Events > The Guildhall and The Charles Burrell Museum
When: August 17, 2019 from 8:00PM to August 18, 2019 1:00AM |
Price: £35.00 |
Tickets Available: None - Fully Booked |
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Join us on
our Ghost Hunt at the Guildhall in Thetford and The Charles Burrell Museum.
Thetford
Guildhall
The present
guildhall of 1903 stands on the site of a predecessor of 1680.
1799-1780
the Guildhall was almost entirely rebuilt. The previous structure was largely
medieval, in black flint, with substantial additions made in the 1680s. Further
alterations were proposed in 1797, but preliminary investigations revealed that
parts of the existing structure were unsafe. As a result most was reconstructed,
with the provision of a new council chamber and courthouse, and the building of
a cupola and clock tower. Only a century later, in 1901-2, it was found that
the late 18th century foundations and workmanship were also defective, and
another virtual reconstruction was required.
The
workhouse serving the three parishes of Thetford was situated in the basement
of the guildhall until the 1760s.
The Charles
Burrell Museum
From
the early days Burrells were winning prizes and in 1803 were awarded a silver cup
for their improved drilling machine, which could sow fertilizer along with
seed. The new invention was a major step forward in the establishment of the
company.
?Many new machines were developed under James Burrell's leadership, including
seed drills, harrows and rakes. Many of the designs were patented and many
prizes won. James Burrell died in 1837, leaving his son Charles to take over
the company at the age of 20.
As technology developed Charles perceived that steam power was the way forward.
Many experiments were undertaken and finally Burrells produced their first
portable steam engine. It was exhibited at The Royal Agricultural show in 1848.
This engine had a locomotive type boiler mounted on four wheels, with a single
cylinder engineer and a firebox with a haystack top. It was called a portable
engine because horses to wherever it was needed as a power source could move
it. Many were sold, furthering the name of Burrell.
In the same year Burrells designed and built the first combined threshing and
finishing machine ever to be offered to the public.
The world's first heavy haulage engine incorporated a patent first
taken out in 1845 by Mr Boydell, which was later improved in 1854. The Endless
Railway, as Mr Boydell's patent was known, consisted of six flat sections
bolted to each wheel, which gave it a greater service area. Charles Burrell was
approached to manufacture these engines and although other engineering
companies produced their own version, it is the Burrell- Boydell partnership,
which is generally credited with the most success.
Charles Burrell claimed that these engines could go where there were no proper
roads and performed well on muddy fields where ordinary engines would get
stuck. The first engines were horse steered. A later improvement was a separate
fore-carriage from which a man steered. Operation of these engines went through
many trials and proved suitable for both heavy haulage and agricultural
work. .
Today, three of Charles Burrell's engines stand proud in the original Burrell
paint shop.
Your ghost hunt at includes:
• Tour of the venue
• Vigils throughout the location working in small groups
• Spirit board experiments
• Use of ghost hunting equipment including Dowsing Rods & EMF
Meters
• Refreshments throughout
Join Essex Ghost Hunters as we venture around these two amazing
venues in search of the ghosts that haunt these venues.