• A draft section of the frieze by Sarah Moss
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    The animals went in two by two

    An exciting project is taking place the Winterbourne nursery! Sarah Moss, an artist who has had a long association with Winterbourne, is painting a frieze which will extend all the way around the beautiful room in which the Nettlefold children played over a hundred years ago.   A draft section of the frieze by Sarah Moss

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  • Specimen of sphagnum moss, around 1900.
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    Object of the month: sphagnum moss

    Our archive is filled with thousands of treasures from the past, many of which never get to see the light of day. We want to change this, which is why each month we’ll now shine a spotlight on one of our many objects. First up is a perfectly-preserved specimen of sphagnum moss (c. 1900), introduced

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  • Nina Nettlefold’s wedding photograph by Clara Cooper, 1920
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    A woman of outstanding artistic abilities

    To celebrate International Women’s Day on 8 March, Curator Henrietta explores the life of a little-known Birmingham photographer. Many of the photographs in our archive have the name of the photographer stamped on them. In the Victorian and Edwardian period, most of these photographers were men. I was quite excited, therefore, when I noticed the

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  • Image of Weldon's Practical Needlework.
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    Paddling pants and other necessities

    Nowadays knitting, stitching, embroidery, and crochet are great ways to unwind and get crafty. But, back in the 18-1900s, needlework was an essential skill. Curator Henrietta reveals the importance of needlework in the Nettlefold’s lives by flicking through their photo archives. Knitting and other forms of needlework are becoming increasingly popular as people rediscover the

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  • Image of early 20th century ice skates.

    Two carriage lamps and a feeble moon

    Ever wondered what people did for fun during winter in the 19th Century? Curator Henrietta uncovered just that when she delved into the archives to find out more about how the Nettlefolds spent their winter days. Expect lots of wintry fun and frolics! It’s rare for us to get a white Christmas these days, but

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