Take a step back in time and find out what house and home means to Suffolk people throughout history at the latest free exhibition at The Hold.
Unique items from Suffolk Archives will take visitors on a journey through Suffolk looking at how we create our sense of place, whether that is in a country house or a high rise flat, a lighthouse or family home.
Free tickets to the House and Home exhibition, which runs daily from Friday 15 October 2021 until Sunday January 9 2022, can be booked online by visiting: https://www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/exhibitions/house-and-home-exhibition/
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see an original 1921 map of Thorpeness by architects W G Wilson and P Badcock. The ink and watercolour map illustrates the original design for the village of Thorpeness, and centres on the famous boating lake including the islands and passages named by J.M. Barrie, creator of Peter Pan.
The exhibition includes a selection of items, kindly loaned by the Ipswich Windrush Society, to recreate the feeling of the ‘Caribbean front room’ and tell the story of the Windrush generation and their families establishing a home in Ipswich.
The exhibition will also showcase a selection of new creative writing pieces from students at the University of Suffolk, inspired by documents from Suffolk Archives and by ‘22 Britannia Road’, an historical fiction book by author and University of Suffolk Lecturer Dr Amanda Hodgkinson.
As well as the creative writing pieces, House and Home will also feature ‘The Urban Façade’: a showcase of cast prototypes of buildings details from Ipswich, by University of Suffolk Architecture students, and the interactive installation Metatum by Associate Professor Dr Liana Psarologaki.
The Hold is a partnership between Suffolk County Council and the University of Suffolk. In addition to the pieces included in the exhibition, the graphics and marketing materials to promote it have been produced by the university’s Graphic Design students as part of their professional practice module.
House and Home is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which support Suffolk Archives’ exhibitions programme, and enables them to put on quality exhibitions across the county.
Cllr Andrew Reid, Portfolio Holder for Heritage at Suffolk County Council, said: “Every home tells a story, and the House and Home exhibition is a great opportunity to find out more about the history of a diverse mix of places in the county. It is a free exhibition, so it is a fantastic way to come and have a look at The Hold and see what Suffolk Archives has to offer.”
Dr Amanda Hodgkinson from the University of Suffolk said: ““Our staff and students were delighted to be part of the House and Home exhibition 2021. The creative involvement in the exhibition came from the University of Suffolk Architecture, Graphic design and Creative Writing and English, students and staff. Our involvement reflects our strong connections with The Hold and our university-wide commitment to our region and its rich history and heritage.
“For myself, as a writer I am particularly interested in family and our sense of place in the world, so I was delighted to have one of my novels 22 Britannia Road, as part of the focus for the exhibition. Equally, our talented Creative Writing students produced creative responses to the themes of ‘house’ and ‘home’ and their poetry, memoir and prose forms an exciting part of the exhibition.
“The University of Suffolk’s involvement in the exhibition really highlights the ways in which our university staff and students form an increasingly celebrated, innovative and creative hub for our region.”
Anne Jenkins, Director, England, Midlands & East, National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “A huge thanks to National Lottery players who are supporting the programme of new exhibitions at The Hold. This exciting collaboration with the University of Suffolk will enable people to explore the transformation of old houses into homes that reflect the history, style and personality of the residents living there in the past.”
The exhibition is open 9:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday (except late opening until 9pm on a Thursday) and 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. Free tickets can be booked at https://www.suffolkarchives.co.uk/exhibitions/house-and-home-exhibition/.
The Hold is open daily to visitors and appointments can be booked to view printed local studies materials in the John Blatchly Local Studies Library or archives in the Searchroom. Visit www.suffolkarchives.co.uk for more information or to make a booking.