'Armistice: Legacy of the Great War in Norfolk' Exhibition & Events

'Armistice: Legacy of the Great War in Norfolk' was a major centenary exhibition and series of events which explored the breadth and depth of the impact of the First World War on Norwich and Norfolk. The physical impact on the county - coastal defences, changes in agriculture and industrial transformation - were all explored alongside the stories of communities and individuals whose lives were transformed by the conflict. The display provided a finale to four years of centenary commemorations and research conducted by individuals, local history societies and museums around the county. It looked to place the national story into local context, providing an opportunity for visitors to discover the particular impact of the War on Norfolk in a varied and entertaining way. The exhibition was a community project and the twenty-four volunteers behind it were key to its aims and successes, in undertaking a range of activities from research to data input, as well as providing guided tours to photography. The diverse and visually engaging exhibition featured objects, art works, archives and images from county and national museum collections. Exhibits ranged from aeroplane models to medical aids, children’s toys to trades union banners, and fine art to clothes. Film, audio and an interactive map of the county further complimented the displays, whilst two original artworks were also created for the exhibition. Not only drawing upon the collections of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum and Norfolk Museums Service, museums and organisations who lent material for display included Imperial War Museums, the RNLI Henry Blogg Museum, the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Greshams School and Norwich Cathedral. Our principal project events incorporated a Family Living History Day with the Norfolk Regiment Living History group, five days of curriculum-related schools workshops, a creative writing workshop, weekly gallery tours and a lecture series. The lecture themes covered 'Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen & Families Association (SAFFA) in Norfolk, Before, During and After the First World War'; 'Forgotten Sacrifice: First World War Women on Norfolk War Memorials'; 'Discovering Overstrand in the Great War'; 'The Road to Spanish Farm: The Remarkable Career of Norfolk Citizen Soldier Turned Best-Selling Author, R. H. Mottram'; 'Spies & Spy Stories in Norfolk during the First World War' and 'Mespot: The Norfolks in the Garden of Eden'. The exhibition was funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Norwich Town Close Estates Charity, the Trustees of the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum, the Worshipful Company of Dyers and Norfolk Arts Service. It was supported by the Royal British Legion and SSAFA charities, produced in collaboration with the Norfolk Library & Information Service and Norfolk Record Office. A pop-up version of the exhibition was additionally made for touring around Norfolk, which the Royal British Legion made use of at a number of county venues during their 'torch of remembrance' project.