Towards ‘Gilbert 300’ : A personal memory of ‘Gilbert 250’

Volunteer and author of ‘To Edify & Delight: Introducing the sermons of Gilbert White of Selborne’ Louis Coulson shares his memories of previous celebrations of Gilbert White as we prepare for Gilbert’s 300th birthday in 2020. Why do we think that everything on Earth belongs to us, while in reality

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Enjoy a day’s outing at Gilbert White’s House with myhotelbreak

Myhotelbreak did a recent collaboration with Gilbert White’s House. They explained why their guests should take a day out and visit. Read what they said below: A hotel break is memorable for several reasons. Having great attractions near to where you’re staying is definitely one of them. For our guests

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sandford award

We have a Sandford Award!

We have recently been awarded a prestigious Sandford Award for education. The Sandford Award is an independently judged, quality assured assessment of education programmes at heritage sites, museums, archives and collections across the British Isles. 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of the Sandford Award. The Awards focus on formal, curriculum-linked

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Gilbert White’s Childhood

Gilbert White was born on the 18th July 1720, in the vicarage in Selborne. First child of John and Anne who had married ten months before and where living with John’s parents the Rev. Gilbert White and Rebekah. The building that Gilbert was born in no longer exists, and not

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How big are an Emperor Penguin’s feet ?

So, how big are an Emperor Penguin’s feet ? “At the Museum we are used to being asked strange questions” says Josh Godfrey, Learning & Participation Manager . “But we don’t mind because that’s what museums are for”. The photo shows Josh working out the answer this week to a

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On Scything

Volunteer Dr. Grant Repshire talks about his experience Scything… When I first contacted Gilbert White & The Oates Collections about working as a volunteer, offering up my experience as a historian and literary scholar, I thought I’d spend my time studying history – but I’ve also found myself fortunate to

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gilbert whites manuscript

Gilbert White’s Manuscript

We’ve had a very exciting month here at Gilbert White & The Oates Collections but what with the grand opening, nature festival and everything else you might have missed one of the most exciting bits of news of all! Gilbert White’s manuscript has been digitised and is now available you

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Frank Oates in Africa

On Monday 9th April to celebrate the opening of our new Frank Oates Gallery; historians Dr John McAleer and Dr Chris Prior from the University of Southampton will be giving an exciting talk on the Victorian Explorer and the environment he travelled in. Frank Oates’s travels in nineteenth-century Southern Africa made

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For the Modern Reader

Dr. J. Grant Repshire takes the modern reader of the Natural History of Selborne back in time… Gilbert White’s A Natural History of Selborne offers a glimpse into the often-idealised world of a English countryside village in the early-modern era, before industrialisation changed the face of the world forever. Reading

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Hester Chapone

Today is International Women’s Day, and we are celebrating the women who form parts of the stories of our three male explorers. This year we are celebrating Hester Chapone, writer, critic and bluestocking. Hester Chapone was the sister of John Mulso, Gilbert White’s lifelong friend, Gilbert & John met at

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