University opens its doors

The Ashmolean Museum, the University Museum of Natural History, and the Examination Schools opened their doors in September as part of England's contribution to European Heritage Days. The scheme allows members of the public to view museums and galleries free of charge for a day, and enter buildings which are not usually open to the public. At the Ashmolean, adults were offered guided tours of the galleries and talks on the founding of the museum and its collections, whilst children had the opportunity to follow museum trails and win prizes. At the University Museum, the Director, Professor Keith Thomson, gave talks on the architecture of the building, and a recital of chamber music was performed in the Central Court. As a building usually closed to the public, the University Exam Schools attracted particular interest, and visitors toured the great hall and visited a photography exhibition charting the building's use as a wartime hospital. Professor Thomson said: `One of our aims was to provide a welcome to the University for people who otherwise might know little about us. I think that it all went very well.'