We have to put up with a stuffy and lacklustre museum in Newbury which has probably got loads of local historical data filed away but is not accesible to the local towns people without considerable effort and if you want a copy, a fairly heavy cost.

Take a look at what Hungerford have done to preserve and publish for everybody to see with their Virtual Museum.

http://www.hungerfordvirtualmuseum.co.uk/index.html

It just makes Newbury a bit of a joke as the only pictorial history is more or less what is posted on this site.

That's a great idea!  Indeed one which would doubtless enthuse volunteers; particularly the 'silver surfer' retiree types who are likely to have a bit of time free. A pretty positive use of the web by our neighbours down the road.  

I would love to provide something like this for Newbury. On the Hungerford site, you are looking at 11 years of work to achieve what is on the site today.

You would need a dedicated team to compile all of the information and present it in a similar format. I know from being involved with newbury.net, that we have visitors from all over the world who love to look at the old photographs.

I am happy to provide server space and expertise, but don't have the time for the compilation of the information.

What about the rest of you?

I think that we would be stumped by the first ball, or we might fall at the first hurdle, unless the museum changes it's attitude to providing things from the archives. What they charge for scans is unbelievable and there is an annual charge if used on the net.

Digital scan to CD      £15.00 for first scan
          £5.00 each for subsequent images.

Use on a website      £50.00 for one image
          £25.00 each subsequent image
               Licence is for one year.          

Probably why this website cost such a vast sum to create.

http://www.sopse.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=file&p=greenham&f=greenham%2ehtm

Shame that not a lot of local people know of its existence.

Quoted from Old Goat

That's a great idea!  Indeed one which would doubtless enthuse volunteers; particularly the 'silver surfer' retiree types who are likely to have a bit of time free. A pretty positive use of the web by our neighbours down the road.  

The Hungerford virtual museum has been put together and is maintained by Hungerford Historical Society - an entirely volunteer run concern. Their lecture meetings get up to 100 attendees.

Their counterpart in Newbury, the Newbury District Field Club has recently (last Sept) started a series of local history based lectures that get attendances of about 20-30.  Perhaps people in Newbury just aren't that interested in local history?

Quoted from blackdog

The Hungerford virtual museum has been put together and is maintained by Hungerford Historical Society - an entirely volunteer run concern. Their lecture meetings get up to 100 attendees.

Their counterpart in Newbury, the Newbury District Field Club has recently (last Sept) started a series of local history based lectures that get attendances of about 20-30.  Perhaps people in Newbury just aren't that interested in local history?

Obviously not, or they would have done something about the covering up of the Kennet Centre murals by the Vue adverts.

Quoted from blackdog

The Hungerford virtual museum has been put together and is maintained by Hungerford Historical Society - an entirely volunteer run concern. Their lecture meetings get up to 100 attendees.

Their counterpart in Newbury, the Newbury District Field Club has recently (last Sept) started a series of local history based lectures that get attendances of about 20-30.  Perhaps people in Newbury just aren't that interested in local history?

Perhaps the name is a factor.  "Hungerford Historical Society" is self-explanatory.  But "Newbury District Field Club"   
I would never guess it was a local history society, it sounds more like a sporting organisation or something to do with farmers.

Quoted from Downlander

Perhaps the name is a factor.  "Hungerford Historical Society" is self-explanatory.  But "Newbury District Field Club"   
I would never guess it was a local history society, it sounds more like a sporting organisation or something to do with farmers.

"Founded in 1870 the Field Club is Newbury's local history society with additional interests in all aspects of the Newbury district's natural history, geology etc."

http://www.ndfc.org.uk/

Quoted from blackdog

The Hungerford virtual museum has been put together and is maintained by Hungerford Historical Society - an entirely volunteer run concern. Their lecture meetings get up to 100 attendees.

Their counterpart in Newbury, the Newbury District Field Club has recently (last Sept) started a series of local history based lectures that get attendances of about 20-30.  Perhaps people in Newbury just aren't that interested in local history?

Quoted from Brewmaster

Obviously not, or they would have done something about the covering up of the Kennet Centre murals by the Vue adverts.

Quoted from 133

The Vue boards you see are part of the cinema awareness campaign. They are placed in front of the murals, which remain intact and undamaged, and will be removed in the New Year.

Quoted from Downlander

Perhaps the name is a factor.  "Hungerford Historical Society" is self-explanatory.  But "Newbury District Field Club"   
I would never guess it was a local history society, it sounds more like a sporting organisation or something to do with farmers.

It's a bit of a dilemma for the Field Club - but it is not exclusively a local history society (for instance, until a couple of year ago it had an active botanical group). Even members who are primarily interested in local history would not want the name to change because it is a bit of history in itself.

According to the first volume of their publications (the Transactions of the NDFC) published in 1871 the club was 'designed to promote the knowledge of the natural history and antiquities of the neighbourhood'.

The term 'field club' was commonplace in the C19th but is confusing today, perhaps you need to be a local historian to understand the name? That said there are plenty of similar field clubs scattered around the country, most founded around the same time.

Could they be encouraged to become an e.field club?

Quoted from Old Goat

Could they be encouraged to become an e.field club?

e.field? Surely they should go for iField Club.

It seems that the museum might be a little more flexible than I thought. I got this reply to an email to Mr Steph Gillett which sort of gives the green light to using material in the files.

I can advise you that we are currently in discussion with a website provider to make arrangements for all of the Museum's images to go on-line (over time), which would of course include this material.

Should you wish to consider undertaking your project in partnership with the Museum (with suitable acknowledgements for both parties) please let me know. We do not make a charge for the use of images (assuming we hold copyright) for joint projects, nor of course would we if you produced something on behalf of the Museum as a volunteer.

I agree with you entirely that the industrial heritage of West Berkshire should indeed be celebrated and interpreted

Doesn't look the best and the search is awful (why didn't they use Google?) but on the whole it seems like a good idea.

Why not kick a Newbury one off by using all the photos that have been posted on here over time? It's the best thing about this site.

Anyone know how the Newbury version of this is coming along?

Quoted from user23.3

Anyone know how the Newbury version of this is coming along?

I think its reached the pipedream stage.

Quoted from blackdog

I think its reached the pipedream stage.

If Hungerford can do it why not Newbury?

Quoted from user23.3

If Hungerford can do it why not Newbury?

No reason - all it takes is some organisation, a lot of research and some web skills - simple.

Quoted from blackdog

No reason - all it takes is some organisation, a lot of research and some web skills - simple.

Someone could start by putting all the pictures we see on here in one place.

Quoted from user23.3

Someone could start by putting all the pictures we see on here in one place.

Not what I'd call a museum but it would be nice.  However, to do this properly someone has to get the permission of all the copyright holders then it would be nice to have some text to fill give a bit of the history behind each picture.

Why don't you go for it?

Quoted from blackdog

Not what I'd call a museum but it would be nice.  However, to do this properly someone has to get the permission of all the copyright holders then it would be nice to have some text to fill give a bit of the history behind each picture.

Why don't you go for it?

Presumably if they're posted on here there's no copyright involved?

Quoted from user23.3

Presumably if they're posted on here there's no copyright involved?

Not at all - posting on here does not remove the owner's copyright.  No doubt the terms and conditions of this forum state that a) any images posted are done so by permission of the copyright holder and b) that posting them automatically gives this site permission to publish them.  This doesn't mean that they can be copied and published elsewhere by anyone who feels like it.

Can't see any Ts & Cs but I guess you're probably right.

This is the closest it gets...



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Quoted from Greenham Common

You also agree never to post any copyrighted material, which you do not expressly own the copyright to, or that you do not have the authorization to use.

I guess that covers it.

It will never happen in Newbury because it involves different groups working together for a common goal, something which Newbury fails miserably at on most occassions.

Hungerford has community spirit and there are less people involved which helps. On the flip side many people couldn't bear to live in Hungerford where everyone knows everyone else's business.

Quoted from NotNewburyAristocracy

It will never happen in Newbury because it involves different groups working together for a common goal, something which Newbury fails miserably at on most occassions.

Not necessarily. It could be a simple collection of pictures put online and grouped in various categories.

Yes but who would do it? Who would decide who would do it and how would it be decided who would decide?! How many meetings would be required to decide? How many times would 'the committee' change its mind because new people had been bought along to the meeting after a decision had already been reached?

Quoted from NotNewburyAristocracy

Yes but who would do it? Who would decide who would do it and how would it be decided who would decide?! How many meetings would be required to decide? How many times would 'the committee' change its mind because new people had been bought along to the meeting after a decision had already been reached?

Whoever wanted to do it could put it together provided they had access to the photos. There have been enough good quality photos posted on this site over the years to make a decent site so that shouldn't be a problem.

Hmmm, I would advise them to do it under a sydonym. That way when the Newbury Arisocracy come looking for them to interfer they have a chance of escape.

Quoted from NotNewburyAristocracy

Yes but who would do it? Who would decide who would do it and how would it be decided who would decide?! How many meetings would be required to decide? How many times would 'the committee' change its mind because new people had been bought along to the meeting after a decision had already been reached?

Maybe, just maybe the solution is just round the corner. Follow this link http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=20539

Choose the PDF file called promoting Newbury.

A website is being produced for Newbury costing £25,000.00 which should create a site to fullfil your requirements. Those of you who went to the Vision Conference in June should know about this site already. I understand that work on it is in advanced stages and it is due to be launched in January 2011.

Perhaps we won't need the other sites after this?

Quoted from BrianB

Maybe, just maybe the solution is just round the corner. Follow this link http://www.westberks.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=20539

Choose the PDF file called promoting Newbury.

A website is being produced for Newbury costing £25,000.00 which should create a site to fullfil your requirements. Those of you who went to the Vision Conference in June should know about this site already. I understand that work on it is in advanced stages and it is due to be launched in January 2011.

Perhaps we won't need the other sites after this?

Looks like this is intended to promote Newbury rather than be a historical reference site.

Quoted from user23.3

Looks like this is intended to promote Newbury rather than be a historical reference site.

Newbury's (diminishing) heritage does help to promote the area.

Quoted from NotNewburyAristocracy

It will never happen in Newbury because it involves different groups working together for a common goal, something which Newbury fails miserably at on most occassions.

Hungerford has community spirit and there are less people involved which helps. On the flip side many people couldn't bear to live in Hungerford where everyone knows everyone else's business.

Hungerford's site has been put together by Hungerford Historical Association - one group.  
The Berkshire History site http://www.berkshirehistory.com has been put together by one guy.
Why do you think that Newbury should complicate things?

Quoted from Greenham Common

Newbury's (diminishing) heritage does help to promote the area.

Yes, but there's a difference between being promoting the region's heritage and being a historical reference source.

Quoted from blackdog

Not at all - posting on here does not remove the owner's copyright.  No doubt the terms and conditions of this forum state that a) any images posted are done so by permission of the copyright holder and b) that posting them automatically gives this site permission to publish them.  This doesn't mean that they can be copied and published elsewhere by anyone who feels like it.

My understanding of copyright is as below.

Items that were placed into the public domain pre 1923 contain images, such as from old books and postcards, which have run out of copyright.  Look inside the book at the publishing details, if the date of publishing is before 1923, one can legally scan or photograph these images and use at one's leisure. The same applies to old photographs and postcards, if the original pre-dates 1923, you can use the image for your purposes without permission or payment. Theoretically though, as Blackdog suggests, it doesn't mean that the digital image can be copied and published elsewhere by anyone who feels like it.

The complication is that the scan you make from an out of copyright resource is itself copyrightable - so your scan becomes an item to which you own the copyright.  This is typical of many of the Museum's images and of all images posted on this forum.

Copyright lasts for 70 years from the death of the creator (if the creator is an individual).  If the creator is a company then copyright lasts 70 years from the date of publication.

Unpublished material (eg photographs never used in a book, paper, etc) gained special protection in the Copyright Act which meant that even very old images, papers etc, had 50 years protection from the date of the Act (1985ish).