Exhibition: Well aw'm gawmed!
2nd February 2013 - 16th June 2013
Exhibition : Well aw'm gawmed! The Charms of Cheshire Dialect
This exciting new special exhibition explores the dialect of Cheshire linking it to its wider history.
The Cheshire dialect has existed for centuries and many words derive from the Anglo-Saxon.
The exhibition uses the museum’s collections to explore the role of dialect in literature, from the Gawain story, the Herbal of John Gerard to the more contemporary writing of Beatrice Tunstall and Alan Garner.
It looks at the words and sayings linked to customs and traditions and those linked to Cheshire industries, such as the ‘gutter viewers’ and ‘wychwallers’ of the salt trade.
It explores rural and domestic life, including food and remedies, flora and fauna, along with proverbs connected to place names such as ‘As long as Helsby wears a hood, the weather’s never very good’.
So if you’ve ever wondered why Cheshire folk call starlings ‘shepstirs’ or what it means if someone says you have a ‘face like a Buckley panmug’ then this exhibition is a must-see.
Entrance to the exhibition is free.
There is a small charge when visiting the other galleries at the Weaver Hall Museum and Workhouse.
These are £3 adult, £2 concession, £1.50 children, £7 family.
Contact the museum on 01606 271640 or
email cheshiremuseums@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk for more details.