Hi I’m Helen, I am the Curator of Domestic and Cultural life here at Black Country Living Museum. You may have wondered why we were closed for two weeks at the beginning of January.
Well each year that two week close period gives our Maintenance Team time to carry out a programme of annual repairs and preservation work and for myself __with the rest of the Collections Team and the support of our demonstrators, it gives us a chance to deep clean our buildings. We carry out a deep clean from top to bottom sweeping away cobwebs from nooks and crannies of over 60 buildings which includes our houses, shops, brew house and not forgetting all of our vehicle collection too.
One of the harder tasks is in Gregory's General Store and Doo’s Chemist, __with so many boxes and bottles that make up the historic collection, each are taken off the shelves and are individually assessed, dusted, cleaned and put back in the same spot. One of the delights is that whilst we are closed, we’re able to use 'modern equipment' to help with washing curtains and vacuuming furniture which we would never be able to do when we are set in the Victorian and Edwardian era.
So hopefully now we are open for the year ahead, you'll come along to visit us and spot a lovely clean sparkle as you walk around our shops and houses.
