Past Exhibitions

2000 Exhibition

The Romans in North West Leicestershire

Archeologists have realized that the County was much more populated in Roman Times than previously thought. The exhibition looked at the way people lived in Roman times and the exciting new discoveries that have been made in the area. Did you know for example that a hoard of silver coins was found in Diseworth or that Ravenstone was an important settlement in Roman times.

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2001 Exhibition

Bronze Age to Dark Age

This exhibition celebrated the official opening of the Museum.

Wilson Bowden made a substantial donation to the Leicestershire County Museum Service for the display of artefacts found during excavations of the Willow Farm site. This indicates that this part of the Trent Valley was well populated from the earliest times and ties in with other finds of occupation from the local gravel quarries, mills, fish weirs, the bronze age boat and the Lockington burial site.

bronze boat02

Photograph of the bronze age boat found at Shardlow quarry and currently displayed at Derby museum.

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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.

Museum regalia02

Castle Donington Independent Friendly Society Regalia

The Women’s Institute Tent
Derby Hospital Fete

Museum WI tent02

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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.

anderson shelter

Recreation of an Anderson Shelter

war time living room

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.


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