IT'S TIME to throw open the shutters and lift off the dust-sheets as the Holmesdale Natural History Club Museum opens its doors to the public for the first in its season of open days this Saturday.
From 2 to 4.30pm visitors to the museum, at 14 Croydon Road, Reigate, will have the chance to explore the delights of the club's extensive natural history, local history, archaeology and geology exhibits.
Some of the highlights include a wonderful collection of Victorian and Edwardian taxidermy, locally-made Roman tiles, medieval drainpipes and antique bottles.
There will also be a special display curated by Sean Hawkins on the 4th Surrey (Reigate) Company of Volunteer Rifle Corps, which was set up in 1859.
The main feature of the display will be the original Corps muster roll – a continuous vellum document some 11ft long.
Each new Volunteer took the oath at enrolment to be "... faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria and ... faithfully serve Her Majesty in Great Britain for the Defence of the same against all her enemies and opposers", and then signed his name on the roll along with place of residence, occupation and date.
The display will also include photographs of Volunteers, along with copies of various documents and reports concerning the Corps.
The photograph (right) shows one of the stalwarts of the Corps, William Dunkley Paine (1810-1887), wearing the uniform of an officer of the Corps.
He built and paid for the original Drill Hall in Chart Lane, and the Drill Sergeant's house and Armoury which still stands, sadly now unoccupied, on the corner of Albion Road.
Paine, who lived at Hill House, on Cockshot Hill, rose to be captain, later major of the Corps, and upon retirement was made an Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel.
Mr Hawkins said: "The man interests me greatly since I live on land that was once part of his vegetable garden."
Andy Sandford, joint secretary of the club, said: "We look forward to welcoming visitors on Saturday and on the subsequent open days of June 8, July 13, August 10 and September 14 and 15 – all of which are timed to coincide with the open days at Reigate Caves. Admission is free and all are welcome."
