For an exclusive year only, Salford Museum & Art Gallery’s Lark Hill Place will be changing the street’s theme from an 1897 to a 1918 setting.
Courtesy of £32,000 from the Heritage Lottery fund, the venue made the changes by closing the street in January and reopened on Tuesday.
The exhibition will commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the end of the First World War, and will feature some of the most exclusive artefacts from the time.
For example a first aid kit (still containing original supplies), a ‘splatter mask’ (below photo) – used to protect soldiers from flying objects – and ostrich feather fans (which were pawned as it was viewed as unpatriotic to dress extravagantly in times of hardship).
Finally, photographs of women working in factories – revolutionary as many had never worn trousers before, let alone work.
After enduring four years of war, the people of Salford had experienced an emotionally draining time period in which they constantly worried for the safety of their loved ones, tended to the injured on their return, persisted through food shortages and dealt with the ‘Spanish Lady’ influenza epidemic, which later killed 50 million people worldwide.
There will also be other events available to attend, such as a Victorian Wash day on Feb 21 suitable for families and young children, and also a promenade performance on May 31.
Image courtesy of Salford Museum via Twitter, with thanks.
