Saffron Walden Museum presents Soggy Sandwiches: Tales of British Summer

The museum is running a Super Summer programme of events inspired by the exhibition, for both the young and the young at heart.

Young visitors and their grown-ups can try their hand at a range of summertime craft-making sessions - you can make a Hungry Shark on Wednesday 31 July, a Punch and Judy-inspired puppet on Tuesday 6 August, a spinning sun windmill on Tuesday 20 August, and finish off with Pop-up Fish and Chips on Wednesday 28 August. All activities cost just £2.40, with 30-minutes sessions running between 10.10am to 12.40pm or from 2pm to 2.30pm. You can drop in on the day or pre-book your preferred time slot using the museum's Art Tickets page.

Soggy Sandwiches: Tales of British Summer is an exhibition full of colour and joy, offering the perfect way to enjoy those sometimes less-than-glorious summer afternoons. The exhibition provides an insight into how the classic British summer holiday has evolved from the travels of the rich to the wanderings of every person, how society has shaped holidays, and how the holiday spirit has changed society. 

Simon Hilton-Smith, the exhibition curator, said: "We wanted to create a scrapbook-like aesthetic that encourages visitors to engage with the objects on display and the stories they tell. We hope that each visitor will interact with the exhibition on a personal level, creating their own unique experience and reminiscing about past holidays. The exhibition aims to revive those stories and memories through visual and audio prompts, not to simply be a list of facts about holidays throughout history." 

The exhibition is a real feast for the eyes, with a hanging boat, seabirds perched on walls, and even an installation by artist Laura Joan Smith, whose work combines photographic stills and audio separated not in space but through time. 

The museum is running a Super Summer programme of events inspired by the exhibition, for both the young and the young at heart.  

Young visitors and their grown-ups can try their hand at a range of summertime craft-making sessions - you can make a Hungry Shark on Wednesday 31 July, a Punch and Judy-inspired puppet on Tuesday 6 August, a spinning sun windmill on Tuesday 20 August, and finish off with Pop-up Fish and Chips on Wednesday 28 August. All activities cost just £2.40, with 30-minutes sessions running between 10.10am to 12.40pm or from 2pm to 2.30pm. You can drop in on the day or pre-book your preferred time slot using the museum's Art Tickets page. 

If that wasn't enough fun, Saffron Walden Museum has teamed up with Discover Uttlesford to create the Larking About in Uttlesford photo trail, which runs until Sunday 1 September. The trail, inspired by the museum's new exhibition and seaside peep photo board, features 10 photo boards for you to find around the district. Take your photo with each one and tag Discover Uttlesford and Saffron Walden Museum for your chance to win a season ticket for the museum. 

Intrepid museum explorers can also sign up for Wheels of Time at the museum. This is an exciting badge collection scheme where Roamin' Rex, Essex's very own time-travelling character, guides young explorers across the county's heritage and museums. There are 19 museums and heritage venues across Essex taking part this year. Each participating venue has a unique badge for you to collect when you visit and complete an activity - collect all 19 badges and receive special award badges along the way. The scheme is free to join. 

Soggy Sandwiches: Tales of British Summer provokes memories, and holiday experiences are always better shared - so why not visit Saffron Walden Museum to reminisce about past summer fun whilst creating new memories by taking part in this fantastic season of events? The museum's permanent collections and grounds, including medieval castle ruins, offer the perfect day out for the whole family.  

The exhibition and associated programme are held throughout the summer holidays. The exhibition closes on Sunday 13 October. 

29 July 2024