Ryedale Folk Museum

Heritage weekend: loads of historic sites open around the country for free! 

Our family decided to take a trip out to Ryedale Folk Museum 

(we love Beamish for being a living museum and this place seemed to have similar elements, including volunteers in-character, buildings set up to suit the time periods and functioning shops)

I mostly loitered around the Victorian and Edwardian sections of the museum and collected some photos/information around the Funeral Director's lodge and the town:

The 'Farndale Hearse' from 1839. 

An intricately carved and decorative horse-drawn hearse carriage. There is an authentic coffin inside too. Death is beautiful. Why do we spend so much on funerals?

The history of this hearse:

The Chapel of Farndale invested into a hearse, with all villagers paying something towards it (the poorest paying just a shilling and richer families paying 12 shillings). Anyone could use the hearse and all paid towards maintaining it. Likely led by a suitable black farm horse. 

Last recorded use was in 1931.

Victorian Superstitions - Death

Some quotes surrounding Victorian superstitions and death; from dogs barking to laying salt on the chest of the corpse, some very strange traditions and ideas. (right click, open in new tab then zoom to read)

In Memorium
 gave me an idea for producing some of these? Poe-themed condolence cards.
Dainty ink drawings of flowers and calligraphy, with personal messages inside for the deceased.

Mary Featherstone

A beautiful name - perhaps I could borrow this one? I could find names and characters from gravestones. A very personal item, but so grand and mounted inside one of the model cottages.

The Funeral Director

An authentic Funeral Director's attire. Black, formal and distinctive.

Eating Rosy Apples and drinking Victorian Lemonade from the town to finish off the day in true Victorian fashion.