Collection
The collection
About 9,800 objects and 11,400 photographs, almost all given by people from Tarrow. Around 640 are on display at any time. The rest are in the store, and you can ask to see most of them.
The catalogue
Twelve plates
Every object has a plate number, a record and a story. These twelve are a start; the store holds the rest.
PL. 01
Ropewalk shift bell
1996.1.1
Long Gallery
PL. 02
Walk foreman’s pocket watch
1994.8.1
Long Gallery
PL. 03
Boat compass from the ketch Maud
2003.4.1
Long Gallery
PL. 04
Chart of the Tarrow Reach
1972.2.1
In store: ask to see it in the reading room
PL. 05
Telephone from Brisco’s Pharmacy
1998.11.1
Hackling Loft
PL. 06
Merrin Valley Dairy enamel sign
2011.3.1
Hackling Loft
PL. 07
Pharmacy bottles from the Tar Yard
2008.6.1-4
Hackling Loft
PL. 08
Hand-cranked sewing machine
1999.2.1
Hackling Loft
PL. 09
The 1919 signature quilt
1988.5.1
In store: ask to see it in the reading room
PL. 10
Pupil’s slate from Tarrow Bridge School
2006.9.1
Hackling Loft
PL. 11
Guard’s hand lamp from Tarrow station
1991.7.1
Tarring Room (in The Branch Line, 1886 to 1958)
PL. 12
Ada Venn’s folding camera
1965.1.1
In store: ask to see it in the reading room
01
How the collection is organised
Every object has a number, like 1996.1.1. The first part is the year it came to us, the second is the gift or group it came with, and the third is the object within that group. So 1996.1.1 is the first object in the first group we took in during 1996: the shift bell, which came with the building. A range like 2008.6.1-4 means a set catalogued together.
We sort the collection into six themes. Some objects fit two; we pick the one that tells its story best.
02
Categories
The ropewalk and the river it depended on: tools, machines, wage books, the boats that carried rope, and the people who worked both.
High Street and the businesses behind it: the pharmacy, the dairy, the drapery, the blacksmith, and the signs, scales and paperwork they left.
How Tarrow households cooked, cleaned, mended and kept warm. Our largest group, and the one with the most repairs.
Tarrow Bridge School and the town’s other classrooms, plus toys, games and sports clubs.
The branch line, the river ferry, carts, bicycles and the suitcases people left and arrived with.
Photographs, maps, letters, postcards and printed things, including Ada Venn’s 3,100 glass plates.
03
Can’t see it? Ask for it.
Only about one object in fifteen is on display. If you want to see something that’s in the store, book a reading-room visit on a Thursday or Friday and tell us what you’re after. We’ll bring it to the table. Give us a week’s notice, and a little more for anything large.