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2002 Exhibition - Winner of the Best Exhibition Award
                               (Sponsored by the Leicester Mercury)

Books, Bells and Blackboards

Concentrating on education in Castle Donington throughout the years. It started with the Charity School founded in 1519 and showed the progress through the next two hundred years of Sunday Schools, Private and National Schools. The exhibition was brought up to date with samples of work from today’s school children.

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2003 Exhibition - Commended for:-
                               Best Special Events
                               Best Restoration
                               Best Exhibition

Industries in Castle Donington
Chevening, China and Chaff

An exhibition focussed on three of the many industries which supported Castle Donington in the past. Basket making, textiles in its many forms and the activities carried out at Kings Mill.

WW I Shell Basket Manufacture Award winning, restored village pump

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2004 Exhibition

Before the Welfare State - A Friend in Deed
And 75 Years of the Women’s Institute in
Castle Donington

Before the Welfare State was established in 1948, people who fell on hard times had to fend for themselves. The Exhibition focussed on the role played by the Friendly Societies, the Sick Clubs, Clothing Societies and the ultimate alternative - the workhouse.

Displayed were the rules by which members had to live, extracts from Society minutes when they transgressed and some of the regalia worn and displayed on high days and holidays.

In addition, there was a display to celebrate 75 years of the Women’s Institute in Castle Donington.

Castle Donington Independent Friendly Society Regalia The Women’s Institute Tent Derby Hospital Fete

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2005 Exhibition - Highly Commended Award in the Best Exhibition Category

Alert to All Clear
Donington’s War 1939 - 1945

The exhibition was a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the ending of World War II.

Even in a rural community such as Castle Donington they were years of struggle, with blackouts, rationing and air-raids. Men of the village were away fighting, some were taken prisoner and others killed. Homes were opened to evacuees from Sheffield and London, while soldiers billeted in the area were invited in for supper.

Recreation of an Anderson Shelter Recreation of a part of a war time living room

2006 Exhibition - Winner of the Best Exhibition Award

ON THE MOVE
TRANSPORT & TRANSFORMATION
IN CASTLE DONINGTON

This exhibition, which has won the award of Best Exhibition in the Leicestershire and Rutland Museums Forum, tells the story of transport in our area from prehistoric times to the present.

It shows how peoples lives have been changed by the arrival of new routes, better roads, safer river crossings, steam power, the internal combustion engine and the heavier than air flying machine.

2007 Exhibition

Play the Game

The exhibition delved into the history of sport and sports clubs in the village.

The tradition of organized sports clubs is well established in Castle Donington and our clubs have been in the forefront of significant competition and leagues for the last hundred years.

The exhibition highlighted individual achievers who have learned their skills at local level and have then gone on to professional sport including representing their country.