CHARING IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR 1914-1918
In the first three months of 2014 my husband Jim, a graphic designer, and I worked on producing a major exhibition on the First World War and it’s effects on the communities of Charing and Charing Heath in Kent, UK. Working with the Charing and District Local History Society and with sponsorship from many organisations.
Using copy, photographs and other ephemera supplied by the Society, we designed, illustrated and stitched 61 exhibition panels (mostly A1 in size).
We also researched the correct images to be illustrated and managed the production of the printing of the panels, the framing and hanging of the exhibition in 14 different venues. In addition we produced artwork for posters, press releases, the Society’s logo and information leaflets.
The exhibition took place in June and July 2014 and showed the profound effects that the war had on the community and what life was like at the time. During the war over 280 of its 1,223 population served, it had two VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment) hospitals, had many billeted troops, and struggled with the war’s impact on agriculture and daily living. Although it was only intended to be an exhibition for the Summer of 2014, most of the venues have asked if they can keep the panels and display them for at least four years.
The 14 venues in Charing and Charing Heath included: three churches, two village halls, the church barn, the doctor”s surgery, the primary school, the library, Charing railway station, two public houses, the post office and the coffee shop. Pupils from Charing primary school were also actively involved in the project.
In August 2018 we produced a 72 page illustrated book using all of the information and pictures from the exhibition.
Exhibition Panels
Click on any panel to view a slideshow of larger images
Sponsored by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, by Ashford Borough Council, by donations from Ashford Borough Councillors and by Charing Parish Council as well as Charing and District History Society’s own funds. It is also affiliated to the Imperial War Museum’s First World War Centenary Partnership.