Heroes and Villains

About

From Saturday 20th September 2014

AWARD-WINNING VISITOR ATTRACTION PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE HEROES... AND THE VILLAINS... OF THE GREAT WAR – AND YOUR STORIES ARE NEEDED!

THE GALLERIES OF JUSTICE MUSEUM IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING A THOUGHT-PROVOKING EXHIBITION ‘HEROES AND VILLAINS’ WHICH WILL OPEN ON SATURDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. 

The museum, in the heart of Nottingham’s historic Lace Market, has recently been voted ‘England’s Best Small Visitor Attraction of the Year 2014’ in the Visit England Awards and ‘Nottinghamshire’s Best Visitor Attraction of the Year 2013’ in the Stars Awards 2013.  This pioneering, new exhibition explores the impact that the Great War had on crime, policing and imprisonment in Nottinghamshire, regionally and nationally.

Extracts from long-forgotten, police station diaries of the period have had the dust blown from them and their pages reveal a fascinating insight into life and the hardships of that time.  The crimes of the day could be anything from  escaped Prisoners of War; anti-German riots or petty theft.  The exhibition also looks at how the police had to change at the time with the introduction of special constables  and even police women volunteers! 

The poignant stories of imprisonment of conscientious objectors, enemy aliens and prisoners of war will be told through real-life, personal stories – some local and some national.  A local fourteen year old girl is to write the story of her great-great-uncle who was conscripted into the armed forces.  Bev Baker, the Senior Curator and Archivist at the Galleries of Justice Museum said: ‘I am keen to speak to anyone who has a story to tell about any member of their family who was involved with the Police Force in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire or the Nottinghamshire Law Society or indeed was conscripted or imprisoned for being a conscientious objector during the First World War.  I would strongly encourage them to get in touch with me.  There are some incredible stories just waiting to be told – and we need to hear them!   We would also like you to get in touch if you have any memorabilia, objects or items relating to your stories/family that you would consider lending to the museum for the duration of the exhibition to be put on display.’

A programme of special events and activities is also being developed during the course of the exhibition to attract both families and educational groups.  This unique showcase will display a Roll of Honour of those legal professionals, police, prison officers and offenders who lost their lives during the war. 

This exhibition is part of the county-wide ‘Trent to Trenches’ World War 1 Commemoration which is a programme of respectful and thought-provoking events across Nottinghamshire.  For further information or to get in touch with the curator at the Galleries of Justice Museum with stories please call 0115 9520555, or send an email via the website www.galleriesofjustice.org.uk