New exhibition commemorating 80th anniversary of WWII opens at Crewe Heritage Centre this weekend.

Crewe Heritage Centre will be joining national commemorations this Bank Holiday weekend, 3rd-5th May, as it opens a special exhibition entitled ‘Crewe at War’, in time for VE Day.

Built and curated in partnership with Heritage Centre volunteers and members of the local community, the exhibition brings together a unique collection of artefacts, photographs, and personal stories from WWII exploring themes around daily life, the bombing of Crewe, VE day, and the legacy of war.

Heritage Centre Chair, Gordon Heddon explains: “The exhibition content focuses on the stories of normal, daily life on the Home Front in Crewe, from feeding a family on rations, to taking on ‘spare time’ work helping load railway trucks. There are so many fascinating stories to discover, such as the deliberate camouflaging of factories to confuse the enemy.

“We've been able to weave in personal accounts and artefacts, which share the lived experiences of local people during wartime. And, we’ve made innovative use of sets and props, many of them hand-built by our volunteers, to present an engaging and immersive experience for our visitors.

“We’re especially grateful to Mpire Books for sharing their research and helping us put together such a captivating story of Crewe at War.”

The exhibition opens on the VE Day weekend, Saturday 3rd May, and runs until 19th October. It will be accompanied by a range of events and activities, including:

Saturday 3rd May: Performers and tribute acts will bring WWII to life. Visitors can experience what is was like to be recruited in to the Home Guard with chance to explore their weapons and equipment. Plus, from 11am – 12pm, a Vera Lynn tribute act will perform live on The Crewe Cab in the Exhibition Hall.

Images: Courtesy of MPire Books

Saturday 26th July – Sunday 27th July: Dress up for a fun-filled 1940s weekend. Visitors can meet special guest Winston Churchill & his wife, enjoy nostalgic songs by the Andrew Sisters, and Vera Lynn, and take part in our family friendly craft workshop creating bunting and rosettes.

Saturday 23rd August – Sunday 25th August: Another chance to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII with a host of activity including live music, a ‘Dig for Victory’ planting workshop, and even a 1940s hair stylist on-site.

All events and activities are included FREE with general admission.

Crewe Heritage is open every weekend and Bank Holiday, as well as Wednesdays during the Cheshire East school holidays. Admission starts from £6. Find out more at www.crewehc.co.uk