A GROUP of enthusiastic individuals have come together with the aim of supporting a unique collection of social history. The Friends of the Harrison Collection has been set up to promote, preseve and protect, the items on display at the Ryedale Folk Museum, which includes objects spanning 500 years of English everyday life.

The collection has been amassed by brothers Edward and Richard Harrison, who still live locally.

Museum director Jennifer Smith said: “As children, they became fascinated by the idea of collecting. Their passion for antiques was encouraged by their father, who frequently bought them antique objects for birthdays and Christmas.

“The brothers’ collecting habits over the last 50 years have now produced a collection of several thousand objects. Everyday items and rare curiosities now sit side by side one another, on display at the museum.”

The collection includes some rare objects, including a 16th century heart burial urn which carries the inscription “Here lith the harte of John Peck AD 1562”. It is one of only two such urns which are known about from the period and the other is in the British Museum.

Jennifer said: “Heart urns were used when a person died abroad and their whole body could not be repatriated. The heart was embalmed and sealed in the urn for interment later.

“The heart burial urn is a great example of the stories that some of the Harrison Collection objects carry with them. From toys to tinderboxes and archaeological material, there is something to delight and surprise every visitor which sees the exhibition. From toys to tinderboxes and archaeological material, there is something to delight and surprise every visitor which sees the exhibition.”

The Friends of the Harrison Collection was launched last week with presentations made by Helen Sheard, the chair of the Friends group, Dr Tim Thornton, trustee, and Adam Schoon from BBC Antiques Road Show.

Anyone wishing to find out more or become a friend, can email Helen Sheard at helensheard1@icloud.com or Tanya Grundmann at tkarenina@gmail.com

The Highlights of the Harrison Collection display is open during normal opening hours at Ryedale Folk Museum.