UNIQUE historical gems recently donated to the borough’s social history collection feature in a new exhibition at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum.
What’s New? includes items donated to the collection over the last five years, from a second century Roman stone discovered by archaeologists during a dig ahead of the Houlton development to a sign taken to a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Rugby in 2020.
It also features the uniform worn by Brenda Clayton, nee Whittaker, who served with the Women’s Land Army at Normandy Farm near Rugby Radio Station during the Second World War.
Other exhibits include the letter of appointment a 14-year-old Nora Chapman received to confirm her role working for jet engine pioneer Sir Frank Whittle at Power Jets Limited, based at Brownsover Hall.
What’s New? also includes a painting by Alan Sorrell of the Rugby-manufactured English Electric turbines being installed at the Hinkley Point A nuclear power station in the 1960s, and the large bellows which fuelled work at Willoughby’s old blacksmith’s forge until the same decade.
Catherine Shanahan, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum’s senior collections officer, said the origins of the borough’s social history collection could be traced back to the 1890s when staff at the then Rugby Library started an ad hoc collection of artefacts.
She added: “The collection as we know it today was started in 1999, a year before Rugby Art Gallery and Museum first opened its doors,
“It now comprises thousands of items, with the vast majority donated by people who live – or have lived – in the borough.”
Coun Maggie O’Rourke, Rugby Borough Council’s spokesperson for partnerships and wellbeing, said: “The social history collection tells so many stories about Rugby’s history, from its role in the development of the jet engine to its rich Roman heritage and historic status as the birthplace of the game.
“But we write our social history every day and I’m delighted What’s New? also includes items revealing stories behind recent chapters in our history. In particular, after a career spent in the NHS, a rainbow t-shirt worn during the pandemic to show support for our health workers.”
Her Liberal Democrat counterpart Coun Neil Sandison added: “‘Made in Rugby’ is stamped on many international projects and is known the world over.
“We should be proud of our heritage and the people who contributed to it, fully recognising Rugby’s history and its social value.”
What’s New? opens at Rugby Art Gallery and Museum’s Local History Gallery on Wednesday (October 9) and runs until next April.
Visit www.ragm.co.uk for more information.
