Under the covers in Ware

THE small country town of Ware is known far more widely than its size would suggest. With the River Lee running through it, the waterside is lined with narrowboats, picturesque riverside pubs and the delightful gazebos, which are a distinctive feature here.
The town is steeped in history and has managed to retain its character, having escaped being spoilt by any major roads. The clusters of red rooftops add to the charm, with gabled and timbered buildings, complete with pargetting and projecting jetties, lining the busy shopping streets. A mixture of old and new properties can be spied along the narrow side roads, with many periods of architecture blending sympathetically.
In the centre of the High Street, just opposite St Mary ‘s Church, one of the town ‘s greatest treasures can be found – Ware Museum. Here a timeline display reveals objects dating back from the Iron Age right through to the modern day. A warm welcome is guaranteed from the knowledgeable and friendly stewards.
Run entirely by volunteers, the museum is supported by Ware Town Council, East Herts District Council and the Ware Society. 2007 is a big year for the museum as it celebrates its 21st birthday. And it celebrates in style as it has recently opened phase two of a large extension, with the help of a Heritage Lottery Fund Grant together with contributions from the district and town councils.
Amongst the many displays in the Museum is a World War II Emergency Services Command Bunker. During wartime this was manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Now adults and children alike can step into the bunker and enjoy a glimpse of the past or a reminder of days gone by. There are interactive facilities with information about the Blitz and life as an evacuee. An example of a week’s food ration is on show, along with old coins such as threepenny bits, shillings and farthings. To add to the feel of that era, clothes from the 30s and 40s are there for youngsters to dress up in, complete with gas masks and hats.
The story of the Great Bed of Ware can also be discovered in the museum. Although the bed is no longer in Hertfordshire, it is certainly not out of mind. This famous relic is now on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which bought it in 1931 for £4,000, saving it from being sold to a wealthy Texan.
Chairman of Ware Museum, Ken Weeks, says, ‘It is an ambition to have the Great Bed of Ware here on loan one day but there are hurdles to be overcome.’
Dating back to around 1590, this enormous four-poster bed is 10ft 9ins wide, 10ft 9ins long and 7ft 6ins high and is certainly a spectacle to be seen. A beautiful piece of craftsmanship, the bed is made from solid oak and is big enough for 12 people – it is like a room enclosed with curtains. Although it can be admired, sadly it cannot be tried out.
Carved figures support the top of the bedhead and arches frame panels that are decorated with inlaid wood. The panels are like windows in a room depicting various scenes, including swans, which Ware was famed for at one time. People lying in the bed would have enjoyed seeing the decorated panels above them. It has many traces of its original paint all over it, plus graffiti from its occupants.
There is much speculation about who the bed was made for. This remains a mystery but there are claims that it was intended for the Earl of Warwick, that it was ordered for King Henry VIII, with ample room for his well rounded figure, and that it was made by Jonas Fosbrooke, a carpenter from Ware, who gave it to Edward IV.
What is known is that the bed has seen many resting places in its lifetime, principally in the numerous inns that have lined the streets of Ware during the centuries. Amongst these are The White Hart, The Stag, The George, The Crown and the original Saracens Head where it was sold for 100 guineas in 1870 and exhibited at the Rye House Hotel in Hoddesdon.
The bed brought Ware a lot of publicity and became an early tourist attraction. Modern research has shown that it was probably built for that reason. It has been mentioned numerous times in literature and was well known to Shakespeare. He mentions it in Twelfth Night, first performed in 1601, when a sheet is referred to as being  ‘big enough for the bed of Ware’. Dickens also mentioned it in a short story, The Holly Tree.
Although the giant bed itself is not in its original home town, the Ware Museum proudly displays part of a bed cover, which was hand-made to fit it. This may have cost more to produce than the bed itself, due to the high price of fabric and cottons at that time. The coverlet was in a poor condition and falling apart when the bed was bought by the Victoria & Albert Museum and was not suitable for display so pieces were given to the people in the county who were involved in saving the bed. These were eventually donated to the Lowewood Museum in Hoddesdon which returned a piece to Ware in 2003. The Ware Museum has arranged for the coverlet to be carefully conserved and the delicate, finely embroidered fabric is now framed and on show for all to see.
Ware Museum is well known in the community and arranges tours for groups and clubs. It also works closely with schools in and around the area to assist with the National Curriculum and there are always plenty of activities arranged for children during holiday times. An archaeological dig devised by one of the many volunteers at the museum has been a great success.
The museum may be small but it has big ambitions and is a must for visitors to the town.

Article taken from November issue of Hertfordshire Life

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