March is a busy month for both museums in Tuxford. The new conference room at the Museum of the Horse will host its first events, beginning with the viewing of auction items on Thursday 7th March from 10.00am to 4.00pm and again on Friday 8th March from 10.00am to 2.00pm. With over 400 lots available, the timed auction will be held online at the-saleroom.com from 5.00pm on Saturday 9th March.
On Tuesday 26th March, there will be a special display on the history of Dosco, offering former employees the opportunity to reconnect with old friends from 10.00am to 4.00pm. The history of Dosco will become a timeline display at the Walks of Life Museum, preserving the story of this significant part of Tuxford’s heritage. The launch of this display will be announced at a later date.
On Saturday 6th April, visitors can step back into childhood with a special exhibition featuring children’s pony books from the 1940s, along with horse models, including Julip. The head saddler of Julip Horses will be present, showcasing her work and demonstrating her craftsmanship. Ann Picairn, from Sutton-on-Trent, a leading expert in creating dioramas, will also be demonstrating and displaying her remarkable work. Additionally, Jane Badger of Badger Books will give a PowerPoint talk on the illustrators of pony books. To book a place for this free talk, contact curator@museumofthehorse.co.uk or call 01777 838234.
Both museums will be marking the anniversary of VE Day on Wednesday 8th May. The Museum of the Horse will host an afternoon tea dance from 4.00pm to 7.00pm, with tickets available from the museum and gallery soon. More events are being planned – further details will be announced in due course.
The Walks of Life Museum is honoured to display the poppies funded by the town council in remembrance of those on the war memorial. These poppies will feature in all future remembrance events. A heartfelt thanks goes to the people of Tuxford and beyond who have been busy making poppies for the nets that will be displayed in the town for VE Day.
Work on the old farm, in partnership with the Pinnacle Training Project, has been rewarding, providing valuable lessons in traditional building skills. A generous friend of the museum has donated a well top, which is currently being installed as part of the museum’s displays. This highlights the importance of water to human survival—particularly relevant as Friday 22nd March is World Water Day. While many take access to safe water for granted, 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have this basic necessity. Typhoid remains a major cause of illness and death globally, although progress has been made since the 1904–1905 typhoid epidemic in Lincoln, which was caused by poor sanitation practices. The museum holds an excellent example of a historic water cart as part of its collection.
Tuxford’s museums have global connections through their historical objects, attracting tradespeople, visitors, and students alike. The Walks of Life Museum will reopen for the season on Thursday 20th March and will be open on Thursdays and Saturdays from 11.00am to 4.00pm.