Making an Exhibition

In May 1939, The Times newspaper reported on events at a small village in Berkshire. The rector’s wife had decided to mount an exhibition at the village hall, displaying articles representing local talent, skill, history and originality. In order to curate this event, she went around the 500 or so villagers, seeking their items of local interest.

Apparently, the villagers’ first reaction was negligible. Perhaps they gave a bemused shrug, or perhaps they vehemently denied all knowledge of items of interest residing within their cottages. But the rector’s wife was evidently a tenacious lady. The Times informs us that she “Went into the subject more deeply with them” (muscled her way into their cupboards?) Whatever her methods, some discoveries were finally made. What a relief.

One of the villagers, a Mrs B, obligingly turned out her drawers for the rector’s wife. There, they made the discovery of a small blackened spoon. Mrs B agreed to clean up her family silver and donate it to the village hall exhibition. The spoon bowl turned out to contain religious engravings and it was supposed that its original use had been for the administration of “extreme unction.”

Most of the rest of the exhibition seems to have focussed on bygone fashions and some naval memorabilia…as you would expect in landlocked Berkshire…

Three teaspoons and a dishcloth: A Study

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Woods Ware China at the Serving Hatch

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