insideKENT Magazine Issue 55 - October 2016 | Page 86

DAYSOUT

Trones Wood © Frank Hyde

Coming Home: Conflict & Care in 1916
AT MAIDSTONE MUSEUM
This autumn, Maidstone Museum is marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme with
a special exhibition. Coming Home: Conflict & Care in 1916 explores the experiences of the people
in two paintings of that year in the Museum’s collections, both by Frank Hyde. “Trones Wood” is a
battle scene from the Somme and is accompanied by an array of items, sounds and images from
the conflict. Uniform and military equipment used by the soldiers are on display, including a Lewis
gun, which enabled the 7th Queen’s Own to hold Trones Wood.
The second painting, “Arrival of a convoy of
wounded soldiers at Maidstone East”, tells a
different story – of the home front. Images and
objects such as prosthetic limbs, medical uniforms
and equipment, and even a wedding dress, reveal
the lives of the injured returning home, and of
the people who remained at home. The exhibition
runs until 7th January 2017.

starting this month. Seaweeds and their Secrets
takes a delightful look at the wide variety of
seaweeds around the Kent coast and their
sometimes surprising uses in products found in
our kitchens, bathrooms and elsewhere! You can
also hear more about this fascinating subject
with Ian Tittley of the Kent Field Club and Natural
History Museum at a talk on 26th November.

There are opportunities to discover more about
this dramatic period of British history in a number
of related events. On Saturday 8th October, hear
more about the land, sea and air defences across
Kent in the First World War. “If the Kaiser should
come” is a fascinating illustrated talk by military
historian Victor Smith. Families can discover more
about being a soldier in “World War I - A Soldier’s
Life” on 19th November. Learn about the call up,
uniforms, rank and PALS from the “They Shall
Not Grow Old” re-enactment group and take a
closer look at objects from the time.

The Big Draw Festival returns to the Museum on
15th October and this year’s event is STEAM
powered! Come along and create a fabulous
piece of artwork based on Science, Technology,
Engineering, Art or Maths. The festival aims to
promote drawing as a tool for invention; for
communicating concepts and helping to engage
people with collections and exhibitions in
museums, galleries and heritage sites.

Other events this Autumn
Elsewhere in the Museum, uncover the surprising
secrets of seaweed in a new pop-up exhibition

Things take an eerie turn at the end of October
as the Museum gets ready for Halloween.
Throughout the half term week, there will be
regular ‘Make it’ workshops, each with a spooky
theme. Create a Halloween-inspired t-shirt on
Tuesday, and make a witch or wizard hat on

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Wednesday. Scare
your friends with a
spooky mummy on
Thursday and then
carve your pumpkin
ready for Halloween
on Friday. With four
sessions each day,
there are plenty of
opportunities for kids
aged 4–11 years to
get creative.
Adults can also get
in on the action at the Museum Lates: Fright
Night. Hear from the curators on a tour of the
weird and sometimes disturbing objects in the
collections. Then sit back and watch the
Anaconda dance troupe in a chilling and creepy
performance… not for the faint-hearted!
Further details on all of these exhibitions and
events can be found on the new Museum website,
www.maidstonemuseum.org – you can now
also book tickets for events online.