Museum building work uncovers 100-year-old message (From Somerset County Gazette)

Museum building work uncovers 100-year-old message

9:55am Monday 23rd March 2009

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A FASCINATING insight into building works from 100 years ago has been uncovered at Taunton Castle.

A note from the tradesman who made and installed the bookcases in the Adam Library in 1911, together with his screwdriver and a chocolate bar wrapper, have been found during work on the £6.9m Museum of Somerset project.

The note says that the bookcases were made and fixed “after much labour, irritation and anxiety” by Albert Paul Churchill, “the one that did the work”.

His three colleagues are described as “The General Lookers on” and “The one that helped”.

The Adam Library is undergoing renovation work as part of a scheme to restore Taunton Castle and bring up to date the museum housed there.

The library will become the new Discovery Gallery when the museum re-opens next year.

The gallery will display the museum’s natural history and world cultures collections, including the monkey skulls collected by John Hanning Speke, the Somerset man who discovered the source of the Nile in 1863.

Museum of Somerset project leader Tom Mayberry said: “This discovery provides a touching and amusing glimpse into working life in Somerset 100 years ago.

“We eagerly await further discoveries as we peel back the layers of time at Taunton Castle through the Museum of Somerset Project.”

Somerset county councillor Justin Robinson, portfolio holder for health and well-being, said: “The Museum of Somerset project will mean that much more of Taunton Castle will be opened up to the public when the museum re-opens next year.”

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