This year we have been pleased to collaborate with Keynsham & Saltford Local History Society and The Brass Mill Project on an exhibition entitled “Keynsham Through Time: The Abbey and The Brass Mills”.
The exhibition ran for a number of dates in September and October and we were able to display stonework including the magnificent carved ceiling bosses for which Keynsham Abbey is internationally famous and part of a Saxon cross-shaft and several floor tiles.
Members of the History Society manned the exhibition, which also included displays relating to Keynsham’s Brass Mills (some of which were former Abbey mills).
Visitors were also able to see a number of paintings and sketches by local artist, Peter Williams, depicting elements of Keynsham Abbey as it is and as it might have been. There was also a scale model of Keynsham Abbey constructed by model-maker, Jonathan Gwilliams, which attracted a great deal of attention. The opportunity to do brass rubbing was also very popular.
The exhibition was tremendously successful with many kind comments from visitors, including visitors from Egypt, the USA and the Netherlands. Overall, we had nearly 800 visitors, which is absolutely amazing.
Our thanks to all the volunteers and to the steering committee for all their hard work and time. We were also grateful to receive a grant from Keynsham Local Cultural Programme, which is an element of the Keynsham High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme. It is funded by Historic England and run as a partnership between Bath & North East Somerset Council and Keynsham Town Council.