonite's ornamentation ribs and spines. However, there was almost certainly a practical reason for them. They may have been for protection, to strengthen the shell, or for display, like the bright feathers of a bird.

Home Guard

"My father and husband were members of the Home Guard. My dad's job was to go round inspecting gas masks and there was this one fella who pee'd in his so he needed another." Nancy Corney, West Halton b. 1933The Home Guard was formed at a time of real risk of German invasion. On 14 May 1940, Anthony Eden, Secretary for War broadcast a message asking for people to join the Local Defence Volunteers. In just two days over 800 Scunthorpe men had volunteered. By July 1940, over a million men all over the country who were too young or too old to join the armed forces or those in reserved occupations vital to the war effort had volunteered. In August Winston Churchill changed their name to the Home Guard.It was hard to supply so many men with weapons. Even with guns given by the public there was not enough to arm all the volunteers. On duty men carried pickaxes, crowbars and even spears.

Post-Medieval Period

The post-medieval period saw great changes to the area. These included landscape engineering projects that drained the wetlands to create new agricultural land. Not everyone was happy with the drainage schemes, as the locals lost out to the new landowners.

Roman Dress Accessories

Jewellery during the Roman period demonstrates the fusion of Roman and Celtic art forms. Men and women of all social classes wore jewellery. Though brooches and pins fastened clothing, they also reflected a love of decoration. Bright colours were popular, particularly in enamelled pieces and glass beads. The vast amount of jewellery worn and lost during the Roman period illustrates the flowering of a consumer society. Supplying the Roman army created work for large numbers of people, whilst its pay channelled money back into circulation, where civilians used it to buy into the Roman way of life.

The Beginnings of Archaeology

"Every age sees something more than another and every year almost some monuments are digg'd up out of the earth somewhere or other that was not discovered before…" So wrote Abraham de la Pryme in 1695, and his observation remains true today. Every year archaeological discoveries are made which help to throw new light on human history.The great 18th century antiquarian William Stukeley visited this area in 1724 and drew a number of local sites. These included the Roman settlement at Old Winteringham and the Medieval moated site known as Countess Close at Alkborough. Stukeley thought that Countess Close was a Roman site and so he named it 'aquis'.Harold Dudley F.S.A., F.G.S., A.M.A, (1881-1964) is the man to whom local archaeology owes most. He was Curator of this Museum for 43 years during which time he built up the collections and published two important books on local history and archaeology. In 1961 Mr Dudley was honoured by being made a Freeman of the Borough of Scunthorpe.

Winterton Lady

This is the face of a young woman who lived at Winterton during the Roman period. Her bones and stone coffin can be seen in the Museum reception.Facial reconstruction is the rebuilding of a person's face using clay onto a cast of their skull. Archaeologists reconstructed the face of the Roman lady found at Winterton bringing us face to face with a Roman ancestor.

Fish

Complete fossil fish are extremely rare. Most of those seen in museums were collected in the 19th century when pits were worked by hand.Sharks have many rows of teeth. New ones are constantly being grown and old ones shed. Not surprisingly, shark teeth are the most common fish fossils.

Anglo-Saxon Flixborough

The Flixborough settlement lay on rising ground near to the River Trent. Excavations revealed an unparalleled Anglo-Saxon occupation sequence, dating from the seventh to the early eleventh centuries.The finds and building remains, together with the massive amount of occupation debris, has allowed archaeologists to reconstruct the daily lives of people who lived 1200 years ago. The quantity and quality of the finds reveals a high-status site with some socially elite occupants. Inscribed objects and large numbers of styli show that some of the people who lived on the site were literate and were likely to have been monks or nuns.

Iron Age Dragonby

Dragonby is one of the most important Iron Age sites in Britain. Its excavation has told us much about the sophistication of the people in North Lincolnshire in the two centuries before the Roman conquest. The people who lived at Dragonby were farmers, craftsmen and traders. Archaeologists recovered a mass of evidence about their lives, including pottery and the remains of food such as bones and seeds.

The Corieltauvi

During the Iron Age Lincolnshire was part of the Corieltauvi tribal territory. As we have few burials from this period, most of the archaeological evidence comes from settlements.The Corieltauvi established a number of large undefended settlements in North Lincolnshire, such as those at Dragonby, Kirmington and Winteringham. Trade across the Humber was controlled by the settlement at South Ferriby. Most of the population lived in smaller farmsteads housing one or two families.

Pottery and the Archaeologist

Pottery is one of the most useful materials found by archaeologists. Because pottery is fragile, pots were easily broken and the fragments thrown away. However, pottery is also durable and once discarded and buried, fragments of pottery will last indefinitely. Pottery changes shape and decoration over time so the fragments can be used for dating.Pottery was introduced to Britain during the early Neolithic by the first farmers. Since then pottery has had a wide range of uses, including food preparation and serving, storage and transportation containers, for lighting, and as containers for cosmetics and medicine.Study of pottery can reveal much about technology and methods of manufacture, trade and exchange patterns as well as about people's daily lives.

Nautilus

Molluscs> Cephalopods> NautilusThe nautilus is a distant relative of the ammonite. It is a cephalopod, related to squids and octopuses. They are found today in the Pacific Ocean at depths of around 400m. In over 200 million years, this nocturnal carnivore and scavenger has hardly changed.The shell of the nautilus contains a series of chambers. By filling these with either air or water the animal can move up or down in the sea.

The Haxey Hood

The Haxey Hood game dates back to the 1300s. It takes place annually on 6th January in the villages of Haxey and Westwoodside. Hundreds of people attend. The Hood is a tube of thick leather. It must reach one of four pubs by means of a huge scrum of men called the 'Sway'. The winning pub keeps the Hood for a year.Legend says that Lady de Mowbray's riding hood blew away as she rode across the ridge of a hill between the two villages. It was chased by thirteen farm workers who were in the fields nearby. One caught it but was too shy to hand it back. Another worker returned the hood instead. The Lady said he had acted like a lord but his friend was a fool. She promised to grant the workers thirteen acres of land if they recreated the event every year. The Lord and Fool became characters of 'The Hood', and the other eleven workers became the 'Boggins'.

The People’s War 1939 - 1945

"The people should be told that this is a civilians' war, or a People's War, and therefore they are to be taken into the government's confidence as never before." Home Office Memo 1939 The Second World War was fought on the Home Front as much as on the battlefield. In the years between 1939 and 1945 the civilian population experienced death and hardship. Over 60,000 civilians died as a result of enemy action in the United Kingdom. Rules about the blackout, gas masks and rationing affected everyone. The conflict impacted on everyday life. People's War looks at the lives of people who stayed at home in North Lincolnshire during the Second World War. The display gives an insight into the everyday life of those on the Home Front in Britain. Thanks to the BBC and Yorkshire Museum Libraries and Archives Council for their support of the People's War Gallery.

Air Raid Precaution

When the alert sounded the ARP Warden's work began. Each post had a Post Warden and a Deputy who controlled an area of about 500 people. An area was sub-divided into sectors, each with a Senior Warden and up to six Wardens. Some Wardens were full time, paid £3 a week. Of the 1.5 million civil defence staff over two thirds were volunteers often coming on duty after a day's work.On coming on duty Wardens reported to their post then went out on patrol. Before the air raids started, their main tasks were ensuring the blackout was observed and that everyone living in their sector had been registered.Once the air raids started Wardens toured their sector, risking their lives for the safety of others. If a bomb fell a Warden assessed what help was needed, then rushed to their post to ring the control centre with a report. This brought stretcher parties, fire engines and mobile canteens needed to care for the injured.

Later Neolithic

The Later Neolithic is marked by the appearance of distinctly decorated pots called Beakers. Beakers were first made in Central Europe around 2,800 BC and spread over the whole continent in the centuries that followed. Archaeologists think Beakers were introduced along with the brewing of some kind of alcoholic drink. Other things were introduced into Britain along with the Beakers. They are found with barbed-and-tanged flint arrowheads, archers' wrist guards and stone battle-axes. Beakers are often found in graves under round mounds.

William Fowler of Winterton

William Fowler (1761-1832) was by profession a builder and architect, though he is known best for his engravings of antiquarian subjects. Through his work as an architect he acquired some ability as a draughtsman. These drawing skills were put to good use as his interest in archaeology developed.

The Dangers of being a Steelworker

Being a steelworker can sometimes be a dangerous job. Accidents used to be quite common in the steel industry and these accidents could sometimes be fatal.Common injuries included losing fingers or entire limbs after getting caught in moving machinery. Yet there were many more threats to a steelworker's life. These included falling into a furnace and being burnt alive, inhaling poisonous gasses and being ran over by a locomotive. Today there is far more focus on safety. Protective clothing, health and safety meetings and modern machinery prevent such accidents.On 4 November 1975 an explosion at the Queen Victoria Blast Furnace tragically killed eleven workers. The explosion was due to a faulty plug that allowed water to flow into a torpedo ladle. The ladle was also carrying molten iron causing a reaction. Ladles transport molten iron to the steelmaking plants from the blast furnace. The explosion caused 90 tons of molten iron to blow across the cast house.

Mesolithic Woman

Photography and costume modelled by North Lindsey College art and design students.

The Kingdom of Lindsey

During the Anglo-Saxon period this area was part of the Kingdom of Lindsey. For much of the seventh century the powerful kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria fought for control of Lindsey. Finally in AD 679 Lindsey was absorbed by Mercia. Though now part of a larger kingdom, Lindsey continued to be seen as a separate territory.

Early Bronze Age Round Barrow

Prehistoric burial mounds were once a common feature of our landscape but most have now been destroyed. This reconstruction shows the central area of a barrow and how the burials lay inside it. Though the vessels used in the reconstruction were not found together, they do reflect the sequence of burials which we would expect to find in a mound.

The Roman Army

The Roman Empire relied on its army to extend its territory and enforce the Pax Romana, or Peace of Rome. Soldiers known as Legionaries were the backbone of the army. Legionaries were all Roman citizens. They were highly trained and well disciplined. Fighting on their own terms, even against heavy odds, they were invincible. The army also used Auxiliary troops. Auxiliaries were recruited from the native inhabitants of provinces under Roman rule.

Air Raid Sirens

Air raid sirens consisted of an electric motor with shafts at either end on which were mounted impellers. One impeller had 10 blades and the other had 12. Around the impellers were housings with 10 or 12 slots to match the blades. When the impellers were rotated they drew in air at the end and forced it out through the slots in the housing. The blades cut the air on and off, making the siren sound.To make the ALL CLEAR sound the siren was switched on to produce a steady note. To create the TAKE COVER siren a device was wired into the motor circuit. This device cut the power supply at short intervals to make the motor speed drop and then rise again when re-connected. As the motor speed changed the siren note would rise and fall.Sirens usually had two push buttons. The TAKE COVER or Red Warning brought into use the automatic cut-outs. The White Warning for ALL CLEAR or RAIDERS PASSED over-rode the cut-outs and produced a steady note.

Sea Snails

Mollusca: GastropodsSea snails were common in the Jurassic seas. The snails left behind their shells which became fossilised. Using these we can get a good picture of how these animals fitted into the ecology of the seas.Modern sea snails are identified by shell shape, pattern and colour and by their internal organs. Most of this information is lost, even in well preserved fossil shells.

Prehistoric boat finds from this area.

Appleby: The boat displayed here. It was found in 1943. Brigg: Logboat found in 1886 and destroyed in 1943 when Hull Museum was hit by an incendiary bomb. See opposite. Brigg: Prehistoric plank boat re-excavated in 1973-4 and is now in Brigg Heritage Centre. East Ferry: "In the year 1811, about a mile from East Ferry, was found a canoe, cut from one tree of very large size. I was informed by a brother to the wheelwright who purchased it to break up for pales that it was length forty feet, four feet broad and three feet deep; tapered at each end, and formed without nail or pin. Some human bones were found inside". Peck 'A Topographical Account of the Isle of Axholme 1815' North Ferriby: Three prehistoric plank boats found and excavated 1938, 1940 and 1963. The method by which they were built resembles that used on the Brigg 'raft'. Scotter: Logboat found about 1810 near the river Eau. It was fifty feet long and four feet wide

new Tag

Companies buy and use steel produced in Scunthorpe

Being a steelworker is a difficult job. Most work long hours that are physically demanding, day and night. A typical steelworker will work 8 hour shifts including 6am till 2pm, 2pm till 10pm and 10pm till 6am. Steel is produced continuously to keep up with demand. Therefore the steelworks require workers twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.Before unions improved working conditions many workers did not receive paid holidays. Most had to work on bank holidays and any time off was unpaid. A typical steelworker could expect to get only one Christmas Day off in the space of seven years.Workers would need to take regular baths as the dust and coal would completely cover them. They were also exposed to the strong smell of sulphur all day. The intense heat meant that some workers could burn off their eyebrows if they were not careful.Cuts to wages and changes to workers bonuses led to the rise of trade unions. These unions helped to improve conditions for many workers.

Logboat Reconstructions

Although only fragments remain of the Appleby boat it is still possible to make a reconstruction of how it appeared when in use. The reconstruction model on display in the case below is based on the existing remains and on more complete boats at Brigg and Poole in Dorset.

Oysters and Giant Bivalves

Molluscs> BivalvesThe biggest bivalve alive today is the Giant Clam, which can weigh up to 230kg (507lb). Large scallops are often associated with ironstones. The Pecten Ironstone near Scunthorpe contains thousands of these shells. The Claxby Ironstone, once mined in the Wolds, was famous for giant Camptonectes.Like many modern bivalves the shells of these ancient giants were probably lined with sensory tentacles and simple eyes.

Sea Lilies

Echinoderms> CrinoidsThe remains of sea lilies litter the rocks beneath your feet. 190 million years ago the area must have been an underwater garden. Sea lilies are not plants but animals known as crinoids. They are relatives of the sea urchin and starfish.Stalked sea lilies are found today in the seas living at depths greater than 100m.

The 1960s

Thres were hippie-movement is strongly associated with the 1960s. But the hippie-era did not really start until it came over from America in 1967, during the summer of love. Other youth subcultue the Mods and the Rockers. They often clashed and in 1964 a large fight in Brighton branded them as Folk Devils. The Rockers rode motorcycles, wore leather jackets and listened to Rock 'n Roll music. The Mods had their scooters, wore clean-cut suits and were into music such as Soul and Ska.Music was important in all youth cultures, but only pirate radio stations like Radio Caroline would play popular music. The government closed down pirate stations in 1967, but they were soon followed by BBC Radio 1.In the home, social and domestic conventions relaxed considerably in the 1960s. The family living room was now used for activities like homework, watching television, eating and entertaining. Scandinavian interiors and design influenced contemporary styles of furniture.

Their Past Your Future

In May 2005 young people from North Lincolnshire met with older people with memories of the Second World War."Interviewing men and women who lived and fought in the Second World War affected our group greatly. We began to understand the horrors of war and how people tried to cope and survive. By talking to people from that time we learnt more than we ever could from books or teachers, because we got to see into people's minds. We also began to realise the debt we owe. Listening to these men and women talk about what they gave up and what they went through makes us grateful for what we have.We found out how they lived their lives, and also how these veterans viewed our generation. This was something we didn't expect. Knowing how these brave people see us has affected us. We now understand how we should act towards older generations, especially one that went through so much for us, our families and our country.

Archaeology from the Air

The discoveries made by means of aerial photography have revolutionised our understanding of ancient settlements and land use. In some areas whole landscapes have been recorded that have been lost for thousands of years beneath later fields.

Bronze Age Brigg

Clay digging and building work during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries produced many important finds in Brigg. These include the great boat, the 'raft' and a wooden road or causeway. This concentration of finds may indicate the presence of some sort of prehistoric settlement in the Brigg area where, in the later period at least, the river Ancholme could be forded.

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Palaeolithic

A treeless tundra landscape existed in Britain until about 10,000 BC. It supported great herds of game such as horses, bison and reindeer and, in parts of the Ice Age, mammoth. The geological record shows that the earth has passed through many Ice Ages. During the Ice Ages the climate varied considerably between arctic deserts, tundra and occasional periods when it was warm enough to allow the appearance of trees. During the Hoxnian Interglacial period the climate was temperate, not tropical, although elephants and hippopotami lived in this country. Mixed oak woodland would have been found throughout this area.

Belemnites

Molluscs> Cephalopods> BelemnitesBelemnites are extinct, squid-like animals. They had eight tentacle-like arms, covered with tiny hooks. Belemnites were probably active predators, eating small fish, ammonites and shrimps. Their bodies were streamlined. They could swim fast to escape predators or confuse them with a cloud of ink.Belemnites are made up of three parts: a solid bullet-shaped guard, a chambered shell, and the head and tentacles. The chambered shell and heavy guard served to counterbalance the head and tentacles.

Mesolithic Hunters

The Ice Age ended in Britain around 8,300 BC. As the temperature rose, humans met an increasingly hostile environment. The tundra with its herds of game was replaced by dense forests which made game scarce and hunting more difficult. Humans developed new flint tools such as the axe to survive in this new environment. Britain was attached to the continent until around 6,500 BC when the rise in sea level due to the melting glaciers allowed the sea to break through forming the Channel. Finds of peat, logs, flint tools and bone harpoons prove the existence of the land under what is now sea.

Viking Warrior

Photography and costume modelled by North Lindsey College art and design students.

Roman Mosaics

Wealthy Romans decorated the floors of their houses with mosaics made from cubes of coloured stone, pottery, tile and glass. Mosaics have been found locally at a number of villa sites.The mosaic on display here is the Fortuna Mosaic from Winterton Villa. This illustration shows the mosaic as found in 1797. When the mosaic was lifted in 1959 it was restored without the ancient repair in one corner. The central panel was also rotated to be viewed from the side. Fortuna carries a fruit filled cornucopia, or horn of plenty.

‘Linkisheere’ Folk

The folk life of North Lincolnshire has been recorded and saved for future generations thanks to the efforts of both local people and visitors. The Lincolnshire folklorist, Ethel Rudkin, can be credited with collecting a wealth of information.The Australian pianist, Percy Grainger, ensured the survival of many folk songs. He wanted to record them before they disappeared from memory. Grainger asked for the 1905 North Lincolnshire Music Festival to include a competition for unpublished folk songs. Elderly local residents were encouraged to enter so their songs could be recorded. Grainger also travelled around Lincolnshire collecting folk songs by ear. He gathered people at Brigg several times so he could make phonograph recordings of their songs.The dialects of Lincolnshire were particularly interesting to early students of local speech. The Peacock family of Bottesford Manor wrote several books on the subject in the 1800s.

Dragonby Excavation

Large scale excavations at Dragonby have shown that the settlement was occupied from the later second century BC until the end of the Roman period. During the Iron Age Dragonby was a major centre for the local Corieltauvi tribe.Coins and pottery brought to the surface in the early twentieth century led to local farmers naming the site 'Money Field'. The site was excavated by Jeffrey May of the University of Nottingham between 1964 and 1973.

Iron and the Iron Age

Iron working was introduced into Britain around 500 BC. The new metal had the advantage of being available locally. Copper and tin for making bronze had to be brought from afar. Once people discovered how to carburise iron to make steel, the material they had was both tougher and cheaper then bronze.

Rationing

"We didn't suffer during rationing, we was a bigger family and you could spin it out more. You made everything your sens. For a treat, once a month we had a couple of packets of Smiths crisps to share." Mrs N. P. Corney.Before the Second World War, Britain imported 55 million tons a year. As the conflict seriously disrupted imports the government introduced rationing. Every household registered with a local shop. Shopkeepers were then provided with enough food for their registered customers.Food rationing began on 8 January 1940. Everyone got a ration book with coupons that were exchanged for food. At first only butter, sugar, bacon and ham were rationed. As the war went on other foods, petrol, coal and other materials needed for the war effort were rationed too. Tobacco was never rationed because it was thought it would be bad for morale. Beer was produced in large quantities but was watered down.

Sea Urchins

Echinoderms> EchinoidsSea urchins are echinoderms like sea lilies and starfish. They are rare fossils in most of the rocks found in this area. Living tissue holds the interlocking plates and spines of the urchin's skeleton together. When the animal dies, its skeleton soon breaks up.Many sea urchins could feed on almost any type of animal on the sea floor. Their strong jaws could graze on films of algae or even bite through the shells of most animals.

Anglo-Saxon Churches

This area is fortunate in having a large number of churches that contain masonry dating from the tenth and el eventh centuries.

The Vikings

In AD 877 part of the Viking Great Army settled down taking over part of England. While we have historical and place name evidence for Vikings in Lincolnshire, until the start of metal detecting we had no proof of Viking finds from the area.

Roman Building

Before the Roman conquest all building was done in either wood or clay. Stone was only occasionally used in fortification. The Romans introduced building in stone and a number of new building materials such as tiles, concrete and plaster.

Anglo-Saxon Woman

Photography and costume modelled by North Lindsey College art and design students.

What’s in a Name?

By 1903, Scunthorpe wanted to unite with Brumby and Frodingham who had joined together in 1894. Scunthorpe proposed the economic advantage of shared sanitation and public-lighting services. However, relations between the townships were strained and Brumby and Frodingham strongly resisted the plans. They did not want Scunthorpe's debts and higher tax rates caused by investment in public services. The plans were dropped in 1904.After 1912, Scunthorpe, Crosby and Ashby united. Finding themselves outnumbered, Brumby and Frodingham considered joining them in 1914. Plans were postponed when The Great War broke out but in 1918 both districts agreed to merge. A major factor was the demand from the Ministry of Munitions for increased steel production. This required immediate and rapid urban growth on a huge scale. The Amalgamation Order was passed in March 1919.

Community and Crime

The arrival of many skilled and non-skilled workers introduced the problem of creating a successful new community and keeping order. Some workers brought their families but many were single men. Without any local ties, they felt free from the normal rules of society. As early as 1860, extra constables were appointed to the area. In 1865, the Chief Constable requested and received cells to hold criminals.Scunthorpe and Ashby had the worst reputations for crime and ignorance. Their residents were mostly unskilled workers, while Frodingham housed more skilled workers. In 1886, Scunthorpe applied for a courthouse to replace the legal sessions held at Winterton. Their application was supported by Winterton who argued that Scunthorpe had better railway links for transporting inmates to Lincoln prison. By 1895, Scunthorpe's purpose-built courthouse was in operation.

Photography and costume modelled by North Lindsey College

Key stage 2 pupils at Bowmandale Primary School at Barton Upon Humber designed this activity station. Construction students at North Lindsey College then built it. The designs done by the school children were very creative and included lots of hands on activities. Staff at North Lincolnshire Museum and Martin Salter, a construction lecturer at North Lindsey College selected the most suitable designs. This job was very difficult as all of the children worked so hard on their entries. The final design was based on the work done by most of the children. Construction students at North Lindsey College worked with the final design to build the activity station out of wood.

Roman Woman

Photography and costume modelled by North Lindsey College art and design students.

Plough Jags

Plough Jags were performed all over North Lincolnshire on 'Plough Monday'. This was the first Monday after Christmas when ploughing resumed. The plot usually involved the death of a hero or heroine who was then brought back to life by a doctor. This represented the cycle of death and new life in the natural world.There was a wide range of characters, whose costumes, names and other details varied according to place and time. 'Besom Bet', also known as 'Old Joan' or 'Lame Jane' was a repulsive old woman. 'Sweet Sis' was her beautiful young love rival. The 'Bullocks' were youths who acted like extras, performing folk dances. They pulled the plough behind the players. This was later replaced by a 'Hobby Horse'. 'The Fool' often sang the opening or closing song of the play.A procession of all the play's characters moved through the village. They cried 'Largus' as they knocked at each house offering to perform their play in return for money.

The Romans

Photography and costume modelled by North Lindsey College art and design students.

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Women of Steel

During the Second World War, many men left the Steelworks in Scunthorpe to fight. Women started working to keep the production of steel up. Without women filling the jobs left by men in important industries, Britain may have lost the war.At the beginning women were only trusted with basic labouring jobs such as moving wheelbarrows, carrying messages and cleaning windows. Over time as more men left to join the war women were given bigger roles. Some women became crane drivers and those with the right training would help to hammer and mould plates. Some even rose to supervisory positions.Women also worked on the steelworks in the First World War. However due to the importance of iron and steel a lot of men also stayed at the steelworks in reserved occupations.Once the Second World War had finished many women left the steelworks. The men who left to fight returned to their old positions. Although many women did stay as they proved that being a steelworker was not just a man's job.

Roman legion

When the Romans arrived in Britain they found people who worshipped many gods. The Romans accepted other people's religions unless they conflicted with their own political aims. In Roman Britain there was a fusion of Classical gods, such as Mars, Jupiter and Minerva, with local gods. In AD 314 the Empire became officially Christian although it is doubtful paganism was ever entirely replaced.

Well Laid Plans

The relatively late urban development of the area had advantages and disadvantages. Poor and overcrowded back to back 'slum' dwellings were not a characteristic of the town. However, public services arrived much later than they had done elsewhere in urban Britain. Town planning played an important role in the successful development of the town. Overall, the industrial and residential areas were kept separate. Housing was located in the South West and industry in the North East. The dominant South Westerly wind blew away industrial dirt and kept the town clean.The landscape remained largely rural with pockets of urban and industrial development. Scunthorpe grew towards the west to fill the space available within its boundaries. Country cottages were replaced with 25 gas-lit streets of new housing with pavements and kerbed roads. Crosby later joined with Scunthorpe and new houses of similar design were built between the two townships.

Leisure

The highlights for most steelworkers would be special day trips and events. These were organised by employees and their companies. Employees would often set aside some of their salary every week towards these trips. As most workers received no paid time off these trips would be their closest thing to a holiday.Organised events included days to Doncaster races and trips to Cleethorpes or Skegness. Many departments formed football, cricket and other sports teams. These teams would play against other departments within the steelworks. For example electricians would play against engineers or Appleby-Frodingham would play against Lysaghts.In-between shifts many workers spent their time in the pub. Popular pubs included The Station Hotel, Furnace Arms and Britannia. They were often filled with Steelworkers after a shift and sometimes before.The Scunthorpe Steel Galas was the most popular event, held every year for over 80 years until 2011.

The 1970s

Decimalisation began on 15 February 1971 and was a major change in Britain. For centuries the British Isles had 20 shillings in a pound and 12 pennies in a shilling. From "D-Day" the pound was divided into tenths. The nation had been preparing for this important day since it was announced in 1966. Leaflets, posters and a series on television helped to clarify the new system.The 1970s was a decade of renewing music like Disco, Glam Rock and Punk Rock and cutting edge fashion with bright colours, flares and platform shoes. But the decade was also one of strikes, power cuts and police racism. The largest strike in North Lincolnshire started in 1979 when 10,000 steelworkers went on strike for 13 weeks, until they were offered a 15.5 per cent pay rise.Another important event in North Lincolnshire was the Nypro explosion of 1974 in Flixborough. The disaster was fatal to 28 people and it caused severe damage in the area.

The Coming of Rome

Britain was a province of the Roman Empire for more than 250 years. During this time probably only the ruling classes became fully Romanised, but Roman influence was felt throughout society.

Early Anglo-Saxon

Cemeteries containing graves, not cremations have been excavated at Castledyke South, Cleatham, Fonaby, Worlaby and Sheffield's Hill. Other sites have been found by metal detector users. Most of these were smaller than the cremation cemeteries and contained less than a hundred graves.

Spotlight On Kirmington

During the Iron Age Kirmington was an important settlement for the local Corieltauvi tribe. The site was situated on an ancient routeway through the Lincolnshire Wolds. In the mid first century as the Romans advanced north an Auxiliary fort was imposed on the native settlement. After the fort was abandoned, settlement continued and Kirmington developed into a small Romano-British town. A number of votive offerings have been found, suggesting there was at least one shrine within the settlement.

Science in Archaeology

Recently science has played an increasingly large part in archaeology. New scientific methods have made contributions to our understanding of human history which could not have been visualised by early archaeologists. Each excavation is now an unrepeatable experiment from which information and samples are collected for analysis in the laboratory.

Clothes and Tools

The tools used and clothes worn by steelworkers in the 19th century are much different to today.Before the Steelworks in Scunthorpe imported ore from abroad it was mined at various ironstone mines. Workers used a pick and shovel to remove the ore and load them onto railway wagons. They were also required to buy their own explosives to expose ore deeper in the ground.Steelworkers who worked on the blast furnace or anywhere else near hot metal wore a 'sweat towel'. Tied around the neck like a bib it covered a steelworker's face or other parts of the body as protection from heat. The workers' wives would often compete to see who could get their husbands' towel the whitest. However after a shift finished even the whitest towel would have turned black.

Middle Anglo-Saxon

Recent excavations and metal detected finds have added enormously to our knowledge of the Middle Anglo-Saxon period. We can now see how rich this area was in the eighth and ninth centuries. Dress fittings such as pins and strap ends are very common and many finds of coin show an active economy.

Starfish

Echinoderms> AsteroidsLike sea lilies and sea urchins, starfish are echinoderms. Starfish were probably common in the seas which covered this area, but their delicate skeletons were soon destroyed after death. Fine mud must cover their bodies in a few hours if even the slightest trace is to be preserved. The Frodingham Ironstone is one of the few rocks in Britain to preserve these extremely rare fossils.Many starfish eat bivalves. Their strong muscles can pull the shells apart. Once a tiny gap has been opened the starfish can force its stomach inside and start digesting its meal.

Medieval Metalwork

The Medieval period was an age of great piety and the Church had roles far beyond the confines of religion. Pious people left lands to the Church for their soul's sake, allowing monasteries to build up great estates.

Privatisation and New Owners

In the years following the Anchor project a worldwide trade slump in steel followed. Alongside technological advances this led to job losses. In 1981 the Normanby Park works closed down, leaving just one site left from the original seven. By 1985 unemployment in Scunthorpe reached 19%. By 1988 over 13,000 jobs had gone in Scunthorpe's steel industry. The amount of steel produced per employee had risen from 160 to 671 tonnes.In 1988 the steel industry was once again privatised. British Steel Corporation changed to British Steel plc until 1999. It merged with Dutch steel producers Kloninklijke Hoogovens to become Corus. In 2007 Scunthorpe's steelworks once again changed hands when Corus sold to TATA Steel.Global recession in the late 2000s and early 2010s saw a reduced demand for steel. The plate mill and Dawes Lane coke ovens closed as a result. Reasons for the closures included high energy prices and cheap steel coming from China.

Building the Borough

Increased steel production during The Great War brought many workers to the area. This led to overcrowding and worries about public health. It was hoped new houses would help to cope with demand. The Housing Act of 1919 enabled Scunthorpe to obtain £295,000 to invest in constructing private houses. Land for various housing schemes was offered by the ironmasters. Due to disputes and the economic depression of 1921, many of these schemes failed to fulfil their original plans. The land had to be sold in the 1930s. Most of it was bought privately because it was too expensive for the Council. Land the Council could afford was used to build roads and the Lincoln Gardens Estate. From 1919-1939 only 1,188 council houses were built, mainly in Crosby. These included a mixture of terraced and semi-detached housing, located along narrow roads. These estates did not have shopping or community centres, so focus turned to Scunthorpe High Street.

Inter-War Images

Cleatham Anglo-Saxon Cemetery

Cleatham cemetery was excavated by a team of volunteers working with the museum between 1984 and 1989. They found 1228 cremation urns and 62 graves, making it England's third largest Anglo-Saxon cemetery. Cleatham is an important site for three reasons. It was in use through the whole of the Early Anglo-Saxon period starting around AD 440 and finishing with Final Phase burials around AD 700. It was fully excavated, and this is unusual as most sites are only sampled. Many urns were cut through each other making it possible to put them in sequence.

The Five Townships

The rural villages of Ashby, Brumby, Crosby, Frodingham and Scunthorpe developed quickly from the middle of the 1800s to the early 1900s. They later joined and became the urban area we now know as 'Scunthorpe'. When iron ore was discovered in 1859, the population of the five villages was 1,400. After 60 years the population had risen to over 25,000. People were arriving from other parts of the country to find work in the new iron ore mines. Most of the workers settled in Scunthorpe, perhaps because it already had several businesses, traders and a pub. Scunthorpe continued to grow rapidly. By 1885, it had the most shops in the area, plus the only bank and police station. Ashby followed in terms of population and services, while the growth of the other three townships was much slower.The ironmasters gave land to provide housing for their workers. New Brumby and New Frodingham were new settlements established within the Brumby and Frodingham townships.

Roman Eating and Drinking

The Romans brought many new fashionable foods to Britain including olives from Spain. Most food was grown locally with bread being the main staple. Lamb and beef were eaten, and the rich also enjoyed pork and chicken. For most Romano-Britons a basic stew with vegetables and perhaps some meat would have been the usual dish.

Post-Medieval Man

Photography and costume modelled by North Lindsey College art and design students.

At Home with the Family

In 1911 there were 8 people living in this cottage: Arthur Raybould Stanton lived here with Hannah Wood and her six children, George 16, Lucy 10, Walter 14, Elsie 7, Ada 3 and John Arthur two months.Arthur aged 33, was the head of the house and a Brickyard Labourer. Hannah was 40 years old and a widow. She and her children moved in to the cottage sometime early in 1911.Hannah would have cooked using this range. Lucy would have helped her.The cottage had three rooms upstairs for the family to sleep in. There was no hot or cold running water.One of the boys would have had to collect their water from the pump. The toilet would have been an outside privy in the yard. There was no bathroom. Once a week, the children would be bathed in the tin bath in front of the fire. Hannah and Arthur would wash using a bucket of cold water.

The Medieval Period

I n 1066 this area was densely populated. After the Norman Conquest a new aristocracy dominated agricultural communities of Anglo-Danish descent. Norman power rested on a network of motte and bailey castles.Barrow belonged to Morcar, Earl of Northumbria at the time of the Conquest. In 1069 it was given to Drogo de Beuvrière, a Norman who had fought alongside William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. He built Barrow Castle as a fortification of earth and timber.

Brachiopods

Brachiopods are small animals with paired shells that live on the sea floor. Modern Brachiopods mainly live in very deep water. However fossil brachiopods are common in local rocks – rocks that we know were formed in shallow waters.Brachiopods anchor themselves by a fleshy foot to stones and shells. To feed they suck in water at the sides of the shell, filter out food particles, and eject water through the front.

Consolidation, World Wars & Nationalisation

Scunthorpe's iron and steel industry grew rapidly in the early twentieth century. Advances in technology and the First and Second World War increased demand for Iron and Steel.Between the First World War and Second World War, Scunthorpe increased its share of steel production in the UK from 3% to 10%. By 1936 over 35,000 people lived in the area. Before the steel and iron industry arrived in Scunthorpe, its population was just 1,245.Scunthorpe's steel industry was almost untouched by Germany's bombing raids in the Second World War. Many believe this was because of Germans employed at the steelworks before the war started. Germany also had ambitions to use the steelworks themselves if they invaded the UK.In 1951 the Steel industry was briefly nationalised by the Labour Government. However only a year later this was reversed. It was not until 1967 when the Steel Industry was again nationalised. All three remaining plants, Appleby-Frodingham, Redbourn and Normanby Park merged.

The Iron Age

As in the Bronze Age, the Iron Age people of Britain gave gifts to the gods. Gifts could be given by burying them in the ground or placing them in watery areas. Different gifts seem to have been appropriate for different types of place. Offerings such as weapons and cauldrons were made in watery deposits, whilst objects such as torcs and horse gear were buried in dry places in the countryside. Suitable gifts around the villages and homesteads where people lived were things like broken pots and food offerings.

Flint Working

For all but the last 6,000 years of our existence, humans have made all of their weapons and tools from wood, bone and stone. Amongst the stones, flint was the most commonly used. A skilled worker can flake it easily and produce a razor shape edge. During the millennia that flint was used, the forms of the tools changed as did the methods used to make them.

Lobsters and Crabs

CrustaceansThe remains of lobsters and crabs have only quite recently been discovered in the rocks around Scunthorpe. As crustaceans grow, they shed their skeletons so one individual can produce several fossils. Even so, they are uncommon fossils. Most are found in nodules in muddy sediment.

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Manton Hanging Bowl

In the fifth century the Anglo-Saxons settled in Lindsey. Historians once thought that the Romano-British population were killed, enslaved or driven to the west. Finds like the Manton Bowl have shown this area continued to have strong links with the Celts. We now know that the local population continued to live alongside the incomers.

Products of Scunthorpe Steel

Companies buy and use steel produced in Scunthorpe all over the world. Some of the most recognisable structures in the world use materials made right here in North Lincolnshire.During the First World War a lot of steel and iron was used for weapons and equipment. Steel from Normanby Park helped to build the first tanks built in Lincoln. Then during the Second World War steel from Scunthorpe produced landing crafts such as those used in the D-Day landings.Global companies like JCB use steel for their iconic yellow machinery. Structures such as Wembley Stadium, Jodrell Bank Observatory, Sydney Harbour Bridge and London Eye all used steel from North Lincolnshire.The high quality of steel produced in Scunthorpe means there is a lot of demand in the UK and abroad. Steel rail has been sold in Holland, China, Australia, Italy and other countries across the globe. Other factories across the world produce more steel at a cheaper cost.

John Cunningham VC

John 'Jack' Cunningham was born in Scunthorpe on 28 June 1897. He was the only person from Scunthorpe to receive the Victoria Cross following the First World War. This is the most distinguished award for bravery a British citizen can receive. He served with the 12th (Service) Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment, 31st Division. During the Battle of the Somme, on 13 November 1916, his section was sent to capture a German trench. During the action the rest of his regiment were injured or killed. Cunningham collected bombs from the casualties and bombed the German trench. There he encountered a group of German soldiers. He killed all ten and cleared the trench. Following this act of great bravery, on 2 June 1917 Cunningham was invited to Hyde Park, London. There he received the Victoria Cross from King George V. Later that day he returned to Hull, where he received a hero's welcome.

Frodingham Ironstone

Scunthorpe's unique Frodingham Ironstone gave the town its iron and steel industry. It also has a worldwide reputation for its large and varied ammonites.The Frodingham Ironstone was deposited about 190 million years ago during the Early Jurassic over a period of 3-4 million years.

Neolithic Stone Axes

As society developed during the Neolithic, new technologies were needed. People made clay into pots for storing and cooking food. The rough axes and microliths of the Mesolithic hunters gave way to new forms, such as leaf-shaped arrowheads and polished stone axes. It would have taken many days to make a polished stone axe. The amount of effort suggests some axes had a special significance and were not just tools.

The Neolithic

Objects made of flint and stone are the most common Neolithic finds. Though other materials were used during the Neolithic, objects made of things like wood and animal skins do not survive well in the archaeological record.

The 1950s

Life changed dramatically in the years after the Second World War. Rationing ended in 1954 and people longed for modern houses, furniture and appliances. As more people could afford a car, they could move further from town. Bottesford is a good example of a small settlement that has grown rapidly since the mid-1900s.The rise of the teenager also impacted on the manufacturing industry. Young people now had disposable wealth and leisure time. They fuelled the demand for items such as French-style cosmetics, portable record players and even portable television sets. In the kitchen easy-care materials, like plastic, vinyl and linoleum, were used on everything from floor tiles to table tops. Fabrics were decorated with pictures of food and drink. This all helped to celebrate the end of the age of austerity. By 1959 the number of British homes with a refrigerator had more than trebled compared to 20 years earlier.

Ironworking in Scunthorpe – The Beginning

Ironworking began in Scunthorpe in 1859 when Rowland Winn found ironstone on his family's estate. There had been some ironstone working by the Romans. Though it was this later discovery that would develop Scunthorpe to the town we know today.Winn sold the ore to iron makers in Yorkshire including William Henry and George Dawes. At first, horse and cart transported the ore to the river Trent. It then travelled by barge to ironworks near Barnsley and Rotherham. The journey was slow and Winn knew this was not profitable long term. Winn invited Ironmakers to build blast furnaces on his land to produce iron on site. In 1861 work began on a new railway line between Keadby and Barnetby. The new railway now connected Scunthorpe to other big cities. The railway brought coal from Yorkshire for the furnaces and took away the finished iron to sell.

Neolithic Farmers

The development of agriculture was the most important advance ever made by humans. By growing or rearing their own food, humans were able to produce a surplus capable of feeding an increased population. Settled life became possible and indeed necessary to tend the growing crops. Towns and cities appeared and the food surplus meant not everyone in the community had to be a direct food producer. Specialist craftsmen, priests and scribes could be supported.

The Iron Worker’s Cottage

This cottage originally stood on Church Street, Scunthorpe. Church Street was one of the first streets to appear in the early urban development of Scunthorpe. The houses that used to stand on Church Street are thought to date from the 1860s.In 1962, the houses on Church Street were demolished so that modern housing, such as the Crosby Flats, could be build. The cottage was rebuilt within the museum's grounds in 1963, which took about 3 months.The cottage is built, using materials from two houses, number 15 and 17. When looking at old photographs, number 15 and 17 differ from the houses around them. The building material and the size are different, as well as the positions of the windows and doors. It seems that number 15 and 17 were build earlier and that the other houses were built around them.

Early Anglo-Saxon Final Phase

Perhaps influenced by Christianity, the seventh century saw changes in the way in which people dressed, and also in the way they were buried. The large brooches, sleeve clasps and girdle-hangars of the sixth century were no longer fashionable. Instead simple pins were used. Most seventh century burials contain few grave goods, but a minority are very rich with gold jewellery of the type seen here.

Evacuation

The evacuation scheme began on 1 September 1939. Schoolchildren, their teachers, mothers with children under five, pregnant women and some disabled people were moved by train and road to smaller towns and villages. On 2 September evacuees began to arrive in North Lincolnshire. Those who took part in the official scheme were mainly working-class children.There were no big bombing raids on Britain in the first few months of the war and by early 1940 many children had returned home. When heavy bombing raids started in the Autumn of 1940 another big evacuation began.Patricia was evacuated from Barnet in Hertfordshire to Scunthorpe. Her host family were the Farr's. "With our labels on our lapels and a small suitcase each we arrived at Doncaster, a horribly dark miserable station.

Winterton Villa

Winterton Villa is one of the most important Roman sites in Britain. The Villa was a Roman farm occupied from the early second century. It consisted of a series of buildings around a central court, set within an agricultural landscape. Although it had some fine buildings the Villa was primarily a working farm.

Medieval Metalwork

Medieval craftsmen made dress fittings and fasteners to suit all tastes and purses. The Medieval period saw the rise of a merchant class, and an increasing number of fairs and markets where such objects were bought and sold.

The Appleby Logboat

The Appleby Logboat is shown here as it was when found on the bed of the Old River Ancholme in 1943. For some years before this it had been known as an obstruction in the river. When it was recognised as a logboat it was moved to the museum. Since the cutting of the new River Ancholme the old river has been reduced to a ditch. During the Bronze Age however the river would have been a large tidal creek of the Humber on which the Appleby Logboat was navigated. A radiocarbon test on the timber from this boat gave a date of 1100 BC placing it in the Bronze Age. It owes its survival to being submerged in waterlogged, airless conditions.

Fossicking for Fossils

From 1859 the iron and steel industries exploited the Frodingham Ironstone. Singleton Birch has quarried chalk at Melton Ross from the 1850s up to the present day. The digging of ironstone and chalk unearthed many of the fossils on display here. Others were found when deep cuttings were made for the railways. These sliced through the landscape to expose rarely seen rocks and fossils beneath the ironstone.In 1909 four geologists founded Scunthorpe's first museum. They wanted to preserve specimens of the fossils being lost to industrial activity. The material they collected and donated form the core of the Museum's collections.

At Home with the Family

In 1911 there were 8 people living in this cottage: Arthur Raybould Stanton lived here with Hannah Wood and her six children, George 16, Lucy 10, Walter 14, Elsie 7, Ada 3 and John Arthur two months.Arthur aged 33, was the head of the house and a Brickyard Labourer. Hannah was 40 years old and a widow. She and her children moved in to the cottage sometime early in 1911.Hannah would have cooked using this range. Lucy would have helped her.The cottage had three rooms upstairs for the family to sleep in. There was no hot or cold running water.One of the boys would have had to collect their water from the pump. The toilet would have been an outside privy in the yard. There was no bathroom. Once a week, the children would be bathed in the tin bath in front of the fire. Hannah and Arthur would wash using a bucket of cold water.

The Arrival of the Anglo-Saxons

The Anglo-Saxons arrived in England during the fourth and fifth centuries. At this time people were on the move throughout Europe. With the Western Roman Empire under attack by barbarians from the east, the Romans invited Germanic mercenaries and their families to settle in Britannia. At the same times changes in sea level caused flooding in the northern European Anglo-Saxon lands, forcing them to look for new territories.

Booming Business

North Lincolnshire can boast three particularly successful businesses. These include two bicycle and motorcycle manufacturers, the Elswick-Hopper Cycle and Motor Company and Johnson's, together with 'Cotto Products', makers of washing machines and driers. Fred Hopper's business began in 1890 in Barton-upon-Humber. Founder of 'Cotto Products', R. F. Cottingham, started his career in a shed on Mary Street, Scunthorpe, producing and repairing tins and pans. Both men understood the power of marketing and widely advertised their products. Hopper's first bicycle was the 'Ajax', which he launched in local newspapers. Both businesses grew quickly. Their products were well respected, crafted to the highest standard and exported all over the world. In 1910, Hopper's bought Elswick Cycles Co. Ltd. of Newcastle-on-Tyne and expanded in to motorcycle production. Among Elswick-Hopper's customers were, Halfords, W H Smith, Harrods, John Lewis, Selfridges & Co. and British Petroleum.

Ammonites

Molluscs> Cephalopods> AmmonitesAmmonites are a type of mollusc. They are the extinct relatives of the nautilus, octopus and cuttlefish. They could not swim very fast and probably lived on easily swallowed food. Large marine reptiles and sharks would have eaten them and smaller ammonites were probably eaten by larger ones.The shell of an ammonite is made up of a series of chambers. Ammonites could fill or empty the chambers with air or liquid, to rise or sink in the water like a submarine. The animal lived in the larger end of the shell in a section with no partitions.

The Jurassic Sea

Welcome to the Mesozoic era, when dinosaurs roamed the land and huge marine reptiles swam in the seas. Most of the fossils on display in this gallery date to the Jurassic period. During the Jurassic the area now known as North Lincolnshire was under a shallow tropical sea. When sea creatures died, their bodies fell to the sea floor. Over millions of years the sea bed turned to rock and some of those bodies were preserved as fossils.

Cleatham Anglo-Saxon Cemetery

Cleatham was a rich cemetery and most of the urns contained grave goods. These included objects that had been burnt with the bodies such as dress fittings, combs, toilet implements, whorls for spinning and counters. Other, unburned objects, must have been grave-side offerings.

Bivalves

Molluscs> BivalvesBivalve means two shells. Beaches are often covered with the shells of these animals. The sand may be made up almost entirely of their broken shells. Most bivalves live in shallow seas, less than 50m deep. Many live attached to stones and stems by a thread known as a byssus. They filter food from the passing water.Scallops and fileshells can swim to escape danger. Scallops clap their shells together to produce jets of water. Fileshells use their long tentacles like oars.

Iron Age Woman

Photography and costume modelled by North Lindsey College art and design students.

Welcome to the Post-War Gallery

Life changed dramatically in the years following the end of the Second World War. There were several exciting events in North Lincolnshire in the 1950s. The Festival of Britain in 1951 brought the Scunthorpe Festival Gardens. In 1953 Queen Elizabeth II was crowned and five years later she visited Scunthorpe. In the 1960s Scunthorpe saw more housing developments. The first high rise buildings in the area were built in Crosby and Westcliff. The 1970s brought adversity with the Flixborough disaster and the steelwork strikes. Many cinemas in the region closed. At the same time the area was moving forward. In 1972 building of The Humber Bridge began and the M180 was constructed between 1977 and 1979. In this Gallery you can find out more about local, national and international events as well as daily life, from the booming Fifties till the groovy Seventies.

Anglo-Saxon Hanging Bowls

Hanging bowls are rather mysterious objects. Although they are found in Anglo-Saxon graves their decoration is Celtic with swirling and spiral designs. Hanging bowls seem to have their origins in late Roman bowls.A second problem is their function. Some may have had a ritual use such as baptisms but most seem to have been secular. They were perhaps used for washing or for holding drink at feasts.

The Great War

North Lincolnshire had several airfields, naval bases and other coastal defences. Scunthorpe's steelworks supplied metal for munitions manufacture.The Lincolnshire Regiment and Yeomanry were sent to France and Egypt. Home Service Battalions and the Volunteer Training Corps were formed to defend Britain from invasion. These units included men unsuitable for or exempt from active service abroad. Fixed and mobile defences were stationed in the Humber estuary and along the vulnerable Lincolnshire coastline. Barton-upon-Humber had a naval office to recruit replacements for Coastguards in service at sea.By 1916, German Zeppelin airships were attacking civilian targets with highly explosive bombs. Scunthorpe was one of several areas attacked in Lincolnshire. Royal Flying Corps aeroplanes stationed at Kirton-in-Lindsey were sent to intercept Zeppelins. A Night Landing Ground was created at Blyborough but flares to guide friendly fighters often attracted enemy attention.

Formed in November 2022, Museum Makers is a weekly group for adults with additional needs.Each month, we focus on a different collection from North Lincolnshire Museums. A member of the Collections team brings some objects for us to handle, sparking conversation, questions and ideas.To prepare for this exhibition, we have been inviting artists and other guests to help us create our own interpretations of the objects. These are all unique to the Maker and show personality and a sense of identity.The Museum Makers have been learning how to create an exhibition, choosing everything from the logo to the placement of the cases. We continue to meet every week, learning about the collections and the procedures involved in processes such as object acquisition. As Museum Makers, we intend to continue our work across North Lincolnshire Museum, making it more accessible and inclusive.The Museum Makers meet every Wednesday, 10:00am-12:00pm.  

Spotlight on Geology

During ‘Geology Month’, Collections Assistant Catherine brought some fossils for us to handle. These were mostly marine-based, and we talked about how North Lincolnshire was under water during the Jurassic era.Catherine says, “I chose these specimens from the Geology collection because they are all very distinctive. I wanted to show the group what a range of sizes and shapes these creatures had. I also tried to include some that they might be able to find for themselves. Gryphaea, for example, are commonly found in North Lincolnshire. My personal favourite is the trilobite. I’ve had a soft spot for these amazing creatures ever since studying them at college. They might not seem that exciting at first glance, but trilobites existed for around 300 million years and there are over 20,000 known species. This makes them one of the most successful and diverse life forms to have ever existed.”Catherine also gave us a tour of the Geology gallery and pointed out her favourite pieces there. We recognised some of the species from our handling sessions. The collection inspired us to bring in our own collections from home to show the group, and some of us even went on our own geology hunts!  

Museum Makers take on Geology

During ‘Geology Month’, artist Kat Spence delivered a workshop that helped us to express more about ourselves, using geology as inspiration.Stratigraphy is the branch of geology which studies rock layers (strata) and layering (stratification). Kat gave us a presentation to explain about stratigraphy, then asked us to choose colours of tissue paper to represent our personal ‘layers’.The top layers are what people can see when they meet us. This might be the colour of our eyes or hair, or the t-shirt we are wearing. The middle layers are what people can learn about us when they interact with us, such as where we are from because of our accent. The bottom layers are the things that people would never know unless we told them, like a disability or a fear or a hope.We layered the tissue on to the canvas to create our personal stratigraphy.  

Making a Collection

When looking at the gala mugs during ‘Social History Month’, we talked about the accession numbers that are marked on the bottom of each mug. Collections Assistant Madeleine Gray explained that each object in the collection has a unique number, which helps us to identify all the information associated with it, which is stored on a database. This information includes the history of the object, which we call the ‘provenance’. We also record elements such as the object’s measurements, its condition, and who donated it and when.The sessions involving the gala mugs inspired Learning Development Assistant Jen Holtridge to donate a gala teapot! We have been using this object to learn about the donation procedure. We talked about the Collecting Policy, and how this helps us to decide which objects to accept and which to decline. We completed an object entry form, and looked at how the object is assigned a unique number in the accession register. We will continue to work through the procedure, marking the item with a number, taking photographs, and recording all the information on the database.We will develop our documentation knowledge in future sessions using North Lincolnshire Museums’ collections, practicing the procedure with the objects we have made for this exhibition.  

Making an Exhibition

During the sessions, we have been learning how to develop an exhibition. Madeleine Gray, Collections Assistant, has been guiding us in building the skills and knowledge to create displays.We used a handheld environmental monitoring meter to measure the light, temperature and relative humidity levels. We learned that ‘lux’ is the light coming from artificial lights, ‘UV’ is the light coming from outside, and ‘relative humidity’ is the moisture in the air. We discussed what the ideal levels are, and the effect this can have on the collections. We talked about how lower light levels can stop colours from fading over a longer period, and that constant temperature and relative humidity levels help preserve objects for longer.Madeleine worked with us and the Designer to develop a logo and graphic panel design for the exhibition. We also used a plan of the gallery to decide where our cases and other materials should go.We learned about integrated pest management, and how important it is to check for pests on a regular basis. We looked at which pests target which collection, and how important it is to have a cleaning programme to keep pest levels down.We will continue to monitor the environment throughout the exhibition period.  

Make it Personal

Some of the sessions inspired us to bring in our own collections to share with the rest of the Museum Makers. From fossils, rocks and semi-precious stones to football match tickets, these objects sparked conversation about history, as well as art. Particularly with the geology specimens, many of the Museum Makers appreciated the pieces in an abstract way, likening them to other objects.Interpreting the collections in a personal way, and having the opportunity to see objects from personal collections, has given us some ideas for future sessions.Some of the Museum Makers’ collections are shown here. They are all personal. Each Maker has been drawn to them in some way. What would you show from your own collection?  

Museum Makers on Tour

On 15 March 2023, the Museum Makers went on Tour! We hired a coach and went to visit Leeds City Museum and Leeds Art Gallery.At Leeds City Museum, we met Rachael Dilley, Curator of Exhibitions. She gave us a tour around the ‘Overlooked’ exhibition. It was conceived, researched and written by a group of volunteers aged 14-24. They worked collaboratively with community groups whose stories have been largely disregarded. Inclusivity, diversity and accessibility are at the exhibition’s core. Rachael spoke to us about how to build an exhibition and gave us some great resources.After a look around the Archaeology Gallery, we headed to Leeds Art Gallery to meet Amanda Phillips from the Education Office. She gave us an introduction to the Art Gallery, helping us to settle into a mindset that would help us enjoy the artworks on display. She also pointed out interesting features of the building and spoke about how the Victorians would have used the space.  

Spotlight on Social History

From 1924 Lysaght’s steelworks held a yearly Children’s Gala at their Normanby Park site. It continued until 1981, when the site closed. The children who attended received a mug to remember the event.In 1931 Appleby-Frodingham steelworks held their first Children’s Gala. It took place annually in the summer at the grounds of Brumby Hall in Scunthorpe. In 1940 and 1941 the gala did not take place due to disruptions from the war. The galas were funded by the steel workers themselves, ensuring they remained free for the children. Games, stunt displays and rides were regular fixtures. The last gala celebration was held in 2011.During ‘Social History Month’, Collections Assistant Eveline brought some gala mugs for us to handle. We looked at photographs from the galas, and group members that used to attend spoke of their memories. We also looked at the object accession number on the base of the mugs, and talked about the documentation procedure and why each object has a unique number. We decided these procedures are something we would like to continue to explore further in the sessions.  

Museum Makers take on Social History

During ‘Social History Month’, Jen from Quite Contrary Pottery guided us in creating our own gala mugs over several sessions.We designed our mugs on paper first, creating our own personal design on one side and adding relevant text on the other. Next, we rolled out the clay and cut it to the right size and shape. Using tools, we copied our design by hand onto the clay. We rolled the body of the mug into shape, then added a base and handle. Jen took these away and fired them in a kiln, ready for glazing. To glaze our mugs, we used special paints to add colour, then Jen took them to be fired in the kiln again.Firing the mugs in the kiln for the final time made the colours bright and the surface shiny.  

Spotlight on Archaeology

During ‘Archaeology Month’, Collections Assistant Catherine brought objects to show us that included treasure! We learned about the process of an archaeological dig, and what happens when treasure is found.Catherine says, “I wanted to include objects from a wide range of time periods and show a variety of objects, from weapons to tools to jewellery. My favourite is the plough pebble. I like that these pebbles are so distinctive and show such clear evidence of how they were used. In many cases, the presence of these pebbles can be the only indication that Medieval farming once took place in an area. I also really like the Anglo-Saxon pendant. I’m as excited by shiny gold things as the next person, and I don’t think that anyone has ever beaten the elite Anglo-Saxon goldsmiths for the sheer quality of their work.”Catherine led a tour of the Archaeology gallery, to point out objects that have been gilded with gold. Then we used gold leaf to have a go at gilding some letters.  

Museum Makers take on Archaeology

During ‘Archaeology Month’, we took part in a workshop led by Wild Woodcraft. They showed us the ancient method of flint knapping, and we all had a go at making our own hand axes.Flint knapping is a method of shaping tools, which early humans were using 1.5 million years ago. Using a hammerstone, we hit the flint to break away layers, making a pointed tool with sharp edges. In prehistoric times, these sorts of tools were used to butcher animals for meat and remove the skin for clothing. They could also have been used for chopping wood and digging.It was a long process and hard work, but everyone stuck with it to the end! When our hand axes were finished, Wild Woodcraft showed us how to run the hammerstone along the edges to make them less sharp so we could hold them safely.While we were working, we talked about what hard work it must have been for the early humans to make all their tools in this way. We discussed how no task could be undertaken without first creating a tool to do it.  

Graffiti Workshop

In the sessions, we have been looking at different styles of typography through history. Typography is the style or appearance of text.  We viewed some documents from the collection that contained beautiful lettering and had a go at colouring our own illuminated letters. We carried on this typography theme with local graffiti artist Tom Butcher, who led a workshop where we created our own Museum Makers tag.Tom showed us how to use the spray cans to create different effects with the paint. We filled in the ‘Museum Makers’ lettering and had space to get creative with our own designs on the boards.“There’s a lot of different things you can do with spray paint. You can do your own walls with it, you can do pictures and graffiti, and you can do it outside, but you need to ask the council if you can spray paint there. You can do whatever design comes into your head.” - Michael, Museum Maker.  

Spotlight on Biology

During ‘Biology Month’, Collections Assistant Catherine brought some taxidermy to view and touch if we wanted to. As there were some birds in this handling collection, we found their calls to listen to on a website. We shared facts and learned some new ones!Catherine says, “When choosing objects from the biology collection I tried to think about some of the creatures that the group might see fairly regularly or be more familiar with. I also wanted to show them some, such as the adder and the nightjar, that they were less likely to have come across. The weasel is one of my favourite taxidermy specimens because it’s a lovely example of what could perhaps be termed less successful taxidermy. Between the pose, the slight lean and the rather odd expression, I always think it looks like a weasel that’s either had a couple of pints too many or has just run into a door.”  

Museum Makers take on Biology

During ‘Biology Month’, ecologist Catherine Burton visited us from Wildlife Friendly Otley. She led us in a workshop where we learned about different wild animals that we find in the United Kingdom. Catherine brought replica animal tracks to show us… as well as replica animal poo! Looking at these, we tried to guess to which animal they belonged. We talked about which of these animals we’ve seen before, and shared facts about them. We talked about how important it is for scientists to study the poo of animals, to find out more about them including their behaviour and what they eat. The presence of animal tracks and poo means that the animal is active in the immediate area.Collections Assistant Catherine brought along some taxidermy from the biology collection, showing some of the animals we were talking about.Then we used clay to make our own animal prints, and even our own animal poo! We used sultanas to represent berries, sugar to represent grit, glitter to represent fish scales, and feathers. These all give a clue as to what our animal has been eating!  

1. Great spotted woodpecker. 2. Nightjar. 3. Thrush. 4. Little owl. 5. Red fox. 6. Shaving frogs. 7. Rabbit. 8. Grass snake. 9. Badger. 10. Weasel. 11. Adder.

For Biology month, artist Wendy Bruce led some of the Museum Makers in a workshop to paint a pheasant using watercolours.The work that has been completed so far is on display here, with more to come after the next workshop!Top left row L-R: Darren; Rory; Clare.Bottom left row L-R: Cally; Leanne.  

Top right row L-R: Eloise; Beth; Sandra.Bottom right row L-R: Simon M; Daniel; Daria.  

Geology

1. Gryphaea. 2. Mammoth tooth. 3. Ammonite. 4. Crinoid. 5. Belemnite. 6. Echinoid. 7. Trilobite. 8. Ammonites.

1. Daria 2. Daniel 3. Simon R. 4. Darren 5. Clare 6. Eloise 7. Nathan 8. Sharon 9. Peter 10. Simon M. 11. Jake 12. Sam 13. Michael 14. Sandra 15. Lisa 16. Cally 17. Sheryl 18. Liam

Hand axes made by the Museum Makers during the flint knapping workshop.

1. Madi 2. Peter 3. Ryan 4. Nathan 5. 6. Connie 7. 8. Sheryl   10. Jack 11. Simon 12. Sam 13. Ryan 14.  15. Clare 16. Lisa 17. Sam 18. 19. Liam 20. Carlyn 21. Marc 22.  23.  24. Gilded ‘Museum Makers’ letters created during one of our sessions and used for our logo. 25. Hand axe, hammerstone and tanned goat hide. These were made by Wild Woodcraft, who led our flint knapping workshop. We used a hammerstone to hit the flint to shape it. 26. Roman pottery rim sherd from a mortarium. 27. Medieval plough pebbles. 28. Medieval dress hook. 29. Roman bow brooch. 30. Roman disc brooch. 31. Anglo-Saxon glass beads. 32. Anglo-Saxon gold pendant. 33. Viking silver pendant. 34. Anglo-Saxon cruciform brooch. 35. Neolithic leaf shaped arrowhead. 36. Bronze age barbed and tanged arrowhead. 37. Neolithic hand axe.

‘The Deathly Hallows’ Nathan Kynman, 2023.

The Museum Makers chose ‘Pepper Red’ for the wall colour, but work placement student Nathan preferred ‘Golden Sands’. As it is a democratic group, the voted decision was final. Collections Assistant Madi gave Nathan some ‘Golden Sands’ colour for him to leave some rebellious artwork on the wall instead.  

Appleby Frodingham 60th Children’s Gala teapot and souvenir programme, Saturday 1st June 1991.

The donor designed the image that appears on the front of the programme, and on one side of the teapot. She says, “There was a senior manager at the steelworks who was retiring and there was a teapot and matching ashtray given to him and both the prize winners. I came second place and was told that only one design was supposed to be featured. But he loved my design so much they printed in on the back of the teapot.”  

Top shelf Personal Assistant Margaret loves crafts and made these ‘Museum Makers’ books for the exhibition. Some Museum Makers were inspired to go on their own geology hunt on a day out at Filey. This is what they found!Middle shelf This geology collection belongs to Museum Maker Liam. He has brought lots of pieces from his collection to the sessions for us to handle and admire. He has displayed some of these pieces here.Bottom shelf Museum Maker Peter donated two Scunthorpe United tickets to the collection and has displayed them here. Museum Maker Daniel has displayed some of his Scunthorpe United programmes.  

Every week in the Museum Makers sessions, colouring is very popular. This wall is covered with a small selection of the colouring that has been completed during the sessions.Museum Maker Sam brings her sketch book to every session. She will usually modify one of the crafts that is available during the sessions, to put her own unique spin on it! She has displayed some of the things she has created in this case.“My favourite piece in this case is the one where Sam has added the gold leaf, which we were using to gild the ‘Museum Makers’ letters that are in the Archaeology case.” - Madi, Collections Assistant.  

1. John Lysaght’s Scunthorpe Works Ltd. Children’s Gala, 5th July 1958. 2. B.R.S.A. (British Railways Staff Association) Scunthorpe Branch 10th Children’s Gala, 25th June 1966. 3. Appleby Frodingham Children’s Gala, 1951. 4. Appleby Frodingham Children’s Gala, 1967. 5. Appleby Frodingham Children’s Gala, 1973. 6. Appleby Frodingham Children’s Gala, 3rd June 1978. 7. Appleby Frodingham 52nd Children’s Gala, 4th June 1983. 8. Appleby Frodingham 59th Children’s Gala, Saturday 2nd June 1990. 9. Appleby Frodingham 72nd Children’s Gala, 8th June 2003. 10. Lysaght’s Scunthorpe Works Children’s Gala, 10th July 1965. 11. Normanby Park Steelworks 53rd Children’s Gala, Saturday 9th July 1977. 12. Appleby Frodingham 66th Children’s Gala, 8th June 1997.

Introduction

Insects have been described as ‘the little things that run the world’. Although they often go unnoticed, they carry out numerous essential tasks around us every day. Without them life on Earth would be impossible. They pollinate our crops, clean up our waste, control pests, maintain soil health and provide a vital food source for creatures further up the food chain. There are more species of insect on the planet than any other type of animal and they can be found in almost every type of habitat. Despite this, in many cases we know very little about them and their lives. Although over a million insect species are already known to science, there are thought to be many times more left to be discovered. Some may have gone extinct without us ever knowing they existed at all. In this exhibition we will be taking a look into the mysterious world of the insects. Although it is a world in miniature, its inhabitants are just as beautiful, intriguing and dangerous as any of their larger counterparts.  

Masters of Disguise

Many insects have evolved forms of protective colouring to enable them to hide themselves from predators. These disguises take a wide range of forms. Some species resemble inanimate objects such as leaves, twigs, moss, flowers and even bird droppings. Others use a technique known as Batesian mimicry, in which a harmless species evolves to resemble another which has some form of defence. In the insect world, bees, wasps and hornets are commonly mimicked. Some caterpillars disguise themselves as snakes, even rearing up and hissing when threatened. This mimicking of other species can also be used for a different purpose. Six of the UK’s bumblebees are ‘cuckoo’ bumblebees. These cuckoos do not set up their own nests, but instead sneak into the nests of other bees to lay their eggs. In some cases, the cuckoo will kill the original queen to take control of the entire nest. To allow them to infiltrate undetected, the cuckoo bees have evolved very similar colouring to that of their hosts. Some of them are also able to mimic the chemical signature of the nest, fooling its residents into accepting the intruder. Several types of wasp also employ this technique, relying entirely on smell to gain access to the nests of other species.  

Small But Deadly

Despite their tiny size, insects are among the most fearsome predators on the planet.  Some are capable of tackling prey many times larger than themselves, taking on spiders, snails and frogs. The tarantula hawk wasp, which is found across South and Central America, specialises in hunting down tarantulas. The wasp will paralyse the spider with its sting before dragging it back to its lair and laying an egg on it. When the egg hatches, the spider provides a valuable food source for the wasp larva.  Some rather surprising insects are predators. While most caterpillars feed on leaves, a small minority are carnivorous. Some have developed sharp claws on their front legs to enable them to snare passing prey. Large Blue butterfly caterpillars will fool ants into carrying them back to their nest. The caterpillars then spend the winter eating the ant larvae before pupating in spring and leaving the nest. Several species of moth are blood-suckers. Most moth species have a long flexible mouthpart, the proboscis, which is used to suck nectar or plant sap. The vampire moths have developed proboscises with sharpened tips to penetrate the skin. Small barbs anchor them in place while the moth feeds.  

What Have Insects Ever Done For Us?

Three quarters of food crops are pollinated by insects. Without these pollinators we wouldn’t have tea, coffee, chocolate, peas, raspberries and pumpkins, to name but a few. Bees are perhaps the best-known pollinators, but many other species of insect also carry out this vital work, including butterflies, beetles, wasps, flies and moths. Some of these are specialists, which have evolved close relationships with the particular plants they feed on. The tiny parasitic fig wasp, for example, is the only pollinator capable of accessing the enclosed flowers of the fig tree. This partnership forms the basis of a global industry estimated to be worth over a billion pounds, as well as supporting thousands of species which rely on the fig tree for their survival. Another valuable role performed by insects is that of waste disposal. They break down organic material such as plant material, droppings and corpses. This not only prevents the planet becoming knee-deep in these waste materials but also enables the nutrients to be recycled and returned to the soil. In addition, this has the effect of converting waste into protein, which provides a valuable food source for animals further up the food chain.  

new Tag

Gardening For Nature

Wildlife-friendly gardens can support hundreds of species of insects. They act as a series of small nature reserves, enabling insect populations to grow and expand across wider areas. Everyone who owns a garden has the power to help the insects in their local area and even people who don’t have one can do their part. Pots of flowering plants on balconies or by doorsteps can provide vital food sources and shelter for insects. A wildlife-friendly garden doesn’t need to be untidy and overgrown, although doing less can often have great benefits for nature. Plantlife’s ‘No Mow May’ campaign encourages gardeners to leave their lawns uncut during the month of May. Surveys of participating lawns found over 200 species flowering amongst the grass. Restricting mowing to once every four weeks has been found to boost flower and nectar production tenfold. Plants such as daisies and clover have the chance to produce flowers before they are cut down. Leaving patches unmown for longer periods increases plant diversity even further and provides areas of shelter for insects. Mowing less also has the advantage of making lawns more resistant to drought.  

The Teleosaurus

The Pliosaur

The Zeppelin

The Lancaster Bomber

Fowler’s Mosaics

Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum

The Wroot Axe

The Bradley Sword