The Museum of Ordinary Things
Museums the world over are full of everyday objects that tell a story.
At one time the Miner’s lamp was an ordinary thing, a tool for everyday use, now, they are museum artefacts. They have little monetary value but tell us something about how we used to live and who we are.
In our Museum of Ordinary things we invite people to bring their ‘ordinary thing’ and share its unique story.
Whether it’s a cherished family heirloom, a quirky gadget from your childhood, or a tool that has seen years of use, we want to hear about it!
Part of People Make Alnwick in partnership with Dovecote Street Arts
Woolie Horse
Norma Arthur.
In The Shetland Isles, families made large wooden frames to air dry their hand knitted garments. They helped stretch the jumper back into shape, enabling the precious hand knitted 100% wool garments to last a long time. In each family every frame would ...
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Small Winged Badge from TE Lawrence
This small badge was given to my father 90 years ago in Bridlington by an RAF Leading Aircraft man who called himself called T E Shaw. This man left Bridlington soon after on his motorbike Boanerges to go back to his home in Dorset. ...
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Lego Puffin
Steve Thomas.
My pockets are always full of Lego. I make original models to tie in with the places I visit. You’ll never see mine in the shops, all my originals developed in my busy brain.
...
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Printing Block
Nevill Wilson.
A block of carved wood, used in the textile print trade. It too great skill to make such an intricate pattern....
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Findings in Iron
Nevill Wilson.
Where the boat club is now in Amble., there used to be a forge that made loads of stuff for the boats. These items were found at the shore there....
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Special memorial ruler
Nevill Wilson.
This ruler is from a medical research centre. It shows a lot of wonderful things they achieved....
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Bobbins and Shuttle from a Cotton Mill
Frances Anderson
Bobbins and Shuttle from a Cotton Mill, which in their time could have been part of a world-leading British industry.
...
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Shuttle Hook
Viviennne Dalgleish.
Rescued this from the tail end of a Jumble Sale. Didn’t know what it was, but thought it needed saving. Later found out it was used as a shuttle hook for making mats. Probably a revelation in its time....
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Plant Pot: pre 1960
Sarah Butterworth.
A presumably hand made plant pot, you can see the blemish where the soft clay was pinched or knocked and you can see the potters finger-marks inside....
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Sony Walkman 1982 cost £50
Matthew Connolly
Not my first model, that was 1979 when I got one that was broken and repaired the item. It cost me £5 to risk buying a broken one. This model had a radio as well as the cassette, so I could take it ...
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Pooh Jar
Sarah Butterworth
Jam or mincemeat earthenware jar, catering size, from the canteen at my dad’s work in Salford in the 1950s or 60s. Probably Robertsons.
...
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AA Key 1970’s
Sara Butterworth
These keys were issued to members of the Automobile Association to access AA boxes, which were dedicated phone boxes to call for roadside assistance in the event of breakdown or accident....
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Bluskop
Bill Cruickshank.
Native copper found in the shape of a lizard. My dad manufactured the head and the base, the head is made of Chrisicholla (Chrysocolla) and the base is Malachite. The object is very fragile and over 50 years old....
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Metal Bikes
Lorraine Udell.
Bought on holiday in Comrie, Perthshire, with pocket money over 40 years ago. Made by someone in the village, they were the first things I bought, having saved and saved. The Penny Farthing was a couple of years later. They remind me of ...
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Brass Earrings
Alan Jones.
These (heavy) brass earrings were worn by the IBAN people of Sarawak in Borneo. It’s a practice dying out amongst the young, along with tooth mutilation....
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Original Ceramic CND Badge 1954
Alan Jones.
Following hearing a talk by the founder of the CND movement, I acquired this badge....
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Copper Ankh from Zambia
Alan Jones
This bracelet was presented during a visit to the Nkana mine near Kitwe, Copperbelt Province, in 1985. The ankh was an early form of currency amongst tribes....
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Bedouin Ornaments
Alan Jones
Ornaments showing traditional Bedouin Dress, bought to remember my time working in Jordan...
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Net Needle 1966
Alan Jones
Hand-carved net needle from silver birch, acquired in 1966 in Harrington Harbour, an English-speaking settlement on the Lower North Shore of the St Lawrence river in Quebec Province, Canada. Fishing used traditional Newfoundland cod traps. Harrington no longer existed because since the coastal ...
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Glass Bottle
Matthew Connolly
This glass bottle was found in the loft in my house in Amble, that used to be a ‘Pop’ factory. The house dates from 1880 and the factory from 1895. Hiram Codd invented this type of bottle, with a rubber ring (now perished), and ...
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Nit Comb
Louise Dawson
Clean your hair otherwise people will stare at you
Scratching your head until it is bright red
To get rid of the lice you needed soap that didn’t smell nice
And a comb that hurt like hell
Which made you shout ...
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Silver War Badge
Gary Harper
This badge belonged to Corporal J Brown of the Lancashire Fusiliers. Discharged by the King’s regulations in 1917. The main purpose of the badge was to prevent men not in uniform and without an apparent disability being thought of as shirkers and ...
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Money Clip
Maurice Ward
This money clip was used instead of a leather bum bag whilst travelling in Thailand in 1977. I fell asleep on a bus and all the newspaper in my bumbag was stolen – the money was safe in the clip....
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Pocket Screwdriver
Claire Ward
This pocket screwdriver belonged to a very dear friend. It lived in his pocket and before that, his father's. He used to enjoy touching it and making the direct connection to his father – as well as using it as a tool. I ...
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Black Rubber found on the way to the Museum of Ordinary Things
Nevill Wilson
I am an obsessive compulsive picker upper of ordinary objects and also an obsessive compulsive printmaker, hence the print of Ordinary Stuff.
I picked up the bit of black rubber on the way here....
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Rolling Pin Late 1800’s
Rachel Gray
This belonged to my great grandmother who came from Fife. She was a mother of five who lived on a smallholding where her husband ran a milk round from his cart. It was handed down to my grandmother, then my mother, and ...
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Grandma’s Bread Board
Lynda Wearn
This was my grandmother’s bread board. As I child I spent a lot of time with her, even more so after my granddad died. I’ve used this all of my life, and it always reminds me of her. She taught ...
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Wooden Horse
Cathy Greenhalgh
This is a wooden horse toy which used to be pulled on a string by me, when I was 2 and living in Lancashire. Made by my granddad Dan Greenhalgh, who also built me and my brother and sister a Wendy house. He ...
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Oil Lamp 1890’s
Michelle Duff
This was given to my Great Grandmother in around 1910-15 as a thank you gift from a traveller family after she paid for medicine for her sick daughter. The girl was very sick and they had no money for treatment. The girl ...
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Flowery Tray 1973
Mary George
This fibre glass tray was an engagement present from my best friend in 1973. It was already old fashioned, as it really is 1960s in design. It has been in constant use every day since, 52 years so far....
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My Nan’s Stool
My grandmother was very poor. My grandad had been paralysed by a horse kick, so the few items of furniture they possessed were precious to them.
This stool has one wonky leg and is about 150 years old. I use it for decorating - as ...
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Picnic Bag 2022
Jane Dixon
My big sister Sarah bought me this shopping bag with my name on the bottom. I can’t zip it back up, but it makes me laugh because it is so awful....
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Knickerbocker Glory Glass 2014
Jane Dixon
This knickerbocker glory glass cheers me up every time I have jelly and custard in it....
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CPR Facemask 2010
Jane Dixon
This CPR Facemask is in my rucksack every day just in case I need to give mouth to mouth. As a former Coastguard I am ready for any emergency...
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Pitman Shorthand Books 1893
Jacqui Wicks
These books were handed through my family to my granddad, so that he could learn pitman shorthand and become a reporter, later a newspaper editor. They’re a big part of my family history but also illustrate a dying language.
...
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