What is unusual about this picture?
It was taken at about 11am on Monday 30th March, when, under normal times the roads would be quite busy with traffic. Yes, of course, it is a record of what it has been like during the coronavirus lock down.
During the last 2 months we have been trying to capture some of the sense of how the town has reacted to the current crisis. If you visit our website regularly, or stop to look in the museum window you will know that we are keeping in touch with the public in the only way that we are able to at the moment.
2020 is a significant year for us – our 20th anniversary of being in the lovely building in East Street. Over the last 20 years the collection has grown, volunteer numbers have increased, the building is used by a variety of groups and we have expanded the visitor numbers by introducing new ideas.
Our exhibition to celebrate the anniversary was almost ready to open when we were forced to close the building. In order to let you see part of this exhibition we are setting it up on screens in the museum windows. The story of how the building was acquired and the work involved in renovation and setting up a museum as well as the opening by Princess Anne, forming a Friends association and some of the activities that take place can be seen over the next few weeks.
And so, another part of Crewkerne’s history is shaping. We are all in the middle of what will be a major historical event that generations in the future will talk about. How does it feel to making history? After 2 months many of us will have some strong reactions no doubt! This week YOU are the History Heroes! We plan to make a record of these weeks to add to the museum collection and we need your help. We have given a few ideas to prompt you to gather your thoughts and put down on paper (yes, it will go into an album), what you think about your situation now. Don’t hold back, tell the visitors to the museum in the future what it is like to live through the Coronavirus pandemic.
NAME: AGE:
HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN THE CREWKERNE AREA?
HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE – ADULTS CHILDREN
HAVE YOU CONTINUED TO WORK DURING LOCK DOWN?
ARE YOU A KEY WORKER?
HAVE YOU STARTED A NEW HOBBY/INTEREST?
DO YOU MANAGE TO SHOP FOR WHAT YOU NEED?
HOW DO YOU FEEL AFTER 2 MONTHS?
HAS YOUR MOOD CHANGED?
WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT YOUR SITUATION, DO YOU WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE?
ARE ANY CHANGES YOU’VE MADE THINGS THAT YOU WILL CONTINUE?
DO YOU THINK LIFE WILL RETURN TO HOW IT WAS BEFORE THE LOCK DOWN?
These are just a few ideas please add anything you think is important. Most of all send us your thoughts now while they are uppermost in your mind. Pictures would add to the story. We will create an album of stories and pictures to record this moment in time for the future. Over to you!
Responses can be made online either to crewkernemuseum@hotmail.co.uk via the website, or you can post your thoughts through the museum door.
