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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Northumberland => Topic started by: geordiesue on Thursday 08 March 18 17:30 GMT (UK)
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An update on the current car parking situation for Archive users at the Woodhorn Museum site:
Archive users will be offered a £7 membership to the Trust when they arrive on site - for regular users this will be the best option.
The Trust has now introduced a new one off car parking charge of £5. This will be the most suitable option for one-off visitors, including overseas visitors who don't intend to return within one year. This charge will allow entrance to both the Archive and Museum.
Archive users who arrive on foot with no requirement to park a vehicle will be granted free access to the Archive only. We have been asked to escort Archive users to the Study Centre - please await arrival of a member of the Archives team at the hut.
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So if you drive and park there it is £5 fee every time you go or is it a £7 fee for a year membership?
If you don't drive--either walked, rode a bike from Ashington or took a taxi (car hire?) you don't have to pay to get into the grounds but have to wait (hopefully somewhere that has a roof and at least one wall) for someone to have the time to walk across the whole campus to escort you to the Study Center.
Do you have to escort the non car parkers OUT of the Study Center? G-d forbid someone should look in one of the other buildings.
Going to the Archives at Woodhorn is already an arduous journey if you don't have a car to be greeted by someone who had to drop what they were doing to and come and get you. Hopefully this has not made them surly.
Common sense is so passé
Janis
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It's £7 for a year's entry to musem and archives or, if you are only likely to visit once then it's £5 parking fee. Plus there is a £7 per annum Trust membership for those who only visit the archives.
This is an update on the 'new' system set up on 10th February where everyone paid £7 per year. Some were complaining about having to pay to enter a public building when I was at the archives on Wednesday. Others have been seen walking away when they arrive at the museum and discover that everyone over 16 has to pay £7. Hence the changes.
We are not sure about the escort out or whether these 'walking' researchers can use the cafe (unescorted) or what happens if they bring sandwiches and have to eat them outside. Asked but not yet answered!
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It's £7 for a year's entry to musem and archives or, if you are only likely to visit once then it's £5 parking fee. Plus there is a £7 per annum Trust membership for those who only visit the archives.
This is an update on the 'new' system set up on 10th February where everyone paid £7 per year. Some were complaining about having to pay to enter a public building when I was at the archives on Wednesday. Others have been seen walking away when they arrive at the museum and discover that everyone over 16 has to pay £7. Hence the changes.
We are not sure about the escort out or whether these 'walking' researchers can use the cafe (unescorted) or what happens if they bring sandwiches and have to eat them outside. Asked but not yet answered!
Hi Christine
My hubby had the old members card for the Archives which they used to issue you with but could`nt find it so he rang and they said to bring down the usual documents ie:passport etc to get a new one. This was on the 22nd Feb. He was a walker but wasn`t escorted The last membership was free but now they charge £7 for yearly membership. The £7 isn`t too bad to pay to help pay security, wages etc
When they say wait at the hut for someone to escort you. Do they mean the security hut or the little reception near the car park? I know that normally there never seems to be anyone in there. Do they now have someone there that sends up to the Archives to escort you as I cant see them wanting to go back and forth the car park is a fair distance to walk to the archives. I cant see that lasting for long as they always seem to be short staffed
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Maybe if they collect enough they could get a golf cart. Any way you look at it it is a fair distance.
Janis
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My hubby had the old members card for the Archives which they used to issue you with but could`nt find it so he rang and they said to bring down the usual documents ie:passport etc to get a new one.
I think that you are referring to a readers card - they moved over to the generally used CARN card a while back. This isn’t affected by access charges - readers cards are free.
Prior to 10th February everyone paid £3.50 for parking with free access to the museum and archives. In addition there was a charge for entry to special exhibitions. After that date the parking charge was dropped as was the additional charge for special exhibitions. They were replaced by a once a year payment of £7 (£6 for concessions). It doesn’t take much to realise that two trips to the archives and/or museum would cover this charge - any more visits is a bonus! But then came the objections……
As for the hut - the old one on the way into the car park is no longer used. There is now a much smaller one just outside the entrance to the site from the car park. This is where you pay or show your existing ticket and, presumably, where you would wait for an escort. There is no shelter.
As you say, Janis, whichever way you look at it someone is taking time out of their working day to walk downstairs and out to the gate and back again just to act as an escort.
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I don't think the Archives have made it very clear what fee is for what purpose. Reading these two links
http://www.experiencewoodhorn.com/admission/
http://www.experiencewoodhorn.com/file/uploaded/FAQs%20for%20Woodhorn%20Museum%20visitors%2015%20Jan%202018.pdf
You might think there is a fee of £7 an adult or £7 per family. They also claim that they will claim Gift Aid on your admission, worth £1.75 extra on top of every £7 adult ticket. However for a body to claim gift aid they usually have to sign to say they have paid tax and not everybidy does so in that instance what happens to they have to by £8.75 rather than £7. Also if they let some people only pay £6.50 then they should not claim £1.75 gift aid. In short its all a bit of a mess in my opinion and I can see why people have complained.
I hope they sort it out and make their policy clearer for everybody.
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What hasn't been mentioned yet is the real crux of the problem. The archives are now run by a different organisation to the museum but to get into the archives you have to walk through the museum grounds and the main building. If the operators of the museum decide to charge for entry to their grounds (which is what has happened) there is little that the archives can do about it.
I feel sorry for the staff who have to operate all these different options and for those of us who have to stand in a queue while they are explained to visitors!
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I've given up. If I can't find what I want at Tyne and Wear Archives or NDFHS-Percy House and it's not online, I leave it. It's a shame but after an hour's journey though heavy traffic and roadworks, the last thing you want is more obstacles. I live in hope that sensible people with some vision will put their heads together and find a solution that will work and continue to work.
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Unfortunately, the archives were put in the wrong place right from the start. When the NBL archives were at Melton Park and Morpeth, they were easily accessible by bus and car. Now they are only accessible by car, taxi or on foot (if you are keen on a really long walk along a wooded, unlit, winding road with no footpath).
The fact that it is embedded in the heart of the museum is making access to the archives a problem. Whoever administers the site doesn't change the fact it's in the wrong place and has been for the last 11 years.
Before I returned to the north, I used the Hampshire and the Berkshire archives at Reading and Winchester. Reading R/O is a fairly modern building with a dedicated car park just outside and a real pleasure to work in, quiet! Buses stop over the road. Winchester is right in the city but public transport and a big car park 100 yards away from their new building make it quite accessible. Once again, a pleasure to work in, quiet.
Woodhorn can be noisy at times, with groups of school children passing the door, brass bands the other day (!) and soundtracks from neighboring museum rooms.
No solution to this except taking it out of that site and relocation, that will never happen! Oh and its free to visit Reading and Winchester!
Gen in NBL UK
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Unfortunately, the archives were put in the wrong place right from the start. When the NBL archives were at Melton Park and Morpeth, they were easily accessible by bus and car. Now they are only accessible by car, taxi or on foot (if you are keen on a really long walk along a wooded, unlit, winding road with no footpath).
Which is the main reason I haven't ever visited. My trips to the North East are rare and expensive as they involve travel (over the years that's been variously from Canada, Derbyshire and now Scotland) , at least two nights in a hotel, plus local transport to get anywhere other than Newcastle.
Once I get to Newcastle the further trip to Woodhorn would , for me, involve public transport which doesn't go near enough,plus the time taken to get there and back alone means its just not viable no matter how much I'd like to go there.
I live in hope (ever the optimist!) that they will have the foresight to finally digitise parish records and make them available online - I'd happily pay for a system like SEAX have. Holding my breath not being considered as I may be long gone before they do it :-)
Boo
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I agree - this archives is not situated in the best of places - albeit the lake and wooded area nearby is lovely.
On the few times I have been after leaving the bus station I have had to walk down a very long main road, then cross over a small, I think unused railway line. Then I walk through some wooded area and a path that takes me round a lake. The first two times I went I took the wrong turning twice and ended up going down another wooded lane. I know this has happened to others too.
Once when I left a young woman left at around the same time and looked terrified as she raced around the lake on exiting. She got lost and I had to advise her.
The staff once advised me to leave a little earlier as they knew I was going around the lake on foot and it was the dark nights at the time.
I have some relatives who always ask for me to ring them on reaching the bus station - they are that concerned on the few occasions I do get there.
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There are buses which go direct from Newcastle and one from North Shields which will get you to Ashington bus station. It is on your own peril after that As you make your way on described walking route. :) ;)
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No need to go anywhere near the lake if you are walking for a bus. Cut across the railway line, its a mineral line and its years since I last saw a train there. Just be careful. Then when you get to the main road cross to the far side of the roundabout and the bus shelter and stop is at the beginning of Woodhorn Rd. There are several buses that go from there in the direction of Ashington and Morpeth. Walking from Woodhorn to the bus stop about 10-15 mins?
I was at Woodhorn this afternoon and saw a lady taking this route about 4pm.
Gen in NBL UK
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No need to go anywhere near the lake if you are walking for a bus. Cut across the railway line, its a mineral line and its years since I last saw a train there. Just be careful. Then when you get to the main road cross to the far side of the roundabout and the bus shelter and stop is at the beginning of Woodhorn Rd. There are several buses that go from there in the direction of Ashington and Morpeth. Walking from Woodhorn to the bus stop about 10-15 mins?
I was at Woodhorn this afternoon and saw a lady taking this route about 4pm.
Gen in NBL UK
Hi Gen List
I`m presuming the Railway tracks are the ones that lead to Alcan/Rio Tinto, if so then they are now back in use. There is about 3-4 running per day. I live right next to the gates and we received a letter informing us the service was back on. I think a new company must have taken over part of Alcan.
This is supposed to be the line they are planning to run the train link from Newcastle to Ashington on. They were planning on putting the Station at Woodhorn, which would be handy for those that do live out of the area.
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When I first went to the archives, quite a few years back, I went with my sister-in-law. We entered by some Miner's cottages crossing a rail track which we presumed was unused. When I mentioned this to a staff member, I was told, at that time, that they would no way advocate this way of getting in, although they said they were aware that people did do this. (We are not locals to Woodhorn and did not know the way to enter - we had presumed it would have been easier than we found it.)
From that time on the very few occasions I am able to get there I tend to go from Newcastle to Ashington Bus station. On coming out of the bus station I stay on the same side of the road passing a large ASDA supermarket and go straight ahead. I then cross at the traffic lights and get on to the side where there is a McDonalds. I then walk down the very long main road. After some distance there is a notice on the left for the Queen Elizabeth country park. I then go in through the gate crossing a very small railtrack which I presumed unused. I go through a wooded area and then go along a path around the lake and then get to the Woodhorn Museum area.
I once got a bus to the Ashington bus station from North Shields but that route feels like it takes forever to reach there.
Thanks Sue, for information about the train track now being in use. :o
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Sue
I spoke to the Woodhorn entrance staff this morning and they confirmed rail traffic has picked up a little recently. Possibly to the rejuvenated power station at Lynemouth, the old ALCAN one. They cannot be very frequent as I visit Woodhorn twice a week and haven't seen a train on that line for years.
The Woodhorn staff rightly discourage crossing the railway line but no alternative has been implemented! Dog and horse walkers regularly cross the line a bit nearer to Ashington near the police station, as its the only (?) way into the community woods.
Gen in NBL UK
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This definitely gets the prize, I think, for being the most difficult archives to access for pedestrians/public transport users like myself. :-\
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It sounds a bit scary trying to get there and for people with a disability really hard.
I know it's not the same, but The Durham County Record Office is on a public transport route but car parking is a nightmare. There is a plan currently being discussed when Durham County Council moves offices to move the DRO elsewhere and it may improve the car access and parking plus the planned possible new place is on a bus route and not far from a park and ride meaning train customers could also get there with a bit of walking.
I'd favour paid online access if they could digitise everything. I know viewing the real documents in some cases can be exciting but my eyes now aren't very keen on microfilms......