Rediscover Cambridge Museum of Technology in 2022:
from steam days to exhibitions and much more!

The museum’s staff and dozens of volunteers welcomed thousands of visitors. In this review, celebrate the exhibitions and events that made 2022! 

For the first time since 2019, Cambridge Museum of Technology was able to open throughout the calendar year. And – courtesy of the museum’s funding partners, private donors and thousands of hours of volunteers’ time – for the first time since 2014, the museum was able to host steam days! 

As an independent museum, Cambridge Museum of Technology relies on the contributions of visitors, volunteers, partners, donors and funding organisations: thanks to everyone who contributed during 2022! Enjoy this annual review? Please consider giving the museum a donation.  

BACK IN STEAM 

Following a successful inspection and certification of the refurbished Babcock & Wilcox steam boiler in March 2022, the museum was once again ready to host steam days, for the first time since 2014! 

Thanks to staff and volunteers who enabled the museum to host five public steam weekends (May, June, August, October, December) throughout 2022!. 

NEW AT THE MUSEUM OF TECHNOLOGY 2022 

Exhibitions and Presentations 

The museum hosted and facilitated over 15 original presentations of research throughout 2022. 

Cambridge Industrial Archaeology Group’s programme throughout the calendar year included: 

Other presentations hosted at the museum included: 

Guest presentations at partner events included: 

The museum also celebrated the 30th anniversary of steeplejack Fred Dibnah’s repair of the museum’s chimney: 

Additionally, the museum published an online series of mini-documentaries to coincide with Open Cambridge 2022 “Astounding Inventions”:

Events

The museum hosted over 10 events for organisations throughout the year including: 

Looking to hire a unique event space that enables your guests to explore a different side of Cambridge? Check the museum’s hire rates and resources.

Tours  

Pye History Trust continued to offer monthly guided tours of the Pye Story exhibition in the Pye building  

The Trust also published online: 

  • an updated, 2022 edition of its virtual tour:

  • a new three-part “explainer” video series for education audiences: “How Television Works”, featuring television broadcast and receiver technology from the permanent Pye Story exhibition at the Museum:

Museum volunteer David Stubbings also led a guided tour of the museum for Cherry Hinton History Society.  

Are you a local tour guide looking to explore a different side of Cambridge with your clients? Contact the museum to find out how you can benefit from tours around the museum.

Print Room 

In 2022 the Museum Print Team continued sorting out the Print Room after its long closure. It is now tidier, better organised, and, thanks to new LED lightbulbs installed by the Site Team, much brighter! 

The Print Team has welcomed two new members: Graham Spinks and local artist Sarah Vigliotti. 

Print Team member Geoff Winckles has made some repairs to the Albion press and Graham, with help from the Site Team, has restored the Peerless treadle platen press to working order. The Print Room is now staffed by volunteers on the last Sunday of the month when the Museum is open, and we have enjoyed showing visitors around and demonstrating the printing presses. 

Su Morris, with the help of Museum education lead Amy Hooker, held a printing workshop with children from the Gretton School in July. More recently, Su has been collaborating with Mark Noad, a member of Letter Exchange and Trustee of the Letterpress Arts Trust, to print some letters designed by participants in the Letter Exchange 30th Anniversary Conference at Anglia Ruskin University. 

Facilities 

In November 2022, the museum welcomed Calverley’s Brewery to the operation of the Engineer’s House, joining on-site partners Al Forno pizzeria and Kerb Kollective coffee shop to provide food and drink in the riverside gardens of the museum. 

Infrastructure and environment  

Installation of solar photovoltaic panels, which typically generate 30kWh on a summer's day, has enabled the museum to power exhibits from renewables while feeding back power into the national grid at times when the museum is closed: 

https://youtube.com/shorts/embQdtjZZUs?feature=share

With the relaunch of steam days, the museum pioneered the use of eco-coal (majority constituents from agricultural by-products such as crushed olive stones and molasses) to fuel its Babcock & Wilcox steam boiler.

Staff

“It’s the people who have made this Museum”
— Pam Halls, former Curator, Cambridge Museum of Technology

In April 2022 the Museum bade farewell to long-serving Curator Pam Halls with a gathering of trustees, members and volunteers to thank her and recognise her countless contributions to the Museum over many years!
An extended appreciation of Pam’s curatorship is available here.

The Museum welcomed: Joanne Hamilton as Front-of-House Leader, and Catherine Rooney as Administrator.

Looking ahead to 2023

The museum will be closed for a winter break, re-opening on the weekend of 14–15 January 2023.
Our partners, including Kerb Kollective Coffee, Al Forno pizza and Calverley’s Brewery at the Engineer’s House will continue to operate on-site over the festive period: please check online for opening hours.

Staff and volunteers look forward to welcome visitors to the museum in 2023 to explore Cambridge’s industrial heritage! 

Stay notified of the latest news and museum events planned for 2023 by: 

  • subscribing to the museum’s newsletter (form at bottom of this page) 

following the museum’s social-media accounts:  

Interested in volunteering to support the museum’s events? Find out more.

Credits

Text by Gordon Davies with Catherine Rooney

Photography and videography: Aaron Greenwood, The Willcox Collective (commissioned by Cambridge Museum of Technology), Mike Jesky, David Hotchkin, Joanne Hamilton, Catherine Rooney, Nick Plaister, Andy Riches, Gordon Davies

Acknowledgements: Pam Halls, the Volunteer Steam Team, Museum Trustees, Bob Bates for Pye History Trust

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