Axminster Heritage Centre hosts Georgian Coffee House Day

On Michelmas Day – September 29 – Axminster was transported back to the Regency period when 25 volunteers from Axminster Heritage Centre dressed in empire line dresses, bonnets, breeches and top hats took part in a Georgian Coffee House Day.

Diana Church organised the Coffee House ladies, who were dressed in white cotton bonnets and long aprons and served tea, coffee and home made cakes in the Coffee Houses set up on the Minster Green and in the Bradshaw Room.

During the day, poems by Shelley, Byron, Coleridge and Wordsworth were recited in the museum whilst people sat together on long tables.

A fine Georgian bank was set up by Mr John Dirring who played the part of Mr Gundry from Samuel and Joseph Gundry of Bridport, Dorset and who was suitably attired in a top hat and frock coat.

Axminster is fortunate to have many Georgian buildings which provided the perfect backdrop for the day which ended with a fascinating talk on Georgian Axminster by local historian David Knapman.

The event was organised to raise funds for the museum and to provide a showcase for local crafts such as knitting, spinning and calligraphy.

A display of farm cart wheels etc from ' Mike Rowland Wheelwrights' of Colyton who hold the royal warrant was on show in the Bradshaw Room.

The actors wandering around the town provided colour and entertainment to market day and gave people an insight into how Axminster would have looked in the Regency era .

Axminster Heritage Centre is open from 10am until 4pm Monday to Friday and 10 am to 1pm on Saturdays until October 31 when winter opening hours begin