And Did Those Feet

 I went to see the National Army Museum for the first time since its HLF scheme opened.  I always remember the  building as being in a cramped little space with no sense of place.  The architectural transformation by BDP is a resounding success. It now has a decent frontage on Royal Hospital Street and inside has a rational and open countenance that is a pleasure to inhabit.. The displays are less of a success.  The only section that really works is the 'Soldier' exhibition. It works very well to introduce the experience of being a soldier with a nice mix of object, interactive, quotation and image.  However the Battle section is very disappointing. It really gives neither an interesting insight into the wars Britain has fought, not does it give a view of experience of war in the various periods or the hardware of war. I left this section feeling I had learnt nothing.  I had similar experiences in the Army and Society sections. I think the proble...

This is a very useful and short summary of the life and death of the QR Code - a method of directing people to extra online content that sounded great but which was never taken up in any significant number. Also has useful links to other material re digital engagement. Cuseum — Life & Death of QR Codes in Museums

For some reason this is not on display at the new Ashmolean museum Founders Room Musaeum Tradescantianum, or, A collection of ra...

As part of the M.A for Narrative Environments at Central St Martins we use storyboards as a technique for developing narrative projects.  Tutors on the course collected examples.  I looked at inspiration from ancient sources. Bayeaux tapestry The tapestry moves through time and space with a clear narrative. Different narrative layers are used. Simple conventions make it easier to read – the English for example have moustaches while the Normans have pudding basin hairstyles. Text is limited for example to crucial identification of leading characters. Places are not spelt out though can be identified by those who know by context and form.  The narrative structure is  linear and has beautiful clarity. The top and bottom strips allow additional information often decorative but often individual stories or symbols. The following shows a scrolling video of the Tapestry:   https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=08zVsxjVEJY Charles Duke of Orleans in t...

I tested a museum's izi.travel guided tour. These were my conclusions. The app worked very well as far as navigation was concerned. It provides a GPS based mapped route around the system.  There was a slight uncertainty as to how to start the tour but otherwise, mechanically, it looked professional and worked well. The scripting was very professionally read by actors.  I think the main problem was that each stop was too long.  Some of them were 10 minutes long and this seemed like a bit of a slog to get through. I think it should be split up into 2 - 3 sections with optional extras if any one wants to explore.  I don't know if this is possible with the app. I would have liked to have seen more images and less audio. The script did not make it clear whether the spoken material by the characters was made up by the script- writer or quotes from a contemporary source.  I guess a mixture of both but the uncertainty devalued the quotations. Another problem ...

'Dead is the Dwarf'  This is a Saxon runic inscription. It appears to be a medical inscription to be worn as a talisman and references a illness characterized in the Saxon period as 'the dwarf'.  Presumably the 'dwarf' was driven out of the body and this runic plaque stops it coming back. More information in the notes section at the bottom of the record in this link. and in British Archaeology Nov/Dec 2017. Page 52

Maybe that is an exaggeration but still very interesting documentary. ᴴᴰ [Documentary] Britains Pompeii - YouTube

These are the walks I am doing for London Walks for the forthcoming winter season: Sat 10.45 4th Nov 2017 The Archaeology & History of the Bankside - from London Bridge to the Globe  - London Bridge  Tooley Street Entrance A walk  looking at the Archaeology and History of Southwark and the Bankside.  This area, to the South of London Bridge, has more prehistoric remains that the City of London and a set of important Roman buildings that suggest it was more than just a suburb of Roman London.  On the walk we look at the origins and history of London's most famous Bridge, and its importance for the development of London's most famous suburb.  The walk will explore the Roman settlement, its decline in the so-called 'Dark Ages' and its reappearance in the 9th Century as a new Bridge was erected.  We investigate the area in and around Southwark Cathedral. The walk ends  looking at the archaeology of Shakespeare's Stage. Sat 2.30 18...

Here is a series of Zepplin themed events in London. The raid on Calmington Road by Zepplin in 1917 killed 12 people and destroyed 3 houses.     http://www.bridgetonowhere.friendsofburgesspark.org.uk/the-story-of-burgess-park-heritage-trail/heritage-trail-a-l/bomb-damage/  Events Listing | Bridge to Nowhere

England needs Interim listing powers to prevent philistines like the developer who destroyed a 17th Century Building. English Heritage were able to do absolutely nothing about it because it was not listed, and it was demolished before they could list it.  Press release: Developer mutilates Jacobean ceiling to avoid potential listing

Film on the excavations at Runymede - the story being told is that it is London's the Bronze Age Glastonbury. Its a very opinionated documentary with very little in the way of presentation of the data. It is more an archaeological reflection on the Bronze Age than an analysis of the Runymede site and the viewer gets very little in the way of evidence that they can weigh up.  I also came away with little idea of the geography of the site. Bronze Age Runnymede: Excavations at Runnymede Bridge - YouTube

Opened in March.  To get your cocktails you have to decipher the code. Spy themed pop up bar The Bletchley opens in Chelsea, London | Metro News