The Museum has been given a maypole, which can now be borrowed by schools and similar groups. It is free-standing in a substantial cast-iron base and the ribbons are attached to a rotating piece at the top of the pole. A borrower would need a medium to large car with a roof rack or similar arrangement to carry it. There are also instructions for some dances, with hints for organising a successful event, and a CD with some appropriate music.

Click on "Read more" to see more details about the pole.

We now have a loan box themed on the seaside.  This contains items related to the late 19th and first half of the 20th centuries.  This can be borrowed by schools in the usual way.

Click here for details of what the box contains.

.

The Museum now has its very own YouTube channel. We will be sharing more videos as time goes by but as a starter we have put up some clips of 'Professor Beamish' performing experiments with static electricity. Prof. B's science experiments are a regular part of our half term activities providing visitors with some great entertainment.

If you haven't seen Professor Beamish's show before just click on the graphic opposite and enjoy Don demonstrating all of his charm, wit and erudition.

'Professor' Beamish will be in attendance at the Museum Monday to Friday during February half-term week. There will be demonstrations of the wonderful Wimshurst machine, the Van der Graaff generator - wirh a new electrostatic motor made from a plastic beaker. There will also be some interesting things done with polarised light. This will happen in the exhibition room off the school room.

This replica geological map of Buckinghamshire, divided into hundreds, is dated 1820 and shows roads, rivers, parks, etc. The original was engraved by John Carey.

It is available for loan through the Museum's Schools Loans Service.

We wish all of our friends, visitors and volunteers many thanks for your support this year and  a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Museum re-opens after the holiday season on Saturday the 14^th January 2012.

We hope to see you all again next year.

The Victorian Christmas event is in full swing now with the Museum all decked out and busy with visitors. Mother is taking her ease in the parlor sipping fruit punch while being entertained on the pianola, dad is in the kitchen with the kids making toast the old fashioned way, while granddad and grandma are perusing the Christmas market in the barn. Other families are taking a horse drawn wagon ride around the farm or buzzing the old phones in the telephone hut. The highlight for the children, of course, is a visit with Father Christmas and for the grown ups perhaps a treat of home-made cakes in the Tea Room. Everyone enjoys a bit of historical escapism invoked by the special atmosphere at the MKM at this time of year.    

Click more to see a few more pictures.

This trebuchet has just been donated to the Museum.

It is less of a replica and more of a demonstration of the principle of this advanced design of medieval siege engine. The model is very robust and is capable of firing a projectile (a stone of, say, 2 to 3 cm diameter) more than 10 metres. For obvious reasons, it is suggested that any demonstration takes place out of doors and into a clear open space.

It can be borrowed by schools and similar groups under the terms of the Museums Schools Loans Scheme - see under the Education tab above.