TLC: Sutton

Sutton Council's Cultural Services [BETA]

Dark Theme

Light Theme

<div><div>&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/suttonlibrarieslondon"><img style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/sutton/Facebook.png" alt="Sutton Libraries Facebook" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonLibraries"><img style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/sutton/Twitter.png" alt="Sutton Libraries Twitter" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonlibrarieslondon/"><img style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/sutton/Instagram.png" alt="Sutton Libraries Instagram" /></a>
Sutton Libraries
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204/"><img style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/sutton/Facebook.png" alt="Sutton Heritage Facebook" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage"><img style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/sutton/Twitter.png" alt="Sutton Heritage Twitter" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage"><img style="height: 50px; width: 50px;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/sutton/Instagram.png" alt="Sutton Heritage Instagram" /></a>
Sutton Heritage
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.sutton.gov.uk/w/privacy-notice-and-data-protection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Privacy Notice and Data Protection</a>
<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/accessibility" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Service Accessibility</a>
<a href="https://yourlibraryapp.com/WebAccessibility.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Site Accessibility Statement</a>
<a href="https://yourlibraryapp.com/Privacy.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Site Privacy Policy</a></div></div>

Sutton

#000000

Sutton Central Library Closed for Essential Maintenance

Have your say on Sutton’s Modern Library Consultation

Winter Events 2023

Light & Dark Festival

Sutton STEAMs Ahead

Access Wallington Library during extended hours

London Borough of Sutton

Welcome to our New Online Platform

Mob Zone

bookshelf

Bookshelf

digital-content

libraries

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Sutton Libraries</h1>
&nbsp;
You can log into your library account and renew items, simply click on "log-in" at the top right hand side of the screen, entering your library card number and PIN. If you need to reset your PIN, please email sutton.library@sutton.gov.uk or call 0208 770 4740.
&nbsp;
If you're not already registered,&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/user/register">sign up for a free library membership</a>&nbsp;to access free services including PressReader for newspapers and magazines and Overdrive for eBooks.
&nbsp;
Download My Library App on&nbsp;<a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/my-library-app/id1475794558" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.solus.LLC&amp;hl=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Android</a>, and you'll be&nbsp;able to reserve and download any eBook or eAudiobook from 1000s of available titles.&nbsp;Find&nbsp;our&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/policies">policies</a>&nbsp;here.

Sutton Libraries

sutton-heritage

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Sutton Heritage</h1>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Museums and Heritage Houses</h2>
&nbsp;
Sutton's Museum and Heritage Service exists to preserve and promote Sutton's heritage and Living Memory. Our collections, buildings, archives and activities help to define the borough, engage communities, and capture and preserve memory - making a valuable contribution to the council's role as place maker.
&nbsp;
The service plays a vital part in building community cohesion in a period of rapid population expansion and in a multi-faith, multi-cultural society as well as engaging those interested in their family history or the history of their street, school, place of worship or organisation.
&nbsp;
Find out more about other exhibitions and events on the <a href="https://events.sutton.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">events platform</a> taking place at Honeywood Museum, Whitehall Historic House and in Sutton's Libraries.

Sutton Heritage

digital-resources

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Digital Resources</h1>
&nbsp;
Take advantage of our digital resources, available 24/7 from a computer, smartphone or tablet, completely FREE for Cultural Services members. Access several of these resources, courtesy of Sutton Council's Cultural Services, from the comfort of your home. You may need your Cultural Services Number and PIN. See our digital resources listed below. &nbsp; Not a member? Join now through the 'Account' button, it only takes two minutes!&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Digital Library</h2>
<ul>
<li>My Library App</li>
<li>PressReader</li>
<li>Libby, by Overdrive</li>
<li>uLibrary</li>
<li>BorrowBox</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>Digital Courses</h2>
<ul>
<li>Transparent Language Online</li>
<li>Theory Test Pro</li>
<li>Universal Credit</li>
<li>Job Skills</li>
<li>Find a Job</li>
<li>Life in the UK</li>
<li>Infobase Learning Cloud</li>
<li>Learn My Way</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>Digital Archive</h2>
<ul>
<li>Ancestry</li>
<li>Find My Past</li>
<li>British Newspaper Archive</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>Digital Extras</h2>
<ul>
<li>Access To Research</li>
<li>Which? Online</li>
<li>Oxford Online Dictionaries (including Dictionary of National Biography and Who&rsquo;s Who &amp; Who Was Who)</li>
</ul>

Digital Resources

art-exhibitions

<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1>Exhibition Spaces in Sutton</h1>
&nbsp;
<h2>Sutton Central Library Gallery</h2>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/gallery%20buttons%20pics.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - man looking around Sutton Central Library Gallery" width="200" height="169" /> &nbsp;<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/gallery%20buttons%20pics2.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - eight seated people within Sutton Central Library Gallery" width="200" height="169" /> &nbsp;<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/gallery%20buttons%20pics3.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - woman walking around in Sutton Central Library Gallery" width="200" height="169" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/gallery%20buttons%20pics4.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - a group of people browsing artwork in Sutton Central Library Gallery" width="200" height="169" /> &nbsp;<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/gallery%20buttons%20pics5.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - two walls full of artwork in Sutton Central Library Gallery" width="200" height="169" /> &nbsp;<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/gallery%20buttons%20pics6.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - a clear space in Sutton Central Library Gallery" width="200" height="169" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sutton Central Library Gallery aims to provide the London Borough of Sutton&rsquo;s residents with a wide range of contemporary art, heritage and history experiences. Entrance to the gallery and access to the exhibition is free for all members of the public, with the exception of specific events. The gallery space is available for hire to professional artists, collectives and non-profit groups wishing to exhibit their work individually or as a group.
</div>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Honeywood Museum</h2>
&nbsp;
<img style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/SS Crafting a Village 1.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - a small model house appearing to be made of brick and moss in Honeywood Museum" width="200" height="169" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/SS Crafting a Village 3.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - two small model houses appearing to be made of straw and plaster within Honeywood Museum" width="200" height="169" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk//custom/web/content/Crafting a Village - Whitehall.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - a small model of Whitehall Historic House placed within Honeywood Museum" width="200" height="169" />&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<div style="text-align: left;">
Honeywood Museum hosts regular exhibitions as part of the events programme. The Grade II listed building next to Carshalton Ponds dates from the 17th century but was extended in the Victorian and Edwardian periods. The house has been beautifully restored to show how it would have looked when it was a family home. The Edwardian era billiards room, drawing room, bathroom and kitchen will let visitors step into the past and see for themselves how the residents of Honeywood would have lived.
</div>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Whitehall Historic House</h2>
&nbsp;
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/UCA Interuptions 2.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - Two canvases with one containing a leaping man and the other containing two young people standing up" width="200" height="169" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<img style="text-align: center;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/UCA Interuptions 1.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - an artistic structure made of glass and wire placed within Whitehall Historic House" width="200" height="169" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<img style="text-align: center;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_6515.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - a framed written passage titled Whitehall in Words" width="200" height="169" /> 
</div>
&nbsp;
Whitehall Historic House&nbsp;hosts regular exhibitions as part of the events programme. Built around 1500, Whitehall is a Grade II* listed Tudor house in the heart of Cheam Village. It is owned and managed by the London Borough of Sutton who opened it as a local museum in 1978 following a campaign by the community.
Following the recently completed National Lottery Heritage Fund refurbishment, we are delighted to invite visitors back to Whitehall to rediscover this incredible site for FREE. This Grade II* listed property is an impressive feature at the heart of the picturesque village of Cheam.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Little Holland House</h2>
&nbsp;
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Council%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Little%20Holland%20House%201.jpg" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - the exterior of Little Holland House" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Council%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Little%20Holland%20House%202.jpg" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - a wooden panel in Little Holland House showing a wooden savannah area" />&nbsp;&nbsp;<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Council%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Little%20Holland%20House%203.jpg" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - an armchair within the living room of Little Holland House" />&nbsp;
</div>
&nbsp;
Open the door to this unique arts and crafts gem, built between 1902-1904 by artist and craftsman Frank R. Dickinson. Inspired by Ruskin, Dickinson bought one of the first plots of land in this developing South London suburb at the end of the nineteenth century. Little Holland House is open on the first Sunday of each month with regular tours about the history of the house throughout the day.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Find out more about other exhibitions and events on the <a href="https://events.sutton.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">events platform</a> taking place at Honeywood Museum, Whitehall Historic House and in Sutton's Libraries.

Art & Exhibitions

community-clubs-and-groups

Community Clubs and Groups

room-hire

<h1>Rooms available to hire in Sutton's Library &amp; Heritage Venues</h1>
<div>
&nbsp;
Sutton Libraries &amp; Heritage Houses have a range of hire rooms for booking. These spaces are ideal for meetings, exhibitions, conferences, networking, talks, training, community activities and much more. All rooms have access to Wi-Fi, toilet facilities, tables and chairs. Feel free to read the <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/libraries/sutton-library-policies">venue hire agreement</a> for room hire.
 *The Gallery &amp; The Community Space at Sutton Central Library have additional facilities including projector, screen and P.A. System.
&nbsp;
If you are interested in <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/libraries/library-services">study spaces</a>, these are available in all libraries as a free, clean, safe space for visitors to study, work and ready.
</div>

Room Hire

volunteering

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Volunteering</h1>
&nbsp;
Volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new people, get valuable experience on your CV and put smiles on the faces of your community. Find out the opportunities you can benefit from now.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/90a5ab5e-9252-459a-9715-43172c60d90a/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LEARN MORE HERE (Opens a new window) </a>
&nbsp;
With a chance of a behind the scenes look at a variety of local libraries and beautiful historic houses in the Sutton area, find out how you can <a href="https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/90a5ab5e-9252-459a-9715-43172c60d90a/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">volunteer for Sutton Council's Cultural Services</a> today.

Volunteering

join-the-email-newsletter

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Sutton Scene Email Newsletter</h1>
&nbsp;
Joining the Sutton Scene email newsletter is a great and easy way to get the biggest updates about your library, heritage and cultural services - sent directly to your mailbox.
&nbsp;
<a href="http://eepurl.com/dHEzxz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">- SIGN UP HERE -</a>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The big changes, upcoming events and local news! Join the <a href="http://eepurl.com/dHEzxz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton Scene</a> mail list now.

Join The Email Newsletter

accessibility

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Accessibility</h1>
&nbsp;
All of our libraries, Whitehall Historic House and Honeywood Museum are accessible by wheelchair users. Sutton Central Library and Cheam Library have induction loops. All our libraries stock a selection of large print books and talking books. Guide dogs are welcome in all libraries. The staff will be pleased to advise you before your visit.
&nbsp;
<h2>Reading</h2>
&lsquo;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/digital-resources/digital-library">My Library App</a>&rsquo; is a smartphone app that allows library members to find and reserve books across multiple library branches and services. Download the app to access all reading materials in one place.
&nbsp;
<h3>eBooks</h3>
eBook readers allow the text of books to be increased and altered to suit the reader. These can be downloaded onto a smart device at home for free. eBooks available from <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/digital-resources/digital-library">BorrowBox</a> and <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/digital-resources/digital-library">Libby</a> support different colour themes available (e.g. Lite, Sepia, Dark) and different fonts available including Dyslexia friendly font. BorrowBox has adjustable text spacing (e.g. narrow, normal &amp; wide). Libby has a &ldquo;define&rdquo; feature, allowing you to see the meaning of a word within the text.
&nbsp;
<h3>eAudiobooks</h3>
eAudiobooks are available to library members via <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/digital-resources/digital-library">BorrowBox</a> and <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/digital-resources/digital-library">uLibrary</a> to be downloaded to a smart device. The play speed of eAudiobooks can be made faster or slower based on the user&rsquo;s personal preference. This feature may beneficial to those will hearing or mental difficulties who may need more time to interpret audio.
&nbsp;
<h3>Books</h3>
All libraries stock a range of titles in large print, both fiction and information books. At Sutton Library the large print is located on the ground floor. Dictionaries, the Bible and a larger selection of information books are available.
&nbsp;
<h3>Audiobooks</h3>
Audiobooks are available in all our libraries. Titles include popular fiction, crime, thrillers, sagas, classics, biographies, travel, humour, etc. On CDs &amp; MP3 format. Audio books can be borrowed free of charge if you are visually impaired or have another disability or condition which makes it difficult for you to read print. Please ask for your membership to be updated.
&nbsp;
<h3>Digtial Newspapers and Magazines</h3>
<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/digital-resources/digital-library">PressReader</a>, free for library members, features publications from up to 60 countries and 18 languages. Sections of text can be highlighted for easier reading. There is audio narration available from text. Publications can be presented as was printed, in a screen friendly format and/or full screen. And &ldquo;SmartZoom&rdquo; allows automatic zoom in to the start of an article. <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/digital-resources/digital-library">Libby, by Overdrive</a> provides digital magazines with can be scaled in text size and has different colour modes (bright, sepia and dark) for a more comfortable reading experience.
&nbsp;
<h2>Housebound Library Service</h2>
Our housebound service volunteers deliver library books to Sutton residents who have difficulty getting to or accessing their local library, including those who are vulnerable and/or socially isolated. To apply for the Housebound Library Service, contact by telephone: 020 8770 4740.
&nbsp;
<h2>Computers</h2>
All libraries have computers for use. The internet and word processing are available. Most libraries have a PC with an enhanced screen, scanner and software which makes computers accessible to those with a visual impairment. Please contact your local library for further information and availability. Computers are available to use in all libraries and give access to the internet. Most libraries have a PC with an enhanced screen and scanner. Supernova, which makes computers accessible to visually impaired people, is available at some libraries.
&nbsp;
<h2>Whitehall Historic House Audio Description Guide and Visual Guide</h2>
<a href="http://vocaleyes.co.uk/whitehall-historic-house-new-audio-descriptive-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Experience Whitehall Historic House through audio description with our brand new guide</a>. Explore the fascinating Grade II* listed Whitehall Historic House in Cheam, Sutton, with this comprehensive audio-descriptive guide co-designed with&nbsp;<a href="https://vocaleyes.co.uk/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vocal Eyes</a> for visitors with visual impairments. Ask a member of staff or a volunteer at our front desk. Also available online via <a href="http://vocaleyes.co.uk/whitehall-historic-house-new-audio-descriptive-guide/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">VocalEyes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://soundcloud.com/vocaleyesad/sets/whitehall-historic-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Soundcloud</a>.
There is also a <a href="https://whitehallmuseum.files.wordpress.com/2021/07/whitehall-visual-guide-social-story.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">visual guide</a> available which allows visitors to be introduced to the experience of the building in their own time before visiting the physical space itself.
&nbsp;
<h2>Library services for visually impaired people</h2>
Libraries in Sutton are committed to extending and improving access to their services. For example, a print magnification device is available in libraries.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2>Sensory Sacks</h2>
For visitors of Whitehall Historic House with Special Education Needs and Disabilities and their families and carers, Sensory Sacks are designed to support the experience of visitors with sensory needs. Our sensory sacks include:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>Ear defenders</li>
<li>Fidget toys</li>
<li>A spotters&rsquo; guide and puppets</li>
</ul>
Available to borrow free of charge from the museum&rsquo;s front desk.
Our partners at <a href="https://www.h2hsensorytheatre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Head2Head Sensory Theatre</a> present the <a href="https://youtu.be/v6poNEYvY1c" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sensory Sacks in a friendly video</a>, as well as an <a href="https://youtu.be/Ju3YvSSiYdc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduction to Whitehall Historic House</a>.
&nbsp;
<h2>Children's services</h2>
eBooks and eAudiobooks are available for children through My Library App. Children are welcome to watch our rhymetimes and storytimes, which are online until further notice.
&nbsp;
<h2>VIP Library Group</h2>
A friendly informal group meets bi-monthly at Sutton to talk about books. It provides an opportunity to borrow new audio books and to chat to others with a visual impairment. Refreshments are provided. For more information contact Sutton Library: 020 8770 4700.
&nbsp;
<h2>Assistive technology</h2>
CCTV print magnifier - Sutton, Cheam and Wallington Libraries have one available. This enlarges text for easier viewing.
&nbsp;

Accessibility

policies

Please see below policies applicable to Sutton Libraries.
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Libraries%20-%20Conditions%20of%20Use.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton Libraries Conditions of Use</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Council's%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Byelaws%20-%20Sutton%20Libraries.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton Libraries Byelaws</a></li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.sutton.gov.uk/w/privacy-notice-and-data-protection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Privacy Notice and Data Protection Policy</a> (<a href="https://www.sutton.gov.uk/info/200436/customer_services/1947/privacy_notice_and_data_protection/11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton Libraries</a>)
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/London%20Borough%20of%20Sutton%20-%20Poster%20Display%20Guidelines.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Poster Display Guidelines</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Libraries%20-%20Borrowing%20Allowances.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Borrowing Allowances</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://cdn.evbuc.com/eventlogos/104589101/culturalservicesprivacypolicy-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Events Privacy Statement</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Libraries%20-%20Library%20Charges.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Library Charges</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Libraries%20Student%20Charter%202022_23.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Student Charter</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/LBS%20Cultural%20Services%20Venue%20Hire%20Agreement.docx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Venue Hire Agreement</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Cookie%20Consent%20Policy%20-%20London%20Borough%20of%20Sutton.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cookie Policy</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Council%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Extended%20Hours%20-%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20of%20Use.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Extended Hours - Terms and Conditions</a></li>
</ul>

Policies

Libraries

events

Events

search

Search

account

Account

the-blog

The Blog

welcome-to-the-discovery-platform

<div class="row justify-content-center">
<div class="col-md-12">
<div style="max-width: 600px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Website-Banner.png"><img class="image-responsive" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Website-Banner.png" alt="TLC Discovery Welcome Banner" /></div>
Welcome to the Discovery platform, the modern way to reserve your favourite books. The new library service platform replaces the previous Sutton Council&rsquo;s Cultural Services website as a state-of-the-art online system for everyone to search books, reserve titles and get tailor-made recommendations in a few quick clicks.
&nbsp;
The Discovery platform provides the public with the same trustworthy tools they know, with a fresh look and feel. However, the new platform improves on the old with a range of new features such as on-screen book format availability, a like/dislike rating system, easy sharing of your favourite titles to social media, and many, many more.
&nbsp;
<div style="max-width: 600px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/LSP%20Copy%20Image5.png"><img class="image-responsive" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/LSP%20Copy%20Image5.png" alt="Woman reading book borrowed from TLC Discovery" /></div>
&nbsp;
Though the site can be browsed as a guest, visitors will get the most benefits when logged in as a Cultural Services Member. Those who have registered with a Sutton library or heritage house are able to sign in with their Cultural Services Number &amp; PIN, and access their personal account. There you can manage current reservations, access your borrowing history and the platform will offer suggested books you&rsquo;re bound to like, based on your reading habits. Non-members don&rsquo;t have to miss out by joining for FREE.
&nbsp;
<div style="max-width: 600px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/LSP%20Copy%20Image4.png"><img class="image-responsive" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/LSP%20Copy%20Image4.png" alt="Two young men outdoors browsing TLC Discovery on a laptop" /></div>
&nbsp;
Additionally, the new platform will be the home for future events from Sutton Council&rsquo;s Cultural Services; for all experiences hosted within library buildings, heritage houses and/or online. This purpose-built service allows visitors to find entertaining and cultured experiences, by searching by date, location &amp; theme, and buy tickets in a quick &amp; easy checkout process. Sign in with your Cultural Services Member details and book your next great event.
&nbsp;
<div style="max-width: 600px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/LSP%20Copy%20Image3.jpg"><img class="image-responsive" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/LSP%20Copy%20Image3.jpg" alt="Young girl looking at TLC Discovery on a tablet" /></div>
&nbsp;
Over the coming months the former website will be gradually reduced, with details of when and what will be removed being shared over social media. Please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for future updates. We encourage everyone to get to know this platform at your own pace; both Cultural Services Members who can enjoy the upgrade straight away with their number &amp; PIN, and non-members who can get started for free by joining in today.
&nbsp;
Discover, your new digital library.
</div>
</div>

Discover, your new digital library

Welcome to the Discovery Platform

the-discovery-platform-frequently-asked-questions-faqs

<h1 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">The Discovery Platform - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)</h1>
&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">What is the Discovery platform?</h2>
The Discovery platform is a site built to meet our customer needs in book and content reservation, and library account management. Visitors can search, find and reserve library books with ease. It is also the central website for Sutton Council's Cultural Services, providing information about Sutton&rsquo;s libraries and heritage houses.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Why have you changed the website?</h2>
The previous website had been in place for many, many years and the time had come for a refresh. Technology and society has moved on a lot in recent years, and it&rsquo;s normal for organisations to update their websites over time. The Discovery platform (the current digital service) has faster searching, better accessibility features for those who rely on them, and a look and feel that people today can easily recognise and use. We encourage you to try it out, and you&rsquo;ll find all the things you could do before very easily.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">When does the Discovery platform open?</h2>
The platform is open right now and can be accessed at this web address [<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/">https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/</a>].
&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Do I need to register to use the platform?</h2>
The platform can be browsed as a guest. However, Cultural Services Members are able to access many more features by logging in with their Cultural Services Number &amp; PIN.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">How do I become a Cultural Services Member and get a number &amp; PIN?</h2>
A Cultural Services Number &amp; PIN is the same as a library card number &amp; PIN. So if you have already registered with a Sutton library or heritage house, you&rsquo;re already a Cultural Services Member and can sign in those details.
&nbsp;
If you haven&rsquo;t already got one, you can join for free through at this web address [<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/user/register">https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/user/register</a>]. Alternatively, go to the website home page, press &lsquo;Account&rsquo; and then &lsquo;Join&rsquo;. Once you complete the registration form you&rsquo;ll receive your Cultural Services Number.
&nbsp;
If you can&rsquo;t remember, or have misplaced your Cultural Services Number &amp; PIN, send us a message via the <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/contact-us">Contact Us</a> feature using the email address you signed up with for assistance.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Do I need to transfer my information from the former service to the Discovery platform?</h2>
No, your details and book reservation history has been transferred automatically.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">Will I still be able to use the former service?</h2>
During the launch of the Discovery platform, yes it will still be possible to use the former service. However, the former service will be gradually reduced over a period of months as everyone transitions to the Discovery platform. The dates of changes will be shared over time on our social media channels. Please follow us on Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/suttonlibrarieslondon/">@SuttonLibrariesLondon</a>), Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonLibraries">@SuttonLibraries</a>) and Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonlibrarieslondon/">@SuttonLibrariesLondon</a>) for more information.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">How do I do something on the Discovery platform?</h2>
We encourage you to try it out for yourself! The platform is very friendly and easy to use, and you&rsquo;ll probably find what you want all by yourself. Otherwise please send us a message via the <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/contact-us">Contact Us</a> feature.
&nbsp;

The Discovery Platform - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

grief-awareness-week-2023-book-list

<h1 style="margin-top: 24pt; margin-bottom: 6pt;">Grief Awareness Month 2023 Book List</h1>
&nbsp;
This Grief Awareness Week we have created a handy book list to help you find titles that address how to cope with grief and bereavement. From personal stories to coping techniques and advice, there are titles to help, however you deal with grief.
&nbsp;
<h3 style="margin-top: 14pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/ERC_2088_672:OVERDRIVE:d776e2d8-63d2-430a-9b58-dbe9142004c1" style="text-decoration: none;">Grief Works by Julia Samuels</a></h3>
Grief Works is a compassionate guide that will support, inform and engage anyone who is grieving, from the &lsquo;expected&rsquo; death of a parent to the sudden and unexpected death of a small child. It also provides clear advice for those seeking to comfort the bereaved.
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Loc+J8vvL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg"><img src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Loc+J8vvL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" /></div>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h3 style="margin-top: 14pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/ERC_2088_672:OVERDRIVE:56414f27-31e1-44ed-afae-6b6af280c435" style="text-decoration: none;">Life After Bereavement by Judy Carole Kauffmann &amp; Mary Jordan</a></h3>
The period following the death of a loved one can be a time of great turmoil. This sensitive book acts as a helpful and supportive road map through the initial period of loss, and the weeks and months that follow. As well as the emotional and spiritual aspects of bereavement, it covers important practical considerations, which are often overlooked.
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://uk.jkp.com/cdn/shop/products/9781849053358-amazon-image.jpg?v=1666020318	"><img src="https://uk.jkp.com/cdn/shop/products/9781849053358-amazon-image.jpg?v=1666020318" /></div>
&nbsp;
<h3 style="margin-top: 14pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:1740431" style="text-decoration: none;">The CBT Handbook by Pamela Myles &amp; Roz Shafran</a></h3>
CBT is widely recommended nowadays in the NHS for the treatment of emotional and psychological problems, such as depression, low self-esteem, low mood, chronic anxiety, stress or out-of-control anger. This thorough yet easy-to-read general self-help guide is a must-have for anyone experiencing these common problems.
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9781780332017-uk.jpg	"><img src="https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9781780332017-uk.jpg" /></div>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h3 style="margin-top: 14pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:120217" style="text-decoration: none;">A Manual For Heartache by Cathy Rentzenbrink</a></h3>
When Cathy Rentzenbrink was still a teenager, her happy family was torn apart by an unthinkable tragedy. In A Manual for Heartache she describes how she learnt to live with grief and loss and find joy in the world again. She explores how to cope with life at its most difficult and overwhelming and how we can emerge from suffering forever changed, but filled with hope. This is a moving, warm and uplifting book that offers solidarity and comfort to anyone going through a painful time, whatever it might be. It&rsquo;s a book that will help to soothe an aching heart and assure its readers that they&rsquo;re not alone.
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71PRTP6jxtL._SL1500_.jpg"><img src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71PRTP6jxtL._SL1500_.jpg" /></div>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h3 style="margin-top: 14pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:113404" style="text-decoration: none;">Coping with Grief by Sue Morris</a></h3>
Grief is a natural reaction to loss, but in some cases it can be devastating, preventing the bereaved from moving on with their life and affecting their relationships and work. This self-help guide offers an examination and explanation of the grieving process and offers strategies to help someone adjust to life without a loved one.
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51VGaLnRCtL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg"><img src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51VGaLnRCtL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg" /></div>

Grief Awareness Week 2023 Book List

sutton-central-library-closed-for-essential-maintenance

<h1>Sutton Central Library Closed for Essential Maintenance</h1>
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Council's%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Sutton%20Central%20Library%20Closed%20Essential%20Maintenance.jpg" alt="Sutton Central Library bookshelves and table and chairs" />
&nbsp;
Sutton Central Library is undergoing essential maintenance work between Friday 24 November and Friday 15 December. During this time various services will have alternative arrangements as specified below. Arrangements may change over time, please follow us on X, formerly Twitter, (<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonLibraries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@SuttonLibraries</a>) or Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/suttonlibrarieslondon/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@SuttonLibrariesLondon</a>) for the latest updates.
&nbsp;
If you have any queries, please feel free to email <a href="mailto:sutton.library@sutton.gov.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sutton.library@sutton.gov.uk</a>. Thank you.
&nbsp;
<h2>Changes to library access</h2>
<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/libraries/sutton-central-library">Sutton Central Library</a> will have the following opening hours.
<ul>
<li>Friday 24 November: 9am - 1pm</li>
<li>Saturday 25 November - Wednesday 29 November: Closed</li>
<li>Thursday 30 November - Sunday 3 December: Open as usual</li>
<li>Monday 4 December - Friday 15 December: Open with alternative access</li>
<li>Saturday 16 December: Normal opening hours resume</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Starting Monday 4 December, the ground floor of Sutton Central Library will have reduced access. Library visitors will only be able to enter and navigate between the east entrance (by Sutton College) and west entrance (facing Holiday Inn) on the ground floor. Visitors may also travel to and use the upper floors via the west stairwell. Several areas will be unavailable including ground floor children&rsquo;s library, ground floor PCs, the family lounge and the lift to Civic Offices.
&nbsp;
Please note, the closest alternative libraries are Cheam Library (1.2 miles away) and Library at the Life Centre (1.4 miles away).
&nbsp;
<h2>Changes in book borrowing</h2>
During open hours visitors to Sutton Central Library are able to browse books on the upper floors of the library and self-service kiosks are available on the ground floor near the west entrance. Reserved books will be located on Level 1 for collection.
&nbsp;
Library stock may also be borrowed through a &lsquo;Select &amp; Collect&rsquo; service. Your library card number and PIN will be required; new users can <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/user/register">register</a> for a free library card number and PIN. To have books available for you to collect from a library, you can:
<ol>
<li>Select your book via: - The library platform - My Library App (Android / Apple) - Email <a href="mailto:sutton.library@sutton.gov.uk">sutton.library@sutton.gov.uk</a></li>
<li>Receive confirmation saying your books are ready to collect.</li>
<li>Collect your books in Sutton Central library within 14 days.</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;
Using your library card, you can pay for any fee charges online. Log into your account on the discovery platform, click on &ldquo;Pay Now&rdquo; and then follow the payment instructions. You can use your library card for <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/digital-resources/digital-library">free digital access to national and international newspapers and magazines</a>.
&nbsp;
<h2>Changes in I.T. facilities</h2>
During open hours public computers, printing and photocopying facilities continue to be available on Level 2. Visitors are able to use the public computers for one hour for free, with extended time being available for an additional charge (we will support library users who need longer).
&nbsp;
Printing can be done and paid for directly from public computers by finding the library name in the printer options and following the on screen instructions. Alternatively customers can pay for printing through the Princh app (<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=princh.princh&amp;hl=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Android</a> / <a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/princh/id999408628" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Apple</a>). Photocopying is paid at the machine and requires exact change.
&nbsp;
<h2>Changes in Study Spaces, Events and Community Groups</h2>
Study Spaces will be unavailable from Friday 24 November at 1pm until Wednesday 29 November. Library members will be able to <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/libraries/library-services">book a study space in Sutton Central Library</a> from Thursday 30 November. Between Thursday 30 November and Sunday 3 December, study spaces are available on Level 1 and Level 2. Between Monday 4 December and Friday 15 December, study spaces are available on Level 2 only.
&nbsp;
During open hours, events, activities and meetings that typically take place on Sutton Central Library ground floor (such as Rhymetime, Storytime and <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/community-clubs-and-groups">Community clubs and groups</a>) will take place on Level 1 in the community space.
&nbsp;
<h2>Changes to Partner Library Services</h2>
<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/libraries/sutton-central-library">The Cafe in Sutton Central Library</a> will be closed from Friday 24 November onwards. Normal opening hours resume from Monday 8 January 2024.
&nbsp;
PlayWise will be open between Friday 24 November and Friday 15 December. Please contact <a href="https://playwise.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PlayWise</a> for further details of their events and services.
&nbsp;
Family Hub in Sutton Central Library will be closed from Friday 24 November at 1pm until Friday 15 December. Normal opening hours resume from Saturday 16 December. For information on further support visit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086169001161" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Start Well Sutton Children&rsquo;s Centres on facebook</a> for a wide range of services and activities suitable for parents.
&nbsp;
Library of Things Sutton will be closed from Friday 24 November at 1pm until Friday 15 December. Normal opening hours resume from Saturday 16 December. Your nearest <a href="https://www.libraryofthings.co.uk/morden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Library of Things is in Morden</a>.

remembrance-sunday-the-poetry-of-james-farrar

<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Poetry of James Farrar</h1>
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Header%20Remembrance%20Day%20Blog%20The%20Poetry%20of%20James%20Farrar.png" alt="Remembrance Day Blog: The Poetry of James Farrar " />
&nbsp;
When we think of famous war poets, we think of people like Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. The London Borough of Sutton also has their own war poet, James Farrar, whose work only started to get exposed to a larger audience when the writer Henry Williamson edited and published an anthology of it in 1950.
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/1.png" alt="Photo: Whitehall Historic House, WW1 Room, Cheam Serves The Nation." />
World War I Room at Whitehall Historic House, Cheam
&nbsp;
Farrar was born in Essex in 1923 but grew up in Carshalton. He enlisted in the RAF at the age of 18 in 1942. Even while fighting in the war, he always found time to write. Sadly, he died on the 26th of July 1944 on a dawn mission over the English Channel, just three months before his 21st birthday. In honor of him, his mother founded Sutton Grammar School&rsquo;s James Farrar English Prize with an &pound;84 endorsement in 1947.
&nbsp;
Farrar wrote in different forms - short stories, poems, autobiographical sketches, and descriptive passages. War, death, and nature were major themes in his works. For example, quite a few of his poems feature allusions to war and the death and destruction associated with it, such as the following three.
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/2.png" alt="Photo: Whitehall Historic House, WW1 Room, Barbed Wire" />
World War I Room at Whitehall Historic House, Cheam
&nbsp;
Premonition
&nbsp;
Flame in the sky.
O writhing shadow-charm: O burnished-blossomed trees
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lapping the water-sun, the soft lake-fires
That char your petalled brows arise
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As multi-winged mocking doves of light
Caged in the lashes of my brooding eyes.
&nbsp;
Soldier, lie still and gladsome with your love
Lest known no more her body&rsquo;s charity.
Trees, hide the poised fire.
&nbsp;
It stoops, the falcon anguish in my brain,
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And claws you, trees, to burned grass
And grass to dust, the blood-brown acrid dust
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of aching summer battlefields.
I, trembling, touch the soldier, with his love
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So close and silent in the starry grass.
&nbsp;
He crumbles, and the ants swarm from his eyes.
 St. James&rsquo;s Park, Spring, 1942
&nbsp; (on leave)
 
Raiders Homing
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Hence is this horror borne
And they are free: no lips of pain
Ravish away the dark
That hears their homing.
Forgotten the fume of fire
That falsely steeps this midnight air
With day: sowers departed
Have no harvesting.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The finger rests, that brought
And broadcast down the shrieking night
A thunderous crusade
Of never-waking.
Shadowless are their eyes
That smile ahead; no pause
Betrays remembrance as they
Fly home joking.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
And We: under louring heaven,
Earth-forsaken,
Grey, hollow with time
We fly home.
 
After Night Offensive
&nbsp;
Glowed through the violet petal of the sky
Like a death&rsquo;s-head the calm summer moon
And all the distance echoed with owl cry.
&nbsp;
Hissing the white waves of grass unsealed
Peer of moon on metal, hidden men,
As the wind foamed deeply through the field.
&nbsp;
Rooted to soil remote and faint as stars,
Looking to neither side, they lay all night
Sunken in the murmurous seas of grass.
&nbsp;
No flare burned upwards: never sound was shed
But lulling cries of owls beyond the world
As wind and moon played softly with the dead.
 
Not all the poems mention war in them. That said, the following three still evoke a melancholy mood.
&nbsp;
Fear
&nbsp;
I came down through Hangman&rsquo;s Copse
Telling my mind I had no qualms.
Words in the pine tops.
&nbsp;
The sun went out, the wind flurried
In the leaves where no bird came.
My footsteps hurried.
&nbsp;
A fall of leaves like an opened fan
Chanced to form into a man
Gibbering at me as I ran.
 
Death
&nbsp;
This strange evening
Light of snow
Hangs wistful stars
Above the plain
And, leaving earth
Asleep, doth now
Walk mistily
In every vein
And shine upon
Her paler brow.
 
The Night Without Sleep
&nbsp;
All night about this windless isle
Shall my life&rsquo;s glittering foam defile
Sands of forgetfulness?--
As the slow sleep-breakers climb
And curl and die
Against the pulse of time.
&nbsp;
Soft to the magic shell of Night
My sleepless ear is pressed and seems
To hear the hollow murmur
Of a sea of ancient dreams.
 
Some of his prose pieces have hints of poetry in them too, such as this short piece here.
&nbsp;
The Songs of Delius
Subtle, intangible. The last chord before despair, but yet never despair.
&nbsp;
His last prose piece, The Imagination to the Wraith, is both haunting and foreboding, particularly the final line.
&nbsp;
The sun is dying. Oh, Maddison, your sea speaks to me&hellip;
&nbsp;
More of Farrar&rsquo;s poetry, along with his prose and observations, can be found in The Unreturning Spring, a book of his work compiled by Williamson (1895-1977). It was republished in 2008 by the Friends of Honeywood Museum, with John Monks providing a new introduction.
&nbsp;
Works Cited:
Farrar, James. The Unreturning Spring. Friends of Honeywood Museum, 2008.
&nbsp;

Remembrance Sunday: The Poetry of James Farrar

black-history-month-2023-book-list

<h1>Black History Month 2023 Book List</h1>
&nbsp;
This Black History Month, learn more about black history and culture with this recommended reading list of BHM inspired adult books, children's books and digital magazines.
&nbsp;
<h2>Adult Books</h2>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:3093924">Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
Sutton Council staff member, Gizem, recommends &lsquo;Open Water&rsquo;: A beautifully written 160-page novella from a second person perspective, with a poetic tone in places. Caleb Azumah Nelson packs so much into this story about two unnamed South Londoners and to call this just a love story doesn't do it justice. Nelson uses the universal feeling of love as a starting point to dive into the experience of what it means to be a Black man in the UK, that sense of being stared at but not seen and what living in a world like that does to oneself and relationships. The book examines masculinity, vulnerability, mental health, racism, class and violence alongside art, music, and literature. There&rsquo;s even a playlist on Spotify so you can listen along if you want for an even more immersive experience. This book made me consider the personal through the political lens and enabled me to learn and reflect throughout.
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:3093924"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/img/fit=cover,width=350,quality=75/https://www.bibdsl.co.uk/bds-images/l/978024/9780241448786.jpg" alt="" width="237" height="370" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:11166">Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation by Jeff Chang</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
A history of hip-hop cites its origins in the post-civil rights Bronx and Jamaica, drawing on interviews with performers, activists, gang members, DJs, and others to document how the movement has influenced politics and culture.
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:11166"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://www.bibdsl.co.uk/bds-images/l/978009/9780091912215.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/">Rosewater by Liv Little</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
Sutton Council staff member, Hilary, recommends &lsquo;Rosewater&rsquo;: Rosewater is a beautifully written debut novel covering the intersections of being Black, female and gay. The main theme of the book is love and struggle. Elsie is a poet struggling through generational trauma and tricky family relationships but finding solace in words, words which become the key to unlocking her heart and understanding herself more fully. I would highly recommend the book to readers, it is well written and boasts a good plot. I missed the characters when I finished the book, which says a lot.
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://productimages.worldofbooks.com/0349702950.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:1158172">Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
From the first time he was stopped and searched as a child, to the day he realised his mum was white, to his first encounters with racist teachers - race and class have shaped Akala's life and outlook. In this book he takes his own experiences and widens them out to look at the social, historical, and political factors that have left us where we are today. Covering everything from the police, education, and identity to politics, sexual objectification and the far right, 'Natives' will speak directly to British denial and squeamishness when it comes to confronting issues of race and class that are at the heart of the legacy of Britain's racialised empire.
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:1158172"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://www.bibdsl.co.uk/bds-images/l/978147/9781473661233.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:3097178">CLR James: A Life Beyond the Boundaries by John L. Williams</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
A black polymath, historian and political philosopher at a time when black people were not expected to do any of those things, James's lifetime was shaped by a burning desire to move beyond the racial and social strictures that sought to limit him. 30 years after his death, his ideas on the leading roles of people of colour, women and young people in political struggle have never been more relevant. This title traces the numerous contextual threads of a remarkable life - Trinidadian, cricketer, Marxist, American activist, Brixton elder statesman - and weaves a vivid tapestry of his complex political thinking.
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:3097178"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://www.bibdsl.co.uk/bds-images/l/978147/9781472130136.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
Children&rsquo;s Books
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/ERC_2088_642:BORROWBOX:PRU_1675314">All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir Manifesto by George M. Johnson</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys. Both a primer for teens eager to be allies, as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of colour, 'All Boys Aren't Blue' covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalisation, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/ERC_2088_642:BORROWBOX:PRU_1675314"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://static.borrowbox.com/covers/PRU_02488233_M/PRU_02488233_M_PRU_02488233_COVER_LARGE.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:1573903">Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
The Mississippi of the 1930s is a hard place for a black child to grow up in. Cassie begins to reach a painful understanding of life when she witnesses the hatred and destruction around her, and learns when it is important to fight for principle.
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:1573903"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://www.bibdsl.co.uk/bds-images/l/978014/9780141354873.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:2385642">The Rapping Princess by Hannah Lee</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
Here is a story that everyone should know. It's the tale of a princess named Shiloh. She lived in a kingdom, not far from yours, in a grand house with a swimming pool and 14 floors. I know that sounds too big but here's the thing: her mother and father were the Queen and King. Being a princess is a tough job for someone so small. It's even harder when you have a problem you can't solve at all. You see, every princess in the kingdom could sing. Yet Shiloh's voice could do no such thing. Shiloh might not be able to sing like her sisters, but she has other talents, and sometimes it's about embracing your differences and celebrating them!
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:2385642"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://www.bibdsl.co.uk/bds-images/l/978057/9780571361151.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:1866684">Torn Apart: The Partition of India by Swapna Haddow</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
It's October 1947 and two young boys find themselves thrown together during the dramatic changes of Partition. As the new India and Pakistan are born, can the friendship between these two children rise above the tensions between the two countries?
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:1866684"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://www.bibdsl.co.uk/bds-images/l/978070/9780702300417.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="text-center"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:1884218">All American Boys by Jason Reynolds</a></h3>
<div class="row mb-3">
<div class="col-md-9">
A bag of chips. That's all sixteen-year-old Rashad is looking for. What he finds instead is a fist-happy cop, Paul, who mistakes Rashad for a shoplifter, mistakes Rashad's pleadings that he's stolen nothing for belligerence, mistakes Rashad's every flinch at every punch the cop throws as further resistance and refusal to stay still as ordered. But how can you stay still when someone is pounding your face into the pavement? There were witnesses: Quinn - a varsity basketball player and Rashad's classmate who has been raised by Paul since his own father died in Afghanistan - and a video camera. Soon the beating is all over the news and Paul is getting threatened with accusations of prejudice and racial brutality. Quinn refuses to believe that the man who has basically been his saviour could possibly be guilty. But then Rashad is absent. And absent again. And again.
</div>
<div class="col-md-3 p-2">
<div class="row m-1">
<div class="col-md-12 col-sm-6 p-3"><a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/manifestations/69DC044957C3442E9D384C5DF4E074:1884218"><img class="rounded w-100" src="https://www.bibdsl.co.uk/bds-images/l/978057/9780571366750.jpg" alt="" /></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
&nbsp;
Digital Magazines
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pressreader.com/uk/elle-uk/20231101/details">ELLE UK - November 2023</a>
&nbsp;
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=9htj2023110100000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2"><img src="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=9htj2023110100000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2" width="237" height="370" /></div>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pressreader.com/uk/mens-health-uk">Men&rsquo;s Health UK - October 2023</a>
&nbsp;
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=9htw2023100100000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2"><img src="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=9htw2023100100000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2" width="237" height="370" /></div>
<a href="https://www.pressreader.com/usa/poets-and-writers">Poets &amp; Writers - Nov/Dec 2023</a>
&nbsp;
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=9ic42023101100000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2"><img src="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=9ic42023101100000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2" width="237" height="370" /></div>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pressreader.com/usa/bicycling-usa">Bicycling - Autumn 2023</a>
&nbsp;
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=000d2023092800000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2"><img src="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=000d2023092800000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2" width="237" height="370" /></div>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.pressreader.com/uk/runners-world-uk">Runner&rsquo;s World UK - November 2023</a>
&nbsp;
<div style="max-width: 650px;" data-ephox-embed-iri="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=9htt2023110100000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2"><img src="https://i.prcdn.co/img?file=9htt2023110100000000001001&amp;page=1&amp;width=960&amp;retina=2" width="237" height="370" /></div>

Black History Month 2023 Book List

the-great-essex-coup-plot-at-nonsuch

<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Great Essex Coup Plot at Nonsuch</h1>
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Header%20-%20The%20Great%20Essex%20Coup%20Plot%20at%20Nonsuch!.png" alt="Head Image The Great Essex Coup Plot at Nonsuch Palace" />
&nbsp;
&ldquo;It is a world to be here&hellip;and see the humours of the place.&rdquo;
Roland Whyte, writing about his experiences of the event.
&nbsp;
On the 28th September 1599, an astounding event took place at Nonsuch. The Earl of Essex, in an alleged attempt to take power for himself, tried to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I whilst she was in her bedroom undressed! But what led to this shocking turn of events and what resulted from it?
&nbsp;
<h2 style="margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: left;">Who was the Earl of Essex?</h2>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Nonsuch%201.png" alt="Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. &copy; National Portrait Gallery, London" />
&nbsp;
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. &copy; National Portrait Gallery, London
&nbsp;
The Earl of Essex&rsquo;s real name was Robert Devereux, and he was the second person in that position after Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, thanks to the loyalty of his father Walter. His stepfather was Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, and Queen Elizabeth I&rsquo;s favourite at the time. Leicester saw Essex as a sort of successor, even taking him along when leading an army to the Netherlands and knighting him on the field. When Leicester died suddenly after the victory over the Spanish Armada, Essex seemed to take his place in court and his importance rose significantly.
&nbsp;
Initially, the Earl was a favourite of the Queen. Though there was a significant age gap, there were rumours of a romance between them. In 1587, he became Master of the Horse, giving him control over the horses and stables of the monarchy as well as the hounds and kennels. It also allowed him to be an officer in the army. Elizabeth even gave him the monopoly on sweet wine, which provided him with large revenues from taxes.
&nbsp;
However, Essex was incredibly ambitious, almost to an unhealthy degree. He demanded authority from the Queen and even came to resent his dependence on her. He didn&rsquo;t just want to succeed Leicester in court; he wanted to succeed him in international affairs too. Later, he sought pre-eminence in internal affairs as well as international ones, and also seemed to be meddling in the affairs of succession. He was even responsible for the execution of Elizabeth&rsquo;s trusted physician Dr Lopez after &ldquo;discovering&rdquo; a plot against her, something that is unlikely to have been true.
&nbsp;
Not helping matters, Essex became notorious for his disappointing foreign expeditions. For instance, he left without permission to join the English Armada attack on Spain in 1589, where his gung-ho attitude played a significant part in their humiliating loss - little wonder that most people prefer to forget it happened. Though he helped to defeat the Spanish during the Battle of C&aacute;diz in 1596, he was unable to seize the merchant ships in the harbour as intended, leading to the Spanish scuttling the ships instead. He also angered the Queen by handing off the riches they did recover to his men. Finally, the Islands Voyage of 1597 involved him and Raleigh invading the Azores but failing to destroy the Spanish fleet there.
&nbsp;
At this point, Elizabeth was losing patience with him. In fact, there was a particularly explosive encounter between them at a Privy Council meeting on the 1st June 1598. Angry that the Queen had disregarded his opinions with regard to choosing a new governor for Ireland, the Earl deliberately turned his back on her, something that would have been seen as sacrilegious towards the monarchy at the time. As a result, she boxed his ears and told him to go be hanged, and he reached for his sword as if to kill her! The Earl of Nottingham and several guards were able to stop him and drag him out of the chamber, but it didn&rsquo;t stop him from bitterly claiming that the Queen&rsquo;s dispositions &ldquo;were as crooked as her carcass&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What Happened at Nonsuch?</h2>
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Nonsuch%202.png" alt="Image of the Earl of Essex and his troops heading to Nonsuch Palace" />
&nbsp;
Given events that happened a few days earlier, it seems absurd that this would take place afterwards. On the 23rd September, the Queen&rsquo;s ceremonies of Matins and Sunday lunch took place, with Thomas Platter of Switzerland being present at the time. It was a grand affair, complete with several courses being brought in by guardsmen and even a tour of the garden for the guests. And of course the Queen would have been dressed grandly for the occasion too. It also seemed that Elizabeth was prepared for any attacks against her - after a recent attempt to poison her on her throne, she was not allowing anyone access to her rooms without the consent of her Lord Admiral. She even had the guards taste the food they brought for the lunch, just to prove that they hadn&rsquo;t poisoned it.
&nbsp;
Having angered the Queen, Essex had been sent to Ireland to sort out the rebellion there, led by Hugh O&rsquo;Neill, the Earl of Tyrone. Instead they reached a truce on the 7th September, something that Elizabeth was not impressed with. Could it be that Essex and Tyrone were secretly plotting together against her? In response to this, she sent an angry letter to Essex condemning his actions, something that in turn infuriated him.
&nbsp;
Despite being ordered to stay in Ireland, the Earl instead decided to head over to Nonsuch as soon as possible, the day after the Queen&rsquo;s ceremony. With him on his journey were the Earls of Southampton and Rutland, Sir John Harington and an array of knights, captains and gentlemen of the army. At this point, they were considering carrying out a coup against the Queen, though it seems that the idea may have dissipated from some of their minds as they came into London, as most of them dispersed at this point and only six of them followed Essex to Nonsuch on the 28th.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Nonsuch%203.png" alt="Image of the Earl of Essex and his followers arriving at the Court Gate of Nonsuch Palace." />
&nbsp;
Whilst heading from Lambeth to Nonsuch, the party was overtaken by Lord Grey of Wilton, who had been heading in the same direction to see Sir Robert Cecil, Elizabeth&rsquo;s trusted advisor at the time and a major rival to Essex. Though the party tried to convince Grey to let Essex ride ahead, he ultimately refused and went off to warn Cecil about what was going on, though not the Queen surprisingly enough. Eventually, the Earl and his followers arrived at the Court Gate of Nonsuch Palace.
&nbsp;
It had been a long and arduous journey and at 10 o&rsquo;clock, having charged through the Presence Chamber and Privy Chamber, Essex burst into the Queen&rsquo;s bedroom in a muddied and unkempt state, both of them coming face to face with each other. As it was so early in the morning, she hadn&rsquo;t been able to prepare herself and as a result, the Earl saw her in a state of undress and without the makeup and wig required to preserve her &ldquo;Mask of Youth&rdquo;. Given her age at the time, it would have been a jarring contrast to how she normally appeared in public.
&nbsp;
Initially, the Earl was let off, merely being sent to wash and change. However, once Elizabeth found out his true motives from Cecil, the punishment was severe. First he was ordered to explain himself to four members of the Council, and then, when they failed to come to an initial conclusion, he was made to keep to his chamber until the next day. During his next examination, he was kept standing for five hours, though it only took fifteen minutes for the council to make their decision and find him guilty. Even if he hadn&rsquo;t been planning a coup at that point in time and had simply come back to explain his actions in Ireland, the fact is that Essex deliberately disobeyed orders to stay at his post. He was placed under house arrest for around a year and was cut out from court life.
&nbsp;
Harington was ultimately let go, but the Queen treated him with severe disdain initially when he tried to appease her anger over Essex&rsquo;s betrayal. Instead, she barked at him &ldquo;What, did the fool bring you too? Go back to your business&rdquo;, and then, after pacing round the room in frustration, she grabbed him by the girdle and declared that &ldquo;by God&rsquo;s son I am no queen&hellip;that man is above me&rdquo;. Harington was &ldquo;sorely hurt&rdquo; by these remarks and still reminisced on them seven years later, once writing that he &ldquo;did not stay to be bidden twice; if all the Irish rebels had been at my heels I should not have made better speed, for I did now flee from one whom I both loved and feared too&rdquo;. Unlike Essex, he clearly realised that Elizabeth was not one to be trifled with.
&nbsp;
This did not deter the Earl. He tried again in 1601 when he arranged for his supporters to put on a production of Shakespeare&rsquo;s Richard II in order to stir up anti-monarchy sentiment in the people and held hostage four men sent to inquire about his actions. The results were disastrous for Essex - due to the coup being caught wind of, the majority of the Earl&rsquo;s supporters abandoned him and the hostages got away. He was forced to surrender on the evening of the 8th February and was executed two weeks later for treason in the Tower of London with three blows of the axe.
&nbsp;
Imogen Easton.
&nbsp;
Works Cited:
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li>
Dent, John. The Quest for Nonsuch, London Borough of Sutton Leisure Services, 1981.
</li>
<li>
Lister, Lalage. Nonsuch: Pearl of the Realm, Sutton Leisure Services, 1992.
</li>
<li>
Slade, Sue. &ldquo;Nonsuch Palace and the Downfall of the Earl of Essex.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
Adams, Simon. &ldquo;Capture of C&aacute;diz.&rdquo; Britannica, 13 Jun. 2022, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/event/Capture-of-Cadiz-1596">https://www.britannica.com/event/Capture-of-Cadiz-1596</a>
</li>
<li>
Garner, Tom. &ldquo;The Tudor Invasion of Spain: How Elizabeth I&rsquo;s English Armada ended in humiliation.&rdquo; History Answers, 21 Jul. 2016, <a href="https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/medieval-renaissance/the-tudor-invasion-of-spain-how-Elizabeth-is-english-armada-ended-in-humilation/">https://www.historyanswers.co.uk/medieval-renaissance/the-tudor-invasion-of-spain-how-Elizabeth-is-english-armada-ended-in-humilation/</a>
</li>
<li>
Gristwood, Sarah. &ldquo;Elizabeth and Essex: A Deadly Game of Courtly Love.&rdquo; Tudor Times. <a href="https://tudortimes.co.uk/guest-articles/elizabeth-and-essex">https://tudortimes.co.uk/guest-articles/elizabeth-and-essex</a>
</li>
<li>
Haynes, Adam. &ldquo;The Cadiz Expedition, 1596.&rdquo; History Today, vol. 23, no. 3, March 1973, <a href="https://historytoday.com/archive/cadiz-expedition-1596">https://historytoday.com/archive/cadiz-expedition-1596</a>
</li>
<li>
Haynes, Adam. &ldquo;The Islands Voyage, 1597.&rdquo; History Today, vol. 25, no. 10, October 1975, <a href="https://historytoday.com/archive/islands-voyage-1597">https://historytoday.com/archive/islands-voyage-1597</a>
</li>
<li>
Ross, David. &ldquo;The Essex Rebellion, 1601.&rdquo; Britain Express, <a href="https://www.britainexpress.com/History/tudor/essex-rebellion.htm">https://www.britainexpress.com/History/tudor/essex-rebellion.htm</a>
</li>
<li>
&ldquo;Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex.&rdquo; Spartacus Educational, <a href="https://spartacus-educational.com/TUDdevereux.htm">https://spartacus-educational.com/TUDdevereux.htm</a>
</li>
</ol>
&nbsp;

The Great Essex Coup Plot at Nonsuch

open-house-london-2023

Open House London 2023

carshalton-artists-open-studios-2023

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Carshalton Artists Open Studios 2023</h1>
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Carshalton%20Artists%20Open%20Studios%20Blog%20Header.png" />
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.carshaltonartists.com/">Carshalton Artists</a> is a large network of 80+ local artists and businesses. They aim to celebrate and help local creatives by giving them the opportunity to network with other creatives and businesses and a platform to exhibit their work. This includes the annual Carshalton Artists Open Studios (CAOS) event in June and July.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> hosts <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Carshaltonartistsopenstudios?__cft__[0]=AZWYIsuKd1S9kvDUlmSuvUCsuCcBbyIshGV3a1Jkwegus8einWMZfMWf-nr9GnEpDXR5LNhtz7Sqb7p-wqTZHnJG8xNxTBl25RE6sbgbwI1S_gbp7nlaAgnihKmx4W6uEu7q-MuB_vBep59EJ0loZu0JMJDriBpUlN7pZ242vfvmDy8F0tq1mSe5M11XTlCUMsw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R" style="list-style-type: none;">Carshalton Artists Open Studios</a> 24 / 25 June and 1 / 2 July 2023 as a heritage location and as a &lsquo;marketplace&rsquo; for twelve artists selling their work in the beautiful garden. You&rsquo;ll find a particular focus on craft and photography with contemporary photographic work displayed inside the house.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In this blog, we talk to Carshalton Artists Co-founder Helena Vaughan about what you'll find at the Honeywood Museum stop on the CAOS Trail and what's new for 2023.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Tell us about CAOS 2023 and what is new?</h2>
Firstly, I can't believe this will be our 7th CAOS! I think when we started, we hoped it would work and be something we could do again so I guess this proves that people want us to keep doing it!
&nbsp;
Again this year we have more new artists which is always amazing. We love finding new creative talent here! We also have many familiar faces of artists that have become regulars on the trail. There seems to be several artists branching out and trying new things, myself included. Perhaps it's a result of going through Covid and now seeing some of that new inspiration coming to life? Whatever it is, I'm really looking forward to seeing what's on display.
&nbsp;
Great news is that the piggies are back! CAOS19 saw some fantastic pigs on the trail but this year the artists have really raised the bar! We have over 30 piggies to meet and they're truly inspiring. Sutton Writers have collaborated with us again to write pieces inspired by the pigs.
&nbsp;
To help visitors navigating the trail this year, we have our much loved maps that can be collected from Honeywood Museum before and during CAOS. In addition, this year we also have Google maps accessed via our website. We're always trying to find ways to improve the visitor experience so we hope this will help.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Carshalton%20Artists%20Image%20one.png" />
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">Honeywood Museum is one of the stops on the CAOS trail. What should we look forward to at this year&rsquo;s event at Honeywood?</h2>
This year we have 12 artists at Honeywood and we've got 2 focuses for the work. Visitors can see photographic work by Julian Heath, Carole Baker, Ted Eggs and newcomer to the trail, Peter Ball, displayed in the house. Then in the garden we have the 'marketplace' where the focus will be more on stalls of artwork by Julia Atkinson, Anne Cady, Janet Muggeridge and Zoe Scammell alongside crafts ranging from Marie Shirazian's vibrant patterned products and wood turning by Tony James and Andy Copps, to the oh so quirky characters by Julie Blaney. Kevin Ireland will also be exhibiting his large scale abstract paintings in the from room of the house. So, with all of that and 7 pigs, hopefully there's a bit of something for everyone who visits Honeywood (otherwise know as location 6 on the trail).
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Carshalton%20Artists%20Image%20Two.png" />
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What is special about the Honeywood Museum stop on the trail?</h2>
The CAOS trail wouldn't be the same without Honeywood. The museum has been on our maps since the start in 2017 and always provides so much in one locations, artwork, heritage, views and cake! As an organiser, it's great to include Honeywood as it can deliver something different to anywhere else on the trail. Whilst CAOS is primarily about artists opening their studios to the public, it's also about celebrating what Carshalton has to offer and Honeywood is at the heart of that.
&nbsp;
Full information about CAOS23, the artists, the locations, the pigs and more can be found on the website&nbsp;<a href="http://www.carshaltonartists.com/" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.carshaltonartists.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1686297916961000&amp;usg=AOvVaw082FwBYlEodPE2z0xcb_NP" rel="noopener">www.carshaltonartists.com</a>
&nbsp;

Carshalton Artists Open Studios 2023

a-celebration-of-the-cheam-charter-fair

<h1>A Celebration of the Cheam Charter Fair</h1>
by Imogen
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/HeaderCheamCharterFair.png" />
&nbsp;
On the 20th May 2023, residents of Cheam will be celebrating the 764th Cheam Charter Fair on Park Road, starting at 9am. Whitehall Historic House will be taking part in the fair, hosting drop-in tours of the house from 10am-1pm and a children&rsquo;s coronation trail which can be booked <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/capture-cheam-for-the-king-tickets-600520993457?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete">here</a> or bought on the day!
&nbsp;
To celebrate this annual event, as well as its return after two years of lockdown, we will be looking back at the history of the Fair - its origins and the events that occurred there. This year Whitehall Historic House will be hosting some of the Charter Fair events, including: face painting, make-your-own beaded bracelets, French storytime, and tours of the house.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Cheam%20Charter%20Fair%202012.png" />
Cheam Charter Fair, 19th May 2012 (&copy; Richard Marston)
&nbsp;
The tradition of the Fair is thought to have started in 1259, when King Henry III granted Cheam (known then as Kaham) a Charter, officially making it a town. Traditionally, a place would be classified as a town if it had a market; villages traditionally had a &ldquo;green&rdquo; and cities traditionally had a cathedral. Henry also allowed a weekly market to take place in Cheam, though this tradition has died out over the years.
&nbsp;
This was a common tradition for towns in the medieval days. Charter Fairs would be endorsed by the Crown and by 1516, it is estimated that there were 2767 fairs in England. However, these fairs were still expected to follow rules. For instance, one of the major requirements for the Cheam Charter Fair was that it would be held on the 15th of May. If not, then apparently the rights to hold it could be lost! Originally it would take place on the 15th and 16th, but over time it was changed to just one day.
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Face%20Painting%20at%20the%20Cham%20Charter%20Fair.png" />
&nbsp;
Many of these fairs had ties with the local monasteries, which spelt disaster when Henry VIII set up the Church of England and began the dissolution of the old monasteries. As a result, several fairs were also shut down. However, others, such as the Bartholomew Fair in London, survived the dissolution and continued into the 19th century or even 20th century. It would seem that Cheam&rsquo;s Charter Fair was one of the lucky ones too.
&nbsp;
However, there are very few records documenting the Fair during the medieval and Tudor times. In fact, the earliest firm historical records of the Fair date from the 1800s. From these records, we can learn that schools would be closed on the 15th May so that children could attend the fair too. We can also learn that it was held in pretty much the same place as it is nowadays, albeit with a different name. Back then, Park Road was known as Red Lion Street, with the name being shared with the Red Lion Inn.
&nbsp;
There are reports that sometime in the 19th century, the Fair was in danger of closing. One year, the Fair did not have any visiting side shows, which seemed to spell a bad omen for its continued existence. Fortunately, a woman named Elizabeth Sloper (nee Mills) was able to keep the Fair going by erecting a table outside her cottage and setting out things to sell, as well as things for the children of Cheam to do.
&nbsp;
In 1906, a parish meeting was held on the 6th February to determine whether the Fair should be kept going. Initially, it was determined that it should be abandoned by a close vote of &ldquo;23-22&rdquo;, but upon the result being challenged, the vote was changed to 28 voting to keep the Fair and 16 voting to abandon it. After a poll was determined afterwards, the Fair ultimately kept going.
&nbsp;
There are rumours that during the Second World War that despite most things shutting down for the war effort, the Fair was still being held, albeit only with an ice cream stall and dartboard for show. However, this information has only been discussed in some post-war newspapers and has not been fully clarified.
&nbsp;
Between the years 1951 and 1953, the Fair was considered a major success. The souvenir brochure for 1951 in particular says that &ldquo;there could be no finer contribution to the Festival of Britain than the Cheam Charter Fair&rdquo;. Events from these years included maypole dancing, a Queen of the Fair event, folk dancing, a model railway and even a goldfish exhibition! 1953 was a particularly notable year &ndash; Cheam resident Juliet Chaplin recalled in 2014 that &ldquo;the Fair lasted for a week in honour of the Coronation&rdquo;!
&nbsp;
A very outrageous event occurred at the Fair in 1962 when the traditional Yard of Ale competition was held outside the Harrow Inn. The last minute winner was Eric Price from Worcester Park, who downed about two and a half pints in 15 seconds! That would equal an average speed of six seconds a pint. Suffice to say, this is not something recommended to be done in everyday business.
&nbsp;
In December 2011, the official website for the Cheam Charter Fair was set up. Additionally, the Cheam Ward Councillor gave the Charter Fair committee the task of rejuvenating the fair, with one of the proposed changes being to change the day of the fair to a Saturday rather than the traditional date of the 15th. It was hoped that this would allow more stallholders and visitors to attend. Despite some backlash, most people accepted the change, though some token stalls appeared on the 15th May in 2012 in order to maintain the requirements of the Charter. An activity is always planned on the 15th May each year in order to uphold the Charter in addition to the Fair being held on the nearest Saturday.
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/6.png" />&nbsp;
In 2013, Cheam Charter Week was set up between the 7th and 15th May so that a fixed period of events could be provided as well as honour both the traditional and actual dates of the fair.
&nbsp;
For the 755th Fair in 2014, residents of Cheam, as well as knitters coming from as far as Florida, &ldquo;yarn-bombed&rdquo; Whitehall. As part of an art project by the Friends of Whitehall, people from between the ages of eight and ninety knitted hundreds of colourful woollen flowers to be draped outside the house. The flowers remained on display until the 18th May.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/5.png" />
For the 2016 Fair, Whitehall themselves set up a pop-up museum in celebration of their Heritage Lottery Fund project, as well as a way to operate whilst renovations to the house were taking place. Here, they gave visitors more information about the project and even had crafts activities on show. This was not the only place where people could attend the pop-up museum &ndash; it was also set up at the Cheam Rotary Fair as well as other fairs, community events and schools. This year, Whitehall will be hosting a range of activities, including face painting and tours of the house.
&nbsp;
You can check the official website of the Cheam Charter Fair for more information, both for the event itself and the history of the event: <a href="http://cheamcharterfair.org.uk/">http://cheamcharterfair.org.uk/</a>
&nbsp;
<hr />
Written by Imogen Easton, Whitehall Historic House Volunteer
Works Cited:
Articles from <a href="http://cheamcharterfair.org.uk/">cheamcharterfair.org.uk</a>
Staveley-Wadham. &ldquo;&lsquo;A Saturnalia of Nondescript Noise and Nonconformity&rsquo; &ndash;The Rise and Fall of the Charter Fair.&rdquo; The British Newspaper Archive, 9 May 2019, <a href="https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2019/05/09/a-saturnalia-of-nondescript-noise-and-nonconformity-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-charter-fair/">https://blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2019/05/09/a-saturnalia-of-nondescript-noise-and-nonconformity-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-charter-fair/</a>
&nbsp;

A Celebration of the Cheam Charter Fair

A Celebration of the Cheam Charter Fair

whitehall-celebrates-womens-history-month-part-4

<h1>Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 4</h1>
<h2>Written by Nicky Lawrence-Gravestock</h2>
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Whitehall%20Celebrates%20Women's%20History%20Month%20-%20Part%204.png" alt="Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month Part 4" />
&nbsp;
<h3>This is a fictional account of Maud M&uuml;ller&rsquo;s life in the early to mid 1930s at Whitehall recounted through the eyes of a domestic servant at Whitehall.</h3>
1934 (SEPTEMBER)
&nbsp;
Last night, the Misses came in late, I dare say they were having fun at a dance.&nbsp; Lily likes a bit of the Charleston, Stomp and even the Jitterbug when she gets a chance! (but I&rsquo;m with Miss Maud who prefers the Walz).&nbsp;
&nbsp;
So today, Miss Maud has been sitting quietly at her desk, (maybe it was the after-effects of all that excitement, she did have to have a dose of Andrew Liver Salts just before she went to bed). I&rsquo;ve hardly known she&rsquo;s been home this morning and it makes a change from the hustle and bustle of visitors trooping in and out of the house. I suppose she has been writing out her personal history of Whitehall again in her beautiful handwriting.
&nbsp;
Miss Maud belongs to Cheam Dramatic club and is in a production presenting &ldquo;Mary, Mary&rdquo;. She has a very small part, I know she&rsquo;s not all that happy about it, because she keeps sniffing &ldquo;that the leading lady can&rsquo;t act for toffee&rdquo;. However, I think, secretly she&rsquo;s looking forward to it, as the Sutton and Epsom Mail as well as the Cheam Times Newspapers are going to cover the opening night.
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Newspaper%201930%E2%80%99s%20in%20Attic,%20Whitehall.png" alt="Newspaper from 1930&rsquo;s in the Attic, Whitehall Historic House" />
Newspaper 1930&rsquo;s in Attic, Whitehall
&nbsp;
Miss Maud and Miss Mary are always following with avid interest the careers of what they call outstanding women of the decade. They are always chattering about Amy Johnson, who in 1930 was awarded a CBE for being the first woman to fly solo to Australia from Croydon airport, (well that&rsquo;s not far from us, just down the road). I agree with the sisters and think that Amy is marvellous!&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
There was some excitement on Carshalton recreation ground last week, a pilot had to make an emergency landing just as some lads were playing cricket and all. It makes me queasy just to think about what could have happened!
&nbsp;
Mr Thomas (well, he&rsquo;s still here) is forever extolling the virtues of Mr Fred Perry at Wimbledon but Miss Maud&rsquo;s favourite tennis star is Ermyntrude Harvey, according to her, a good &lsquo;all-rounder&rsquo; winning on grass, clay, and indoor wood courts. Lily liked Suzanne Lenglen, she thought her games were always exciting.&nbsp; What do I think?&nbsp; Well, I&rsquo;ve got better things to do than to stand around and chat ...
&nbsp;
Miss Susan loves a murder mystery and has been reading that book by Agatha Christie, (it came out on new year&rsquo;s day, you know its the one about a murder and lots of people on a train &ndash;&nbsp; well, it&rsquo;s all the rage.&nbsp; Recently I got hold of &ldquo;The Murder of Roger Ackroyd&rdquo; from the Public Library - well, who would have thought that the culprit was not whom you expected all along! I won&rsquo;t spoil it for you, I&rsquo;ll just say what a clever woman Mrs Christie must be.
&nbsp;
Well, thank you for your company, despite all my &lsquo;complainings&rsquo;, I&rsquo;ve really loved telling our stories, but must get back to my work now, the house doesn&rsquo;t look after itself you know ...
&nbsp;
Postscript:
&nbsp;
Our sources tell us that Florence Gertrude Davey was aged 16 working on the Farm at the Manor House at Hagworthingham, Lincs which is where she was born.&nbsp; She died at 56 years on 10th January 1941 at Middle House, Epsom.&nbsp; Her burial place was at St Dunstan&rsquo;s Church.&nbsp; She never married.&nbsp; Her personal effects included &pound;480 7s 8d to (we assume) one of her relations, Spinster, (Lilian Louisa Davey).&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Mary and Maud M&uuml;ller died in 1956 and 1959 respectively. &nbsp; Both women never married.&nbsp; Maud M&uuml;ller died in a road accident on the way back from St Dunstan&rsquo;s Church in 1959.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Flo never did get her wish of a Vacuum Cleaner (or any other modern conveniences and labour saving devices such as Toaster, Fridge and Central Heating).&nbsp; We assume that poor Lily had to carry on with a mangle for a while longer as the House did not get electricity installed until a month before Maud&rsquo;s death.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Mr Thomas Dunstan Hawes stayed at Whitehall for another 2 years &hellip;&nbsp;
 
Many thanks to Whitehall&rsquo;s Volunteer Geoff West, who not only provided me with a family tree of the Killicks and their ancestors that he had researched, but also copies of the 1911 Census and 1939 England and Wales Register designed to work out World War 2 ration books.&nbsp; He also found out where Florence Davey was born.&nbsp; I would also like to thank him for taking me on a tour of Cheam to witness the places that the sisters almost certainly might have frequented.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<hr />
&nbsp;
Nicky is a Volunteer at Whitehall Historic House and a member of Sutton Writers.&nbsp; Between September 2021 &ndash; December 2022 she enrolled on three courses for Writing for Wellbeing run by Sutton College located at the Museum.&nbsp; She decided to stay &hellip; and as they say, the rest is history!
&nbsp;
Sources and References:
&nbsp;
Newspaper Articles about Harriett Maud M&uuml;ller dated 1959&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
1911 Census
&nbsp;
1936 Household Register
&nbsp;
Assorted Electoral Registers
&nbsp;
Photos from Photo Album, Attic, Whitehall,&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Artefacts and personal effects from Attic, Whitehall
&nbsp;
Newspapers from 1930&rsquo;s, Attic, Whitehall
&nbsp;

Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 4

Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 4

whitehall-celebrates-womens-history-month-part-3

<h1>Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 3</h1>
<h2>Written by Nicky Lawrence-Gravestock</h2>
&nbsp;
<img style="line-height: 2;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Whitehall%20Celebrates%20Women's%20History%20Month%20-%20Part%203.png" />
&nbsp;
I remember Miss Maud and Miss Mary seemed quite downcast at the passing of Millicent Fawcett 5 years ago in 1929 and said she was a &lsquo;great woman even for a liberal&rsquo; (Miss Maud is a staunch Conservative and is not fond of the idea of the new National Government headed by Ramsay Macdonald). I guessed she approved of her &lsquo;moderate&rsquo; position within the women&rsquo;s suffrage movement. From 1897-1919 Mrs Fawcett led the largest women&rsquo;s association, the National Union of Women&rsquo;s Suffrage Societies (2).&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I&rsquo;ve not been to Westminster Abbey, but according to the sisters, there was a memorial erected to Mrs Fawcett, it&rsquo;s quite recent, only 3 years old. Apparently, its inscription says: &ldquo;A wise and courageous Englishwoman. She won citizenship for women&rdquo; (3).
&nbsp;
Well, I&rsquo;m impressed and I wouldn&rsquo;t be surprised if one day she had a statue dedicated to her in Parliament Square or such like one day!
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Statue%20of%20Millicent%20Fawcett%20in%20Parliament%20Square.png" /> 
Statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square
&nbsp;
In the old days, the Misses would be out playing tennis on the court in the garden, thankfully there&rsquo;s no making dainty sandwiches for a tennis party today (all that de-boning sardines and slicing egg thinly is a bit of a bother). It&rsquo;s just preparing a plain supper for the sisters and Mr. Thomas Dunstan Hawes tonight. He&rsquo;s what I call a strange fellow, he&rsquo;s been lodging here for over a year now, one would think that he was never going home &hellip;
&nbsp;
The sisters play for a bit of fun now and to keep trim. Light, white dresses are deemed suitable for the proper amount of exertion. Mind you, at the end of the day, the material is covered in grass stains and dirty marks. That&rsquo;s mine and Lily&rsquo;s evening spent soaking the dresses overnight in a copper tub with a dolly bag! I don&rsquo;t mind too much though, as I respect the Misses a lot.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Monday is Wash day of course (of which I&rsquo;m not too fond of, as in bad weather, the damp washing steams up the house and my chest feels like a piece of elastic that has been pulled so taut, it&rsquo;s going to snap any moment!).&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Honestly, sometimes Lily does test me, she&rsquo;s a good girl but a bit flighty in her ways, she&rsquo;s only young, but still! She&rsquo;d just been the day before to the Kingston Picture House to see &ldquo;It Happened One Night&rdquo; (I do love a good talkie myself) and must have been imagining she was Claudette Colbert fluttering her eyelashes at Clark Gable; only the silly girl was standing over the mangle. She just managed to pull her finger back in the nick of time and really, she&rsquo;s got the scar to prove it!
&nbsp;
To be continued&hellip;
&nbsp;
<hr />
&nbsp;
About the author:
Nicky is a Volunteer at Whitehall Historic House and a member of Sutton Writers.&nbsp; Between September 2021 &ndash; December 2022 she enrolled on three courses for Writing for Wellbeing run by Sutton College located at the Museum.&nbsp; She decided to stay &hellip; and as they say, the rest is history!
&nbsp;
References and sources:
&nbsp;
( 1) Guardian Article. &ldquo;Women had the vote in the 1930&rsquo;s but the old agitation went on&rdquo;&nbsp; written by Diana Souhami&nbsp;
&nbsp;
(2) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millicent_Fawcett">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millicent_Fawcett</a>
&nbsp;
(3) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millicent_Fawcett">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millicent_Fawcett</a>
&nbsp;
(4 ) The statue, Parliament Square&rsquo;s first monument to a woman and also its first sculpture by a woman and marks 100 years since some women won the right to vote.&nbsp; The memorial was unveiled in 2018.
&nbsp;

Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 3

Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 3

whitehall-celebrates-womens-history-month-part-2

<h1>Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - </h1>
<h1>Part 2</h1>
<h2>Written by Nicky Gravestock</h2>
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Whitehall%20Celebrates%20Women's%20History%20Month%20-%20Part%202.jpg" alt="Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 2" />
&nbsp;
<h2>This is a fictional account of Maud M&uuml;ller&rsquo;s life in the early to mid 1930s at Whitehall recounted through the eyes of a domestic servant at Whitehall.</h2>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h3>1934 (AUGUST)&nbsp;</h3>
&nbsp;
So where was I? Ah yes. I thank the lord that tomorrow is Sunday, my half day. Miss Maud and Miss Mary always go to the Church over at St Dunstan&rsquo;s and Miss Maud attends both morning and evening services.
&nbsp;
Miss Maud helps out with arranging the flowers on the altar, listens and administers to the poor; she also acts as an unofficial guide for groups of visitors to Lumley Chapel - she&rsquo;s a real authority on its history. It's across the road and might even be older than this house, of course the shell of this house was built in mediaeval times - fancy that!
&nbsp;
She spends a lot of her time at St Dunstan's, but doesn&rsquo;t always get on with the Preacher Canon Hunter, feeling that she should have sole rights to a certain pew at the front of the Church. Indeed it has always been more or less reserved for the Killick family and their descendants, so she is adamant that it must be put aside for herself and her sister. This arrangement seemed perfectly satisfactory with the previous Vicar, however, the new &lsquo;upstart in town&rsquo; (as Miss Maud privately calls him) is not so amenable. I will say that Miss Maud can often be a formidable force, like a hurricane, once she decides to &lsquo;gust and blow&rsquo; there&rsquo;s nothing much anyone can do about it!
 Both Miss Maud and Miss Mary like to look &lsquo;just so&rsquo; and turned out properly. Today was the last day of the millinery sale at Clara Reid so the Misses M&uuml;llers went to buy new hats. Even though it was a real pea souper they still walked a couple of miles into Sutton. Miss Maud always purchases what I call a &lsquo;no-nonsense hat!&rsquo;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600x200px%20-%201930s%20Newspaper%20Article.png" alt="Newspaper clipping from the 1930&rsquo;s found in the Attic at Whitehall Historic House" />
Newspaper, 1930&rsquo;s, Attic, Whitehall
&nbsp;
She keeps it on when sitting on the sunny lawn to have photographs taken in the garden which stretches on forever at the back, down to the family Stables and Park. Miss Mary is quite tall, and mostly doesn&rsquo;t bother with her hat, her hair having such a nice wave in it; she usually styles it to one side of her head. Miss Maud&rsquo;s beloved dogs scramble to get in the picture, all three of them yapping and scampering about for Miss Maud&rsquo;s attention. Miss Maud loves to fuss and pet over them but her favourite is Bruce, her beloved Pomeranian. I have it on good authority from Miss Mary that this particular breed was introduced to our parts by Queen Charlotte and her granddaughter, our late Queen Victoria, who made them popular. Indeed on the latter&rsquo;s deathbed, her favourite Pomeranian was reported to keep her company (1). Miss Maud is so fond of dogs that she is a member of the RSPCA and the Anti-Vivisection society. I can&rsquo;t say I&rsquo;m so sure about the creatures, after all they are descended from wolves! I&rsquo;m always brushing hairs off the furniture and finding muddy paw prints on the floor.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Oh well, I&rsquo;d better get the mop out again &hellip;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Maud%20Mu%CC%88ller%20with%20Pomeranian%20dog.png" alt="Maud M&uuml;ller with Pomeranian dogs" />
Maud M&uuml;ller with (almost certainly at least one Pomeranian dog) photo undated, but certainly earlier than 1934, from Photo Album, Attic, Whitehall.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Muller%20Sisters.png" alt="The M&uuml;ller sisters, their pomeranians and their aunt." />
Photograph of the M&uuml;ller sisters, their pomeranians and their aunt.
&nbsp;
Miss Maud and I both remember the passing of the Representation of the People Act in 1918, which gave some women voting rights, only some mind, as they had to be over thirty years of age and a Householder (or married to one). Miss Maud is quite buttoned up about her age, but I know that she was around 45 when the Act was passed and as her aunt Harriett Killick had died in 1914, Miss Maud then became the head of the Household and had to be in charge.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
At the time women had to be over 30, whereas men only had to be 21 &ndash; Typical!&nbsp; Double standards, is what I say.&nbsp; Apparently Miss Maud knew some distant acquaintances who moved to different places to avoid being recorded on the Census.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The suffragette Emily Davison apparently was found by a Cleaner in the Houses of Parliament broom cupboard, she&rsquo;d been hiding there for 46 hours! Sitting there for nearly 2 nights in that cramped place, imagine that! (2).
&nbsp;
Although Miss Maud wouldn&rsquo;t have agreed with her methods, even she said she could never predict what was going to happen to Miss Emily two years later in 1913, a sad affair that was, poor love, and it only being down the road at Epsom, a bus ride away and all. After being arrested 9 times, going on hunger strike 7 times, and being force-fed 49 times (3). I can&rsquo;t ever imagine it. There was no hope for her recovery after being trampled by the king&rsquo;s horse at the Derby.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Then in 1919 there was the first woman MP to take her seat in the House of Commons, an American called Viscountess Nancy Astor.&nbsp; Well, really, it was about time ...
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Emily%20Wilding.png" alt="Plaque commemorating Emily Wilding Davison, Epsom Racecourse (photo taken by Nicky)" />
Plaque commemorating Emily Wilding Davison, Epsom Racecourse (photo taken by Nicky)
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/400px%20x%20600px%20TLC%20Discovery.png" alt="The Suffragette newspaper honouring Emily Wilding" />
The Suffragette newspaper (4)
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
To be continued &hellip;
&nbsp;
<hr />
&nbsp;
About the author:
Nicky is a Volunteer at <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/whitehall-historic-house">Whitehall Historic House</a> and a member of Sutton Writers.&nbsp; Between September 2021 &ndash; December 2022 she enrolled on three courses for Writing for Wellbeing run by Sutton College located at the Museum.&nbsp; She decided to stay &hellip; and as they say, the rest is history!
&nbsp;
References and Sources:
&nbsp;
(1) Pomerian.org/pomeranian-origin/
(2) Later a plaque in her memory was placed in the broom cupboard by Tony Benn, Helena Kennedy QC and Jeremy Corbyn MP, former leader of the Labour Party, stating &lsquo;&hellip;a modest reminder of a great woman with a great cause who never lived to see it prosper but played a significant part in making it possible&rsquo; &ldquo;No vote, no Census&rdquo; article, Historic UK, written by Ellen Castelow. (3) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Davison">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Davison</a> (4) Original: The Suffragette newspaper This version from Channel Four, Public Domain, <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61268359">https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61268359</a>
&nbsp;

Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 2

Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 2

whitehall-celebrates-womens-history-month-part-1

<h1>Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - </h1>
<h1>Part 1</h1>
<h2>Written by Nicky Lawrence Gravestock</h2>
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Whitehall%20Celebrates%20International%20Women's%20Month%20Header.png" alt="Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 1" />
&nbsp;
<h2>Introduction:</h2>
International Women&rsquo;s day is celebrated on March 8th all over the world and focuses on the political, cultural, economic, and social achievements of women. Sponsored by the United Nations since 1975, it is a national holiday in many countries (1) and centres around the idea of promoting women&rsquo;s rights.&nbsp;
Women's History Month takes place from the&nbsp;1st to the 31st of March 2023.&nbsp;
Women's History Month is an annual month highlighting women's contributions&nbsp;to events in history and contemporary society (2).
Women&rsquo;s History Month in the USA traces its beginnings back to the first International Women&rsquo;s Day in 1911. By coincidence, in the UK this was also the year where many women protested against the 1911 Census by withholding information or scribbling comments on it along the lines of &ldquo;no vote &ndash; no census&rdquo; (3) (but more about this later...).
&nbsp;
This month we want to celebrate the life of Harriett Maud M&uuml;ller, one of the last owners of <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/whitehall-historic-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whitehall Historic House</a> in Cheam (1872&ndash;1959), who would have witnessed many political changes for women in her lifetime.&nbsp;
Harriett (known as Maud) and her sister Susan (known as Mary) would have been aware of key events in the Suffragette movement and the continually shifting political climate towards greater freedoms for women. As alluded to earlier, many women avoided the enumerators for the 1911 Census by &lsquo;passive protest&rsquo;. They also hid and refused to be counted, although Maud herself is counted on the 1911 return.
To put Maud&rsquo;s life into context with the wider political climate:
1913 saw the passing of legislation, (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health Act), also known as The Cat and Mouse Act, a tactic by the government to deal with the issue of Suffragettes who were on hunger strike.
1918 bought the passing of the&nbsp;Representation of the People Bill, where women over 30 who were householders or married to a householder gained the right to vote.
1918 saw The Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act which allowed women to stand as candidates and be elected as MPs.&nbsp;
1918 saw The Education Act which raised the school leaving age to 14,
1919 saw The Sex Disqualification Act of 1919 which made it easier for women to go to University and take up professional jobs as teachers, nurses, lawyers and doctors.&nbsp;&nbsp;
1928 saw the passing of The Equal Franchise Act which gave all women over 21 the right to vote.
&nbsp;
This is a fictional account of Maud M&uuml;ller&rsquo;s life in the early to mid 1930s at Whitehall which was then her family home, recounted through the eyes of a domestic servant at Whitehall, Florence Gertrude Davey.&nbsp;
We conjecture that Florence was living at Whitehall at this time as she is listed on the 1934 rolling District East Cheam Parliamentary Constituency. She was listed with (Harriett) Maud M&uuml;ller, Susan Mary M&uuml;ller and another domestic servant, Lilian Young.&nbsp;
Florence was also listed on the 1939 Household Register with Lilian and their personal occupations were recorded as &lsquo;paid domestic servant&rsquo;. Maud and Susan were recorded as &lsquo;unpaid domestic duties&rsquo;.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Harriet%20M%20Miller%20Birth%20Certificate.png" alt="Harriet M Miller Birth Certificate" />
(above image supplied by Geoff West)
&nbsp;
The account is based on some accounts gleaned from newspaper reports (which were written much later in the 1950&rsquo;s), official records such as the census in 1911 which showed who was living at Whitehall, and objects in Whitehall Historic House (many in the attic) that are reflective of the time period. There has been lots of guesswork and there will certainly be many historical inaccuracies (for which I apologise in advance!) The surviving photos of Maud and Mary were notoriously difficult to date.&nbsp; However, I hope that you, the reader, will enjoy the blog as much as I have enjoyed writing it ...
&nbsp;
This blog will be released in 4 parts.&nbsp;
 
<h2 style="line-height: 2;">Part 1:</h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 2;">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 style="line-height: 2;">1934: (AUGUST) FLO&rsquo;S STORY:</h2>
&nbsp;
Lily and I are spinning around the house like wooden tops, I take the stairs as fast as I dare, lowering my head to avoid a nasty bump.&nbsp; Alighting at the top, I notice my breath is coming out in short ragged gasps. I pull myself together, there&rsquo;s a lot to get finished before luncheon.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I shiver and rub my hands together;&nbsp; I need to keep moving.&nbsp; On entering Miss Maud&rsquo;s bedroom, I observe the state of the worn down candle on the bedside table and guess she&rsquo;s had her nose in that Dickens&rsquo; book, Mr David Copperfield again. I make a clicking noise with my tongue, her eyes are bad enough already, soon she&rsquo;ll be using that huge magnifying glass she carries about with her permanently.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
I check for stains on the elegant Oyster silk dress, its cut on the bias and has been left draped over a chair. Then the brown fur coat is carefully placed in the wardrobe, I carry it as though it were glass and try to prevent it from becoming crushed. I roll up my sleeves and methodically strip the stiff, heavy sheets on her four poster bed. Not for the first time I think about how doing chores around the farm has prepared me for a life in domestic service. Cool spare linen is painstakingly folded into capacious chests at the foot of the bed. I tidy away pearl coloured beads and delicate silver marcasite on the dressing table; I&rsquo;m still spluttering from dust beaten out of bed hangings.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Screenshot%202023-02-27%2016.50.12.png" alt="Fur Coat in Whitehall Historic House" />
(Dress and Fur Coat, Attic, Whitehall)
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Screenshot%202023-02-27%2016.50.36.png" alt="Bedroom in Whitehall Historic House" />&nbsp;
(Photo of bedroom in Whitehall c. 1969)
&nbsp;
By now, Lily has launched into scrubbing the wooden floorboards with red cardinal polish (my knees won&rsquo;t stand for it any more). There are fourteen rooms in the house to get around (not including the scullery, kitchen and bathroom or closet). Many houses of this size now have modern conveniences such as electricity, but the sisters seem to have an aversion to such &lsquo;new fangled&rsquo; appliances as the one invented recently by Mr Hoover. So we make do, but (if you want my opinion) sometimes I feel as though it&rsquo;s a bit like living in the dark ages!&nbsp;
&nbsp;
However, Lily and I are fond of the two sisters and the old house, despite all our &lsquo;complainings&rsquo;; for we&rsquo;ve been with them for over a decade. They are always so good to us and I&rsquo;m lucky in these times to have a Situation.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Miss Maud will be returning from the meeting at the Women&rsquo;s Citizen&rsquo;s Association soon. I will take up a tray set with a rose patterned bone china cup and saucer for tea and toasted buttery crumpets. Then Lily will fill the copper warming pan with coals to place in the mistress&rsquo;s bed before she retires for the night.
&nbsp;
It was Miss Maud&rsquo;s birthday today. I passed by Mrs Rowe&rsquo;s Sweet Shop in Cheam for she has a bit of a weakness for Fry&rsquo;s Cream Chocolate.&nbsp; Lily&rsquo;s partial to that new chocolate bar invented by Mr Mars, but I still love a Banana Glory or a Gobstopper.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In her 61 years, Miss Maud says she has seen many changes for women. I sometimes overhear her chatting to her sister about women&rsquo;s rights as she has always had the notion since forever that women should be as politically active as men.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
That 1911 Census certainly caused a bit of a ruckus.&nbsp; I remember reading in the Newspaper about some ladies having a picnic on Wimbledon Common.&nbsp; They carried banners protesting against the Census return which read &ldquo;If women don&rsquo;t count, neither shall they be counted&rdquo;; goodness, in Wimbledon of all places, it&rsquo;s only down the road.&nbsp; Of course we were both young women back then and Miss Maud might not have approved of this behaviour.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;You won&rsquo;t remember what Mr. Punch said back then in 1911&rdquo;, I said to Lily, (she was only 3 years old then).&nbsp;
&nbsp;
It was one evening after I had bought the Misses M&uuml;ller&rsquo;s their tea of &lsquo;beautiful soup&rsquo; (made by boiling down beef bones (the meaty smell not so &lsquo;beautiful&rsquo; as it remained turning the air acrid for hours; and I had a fancy to try one of those new Oxo cubes).&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;What was it then?&rdquo; Lily asked:
&nbsp;
&ldquo;The suffragettes have definitely taken leave of their Census&rdquo;, (5) I replied.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Honestly, what bright spark thought that one up?&rdquo;
&nbsp;
To be continued &hellip;
&nbsp;
<hr />
About the author:
Nicky is a Volunteer at <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/whitehall-historic-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whitehall Historic House</a> and a member of Sutton Writers.&nbsp; Between September 2021 &ndash; December 2022 she enrolled on three courses for Writing for Wellbeing run by Sutton College located at the Museum.&nbsp; She decided to stay &hellip; and as they say, the rest is history!
&nbsp;
References and Sources:
&nbsp;
(1) Wikapedia &ndash; see full list of countries that celebrate this day <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women's_Day#Around_the_world">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day#Around_the_world</a>
(2) <a href="https://www.internationalwomensday.com/">https://www.internationalwomensday.com/</a>
(3) &ldquo;No vote, no Census&rdquo; article, Historic UK, written by Ellen Castelow
(4) With thanks to Geoff West, Volunteer, Whitehall who supplied the 1911 Census.
(5) &ldquo;No vote, no census&rdquo; article, Historic UK, written by Ellen Castelow
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 1

Whitehall Celebrates Women's History Month - Part 1

tudor-fashion

<h1>Tudor Fashion</h1>
by Imogen
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Tudor%20Fashion%20Header.png" alt="Tudor Fashion" />
&nbsp;
Recently, a volunteer group, Tudors Unleashed, came to Whitehall dressed in traditional Tudor attire, inspiring this blog post on Tudor fashion and what it consisted of. As part of Sutton Cultural Services Sutton STEAMs Ahead award, we have been celebrating Tudor Technologies at Whitehall Historic House, and we currently have our Tudor Technologies trail running throughout March. You can book tickets <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tudor-technologies-trail-and-craft-tickets-512828211987?aff=ebdssbdestsearch">here</a>.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Tudors%20Unleashed%20at%20Whitehall.png" alt="five women dressed in tudor fashion" />
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/tudorsunleashed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tudors Unleashed</a> at Whitehall Historic House.
&nbsp;
There are many obvious differences between fashion of the time and fashion nowadays - for instance, women wouldn&rsquo;t have worn trousers like they do now! However, there were also specific fashion trends that were popular at the time as well as strict rules.
&nbsp;
During Henry VIII&rsquo;s reign, sumptuary laws were in place that determined what people could and couldn&rsquo;t wear. The aim was to enforce a social hierarchy and to prevent the working classes from dressing in a similar manner to the aristocrats, as well as to support the home market and textile trade. For instance, only the royal family were allowed to wear the colour purple. These sumptuary laws were loosened somewhat during Elizabeth I&rsquo;s reign due to the growing import market.
&nbsp;
Rich men wore fitted doublet jackets and fur coats with wide shoulders. These were often paired with puffed shorts called breeches, and wool or silk tights known as &ldquo;hose&rdquo; underneath them. Later on, it became fashionable for them to wear embroidered silk coats, paired with padded breeches and upper and lower hose. On their feet, they wore embroidered shoes. For headwear, they would wear hats with a feather trim on them, similar to the one that Henry VIII was often portrayed in.
&nbsp;
All women wore linen shifts. However, the aristocracy also wore farthingdales - padded hoops designed to widen their skirts and give their body a noticeable structure in the process. Catherine of Aragon popularised the Spanish farthingdale and Elizabeth I popularised the even more extravagant French farthingdale, also known as the Drum. The Drum could support up to 3 metres of fabric!
&nbsp;
Tudor women often wore linen caps (or &lsquo;garbled hoods&rsquo;)&nbsp; in order to frame their face. There were two notable types &ndash; the English hood, which involved a triangular shape and the French hood, popularised by Anne Boleyn, which involved a rounder shape. The changes in what hood was popular at the time depended on who was queen - people moved away from the English hood to the French hood when Anne ascended to the throne, only to revert to the English hood when Jane Seymour became Queen. It is similar to how many people nowadays are influenced by the styles of famous celebrities.
&nbsp;
The body shapes seen as attractive depended on what gender you were at the time. Being overweight was seen as a status symbol among men as it showed they were rich enough to eat enough food. In fact, some men would wear items of clothing designed to make them look plumper than they actually were. However, for women, it was fashionable to have a thin waist so they wore corsets in their dresses - this no doubt caused them problems with breathing at times.
&nbsp;
Makeup was a risky business back in the day. To cover up smallpox scars, women would rub candle wax into their skin. Some procedures were more dangerous - toxic chemicals such as lead, mercury and tin would be used to make the skin more pale, something that Elizabeth I popularised. Ironically, though this makeup was supposed to cover up flaws underneath, it actually caused more damage to the skin.
&nbsp;
Children were dressed in the same way as their parents. This could be hard on wealthy children - they would wear the same extravagant clothes as their parents and barely had the ability to move around! Meanwhile, though poor children wore simpler clothes, they had more freedom to move about, befitting their parents&rsquo; possible work in the fields.
&nbsp;
Things that would be seen as a sign of ugliness nowadays were seen as the height of beauty back then. For instance, having rotten teeth was the ultimate show of attractiveness! It meant that you were wealthy enough to eat large amounts of sugar - an expensive luxury back then. It was pretty much the opposite opinion of what we have nowadays!
&nbsp;
Whitehall has a selection of Tudor outfits for children to dress up in, which can be found in the Cheam Prospers room. In this room, you can find out more facts about Tudor fashion choices back in the day.
&nbsp;
Imogen Easton.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<hr />
&nbsp;
Works Cited:
<ol>
<li>
Hawk, Goldie and Gibb, Sarah. Step Inside: Homes Through History. Nosy Crow, 2019.
</li>
<li>
&ldquo;Tudor fashion.&rdquo; Royal Museums Greenwich, <a href="https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/tudor-fashion">https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/tudor-fashion</a>
</li>
</ol>
&ldquo;Tudor makeup.&rdquo; DK Find Out!, <a href="https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/history/tudors/tudor-make-up/">https://www.dkfindout.com/uk/history/tudors/tudor-make-up/</a>

Tudor Fashion

buildings-of-cheam-cheam-park-house

<h1>Buildings of Cheam - Cheam Park House</h1>
By Imogen
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Buildings%20of%20Cheam%20Cheam%20Park%20Hotel%20Title.png" alt="Buildings of Cheam - Cheam Park House - the title of the article added in the foreground of a picture of an old building" />
&nbsp;
In our previous article, we discussed how the building where Cheam School once was has nowadays been converted into a block of flats. In this article, we talk about Cheam Park House, a building that no longer exists at all.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Cheam%20Park%20House%20in%201928.png" alt="Cheam Park House in 1928" />
Cheam Park House in 1928
&nbsp;
Originally, the land where Cheam Park now is was divided among several owners, with most of it being farmland. There was a building to the north-west of the area, owned by someone named Bartlett, that served as the predecessor to Cheam Park House.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/The%20enclosure%20map%20of%20the%20Cheam%20Park%20area.png" alt="The enclosure map of the Cheam Park area" />
The enclosure map of the Cheam Park area, which shows the different owners of each section of land.
&nbsp;
The house was first built in 1820 for a London tea merchant named Archdale Palmer. He and his wife had previously lived in London but had moved up to Cheam for a healthier lifestyle after six of their children died in infancy. Fortunately, they had another daughter after moving to Cheam who survived into adulthood. By 1842, the farm buildings that had originally been in the area had been demolished and the house had been expanded upon. The park around it was intended as &ldquo;pleasure grounds&rdquo; for the family.
&nbsp;
The daughter of the Palmers gained ownership of the house after the demise of her parents, and her descendants continued to have this ownership. However, plenty of tenants stayed at the house during this period. First there was Isaac Carr and his wife, whose bodies are buried in St. Dunstan&rsquo;s Churchyard. Next was the Durrant family, and then a Mr Souley. The next two tenants, Mr and Mrs Jacomb, even added a billiards room to the house.
&nbsp;
From 1900, the tenants of the house were Mr and Mrs Bethell. Mr Bethell was the chairman of Cheam Parish Council and he lived until 1908. Mrs Bethell became highly involved in Cheam&rsquo;s local life and even allowed village activities such as a may fair and maypole dancing in the house grounds. In 1920, she bought the house and park.
&nbsp;
Cheam Park was created from the grounds of the house in 1937. There had been an agreement years back between Mrs Bethell and the Sutton and Cheam Council that she would sell the park to them, but this would not come into fruition until after she died. The council proceeded to turn the area into a public place for people to visit.
&nbsp;
After Mrs Bethell&rsquo;s death, there were no new tenants or people living in the house. Instead, it was used for various functions. Arguably the most notable function was as a place making gas masks from 1939 to 1940.
&nbsp;
In 1944, the building was severely damaged by a flying bomb. It was demolished a year later, possibly because it would have been time-consuming and costly to rebuild it, especially given the economical situation in Britain after World War 2.
&nbsp;
Currently, there is nothing that occupies the space where the building once was. The horseshoe-shaped drive remains, but as a pathway for people going through the park. On hot dry sunny days, the outlines of the house can be seen in the grass, giving you an idea of how big the rooms might have been.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Cheam%20Park,%202022.png" alt="Cheam Park in 2022" />
Cheam Park, 2022. The sign in the background is next to the house&rsquo;s original site.
Cheam Park Lodge, which was built in the early 19th century as a gatehouse to the manor, still stands today. However, the gates next to it have been removed.
&nbsp;
If you are interested in learning more about the history of Cheam Village, join our <a href="https://cheam-village-tour.eventbrite.co.uk">Cheam Village - A Historic Walking Tour</a> on 12th January, led by volunteer Geoff West.
&nbsp;

Buildings of Cheam - Cheam Park House

Buildings of Cheam - Cheam Park House

christmas-with-the-killicks

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Christmas With The Killicks</h1>
by Imogen
<h1><img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Christmas%20with%20the%20Killicks%20Title.png" alt="Christmas with The Killicks header image" /></h1>
&nbsp;
This year, we have had a very busy Christmas at Whitehall Historic House! We have put on a Christmas trail and Christmas activities, and even had Santa himself pop in to visit with his magical grotto!
&nbsp;
<h3><img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Christmas%20with%20the%20Killick's%20Santa's%20Grotto.png" alt="Santa's Grotto at Whitehall Historic House" /></h3>
&nbsp;
Last year, we released a blog post on how Christmas was celebrated under the rule of Henry VIII. This year, we&rsquo;ll be looking at how it was celebrated while the Killicks lived at Whitehall.
&nbsp;
The Killicks first moved into Whitehall around 1742, at the time when King George II was on the throne. The last owner of the house died in 1959. During this time, Christmas went through many changes in the way it was celebrated, the most significant ones during the Victorian era.
&nbsp;
It would appear that Christmas was more of a luxury for the upper classes during the Georgian period. They would spend time in their country homes, having Christmas dinner and hosting extravagant balls. This Georgian tradition also continued into the Regency period, as documented in the works of Jane Austen. The Christmas season started on the 6th December, known as St. Nicholas&rsquo; Day, when people would hand gifts out to each other, and would continue until the 6th January.
&nbsp;
Christmas dinner mainly consisted of goose, turkey or, in the case of the gentry, venison. It would be followed by Christmas pudding, also known as plum puddings due to their main ingredients being dried plums or prunes. As parties were huge and guests were plenty, a huge amount had to be put into preparing dishes, meaning that food that could be prepared ahead of time and served cold were also popular with the gentry.
&nbsp;
However, poor families were able to get some enjoyment out of Christmas. Like with the gentry, they would decorate their homes with greenery such as holly and evergreens. They waited until Christmas Eve to bring decorations into their homes, as it was considered bad luck to bring them in before then. Kissing boughs and balls became particularly popular in the late 18th century. They were usually made from holly, ivy, mistletoe (except in religious households) and rosemary, and decorated with spices, apples, oranges, candles or ribbons.
&nbsp;
It was during the Victorian era that Christmas was shaped into how we celebrate it today. It brought Christmas cards and Christmas crackers, with the former being officially distributed in the 1840s and the latter being invented in the 1850s. The cards in particular featured seasonal images of robins and Father Christmas. It was also transformed into a family-oriented event, with children waiting in anticipation for the gifts that Father Christmas would give them.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Christmas%20with%20the%20Killicks%201.png" alt="An example of a quintessential Victorian Christmas card, &copy;Victoria &amp; Albert Museum, London" />
&nbsp;
An example of a quintessential Victorian Christmas card, &copy;Victoria &amp; Albert Museum, London
&nbsp;
Father Christmas, or Santa Claus, seems to have originated from two stories. The Father Christmas name comes from old English midwinter celebrations, where he would be dressed in green to symbolise the oncoming spring. Sometime later in the Victorian era, he would end up switching to red - the famous Coca Cola advert is most likely a reference to this change rather than the actual reason why, as is commonly thought. As for Santa Claus, the name is derived from Sinter Klaas, who was brought to America by Dutch settlers in the 17th century, and based on the story of St. Nicholas.
&nbsp;
Thanks to the increasing number of factories, gifts could be mass-produced at a cheaper price and therefore enjoyed by the middle classes, not just the rich. Poorer families however instead had &ldquo;poor child&rsquo;s&rdquo; stockings, first popularised around 1870, which featured an apple, an orange and a few nuts. You&rsquo;ll often hear your grandparents talking about this one! Whether the children of the Killicks would have been able to enjoy gifts in stockings or not may depend on the decade. William Killick went bankrupt in 1821, a major cause for future women of the family not having dowries when they married, meaning that the children might not have received any gifts at all. However, James Killick, starting in 1861, had a successful tea business at sea. THis change in fortunes means that different generations of the Killicks likely celebrated Christmas in different ways.
&nbsp;
Christmas trees were first introduced to Britain from Germany in 1800 by Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III. They were first popularised in 1848, however, thanks to Victoria&rsquo;s husband Prince Albert, who famously brought one over to Windsor Castle that became the subject of an engraving in the Illustrated London News. The traditional German ones had candles on them, though we tend to decorate them nowadays with baubles, tinsel and fairy lights.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Christmas%20with%20the%20Killicks%202.png" alt="Christmas card depicting a christmas tree form c. 1870, &copy;Victoria &amp; Albert Museum, London" />
&nbsp;
Christmas card depicting a christmas tree form c. 1870, &copy;Victoria &amp; Albert Museum, London
&nbsp;
A particularly important player in the making of Christmas today was A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Besides presenting a traditional Victorian Christmas, it also established some new traditions itself. Beforehand, people tended to eat goose for Christmas dinner, and whilst turkey was eaten sometimes back in the Tudor era, it was not seen as the quintessential Christmas bird. That all changed when Christmas Carol depicted a scene of Ebenezer Scrooge sending a young boy to fetch a turkey that he could give to his clerk Bob Cratchitt for Christmas. Though turkey was a more expensive and drier bird than goose, it was much larger and could feed more people - very handy for large families like the Cratchitts. Since then, turkey has become the main staple of Christmas dinner and goose is rarely eaten.
&nbsp;
In Edwardian times, Christmas stayed relatively similar to the Victorian period. Extravagant feasts would be had by well-off families, including mince pies, figs, roasted nuts and even boar&rsquo;s head! Goose was still in favour at the time, but as mentioned earlier, turkey would soon replace it. As Edward VII was infamous for being quite the hedonist, it makes sense that people had this attitude around Christmas as well.
&nbsp;
Christmas is also celebrated as a time of peace, and this was remembered even during World War 1. On Christmas Day in 1914, the British and German soldiers had a ceasefire and decided to spend time together, exchanging presents and playing football. John Stewart Muller, a member of the Muller family line, was in Norfolk at the time and therefore not on the frontline during this occasion, but the impact of it could still be felt on both sides. The song &ldquo;All Together Now&rdquo; by The Farm is about this temporary truce.
&nbsp;
The wars would have had a major impact on how Christmas was celebrated. World War 2, in particular, caused certain traditions to be limited. There was a large influx of Christmas presents and cards as would be usual during the anti-war years, which the postal service struggled to deal with due to most of the postal service workers being conscripted for war. Presents and toys were often handmade from cheap materials due to shop-bought ones either being too expensive or not in supply. Some people even had to spend Christmas Eve in bomb shelters due to the Blitz occurring in Britain at the time.
&nbsp;
By the time Whitehall was handed over to the Sutton Council in 1962, Christmas had become a lot more commercialised. Visiting Santa in the shopping centre became a popular tradition and for a while there was a craze over artificial Christmas trees. This started to get dialled back in the later 60s and 70s (The Grinch and A Charlie Brown Christmas are often credited for the backlash over commercialisation with their examinations of it), though there are still signs of it today.
&nbsp;
Whitehall Historic House wishes all of its volunteers, workers and visitors Season's Greetings and a happy new year.
&nbsp;
<hr />
Works Cited:
<ol>
<li>
Johnson, Ben. &ldquo;A Georgian Christmas.&rdquo; Historic UK, <a href="https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/A-Georgian-Christmas">https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/A-Georgian-Christmas</a>
</li>
<li>
Johnson, Ben. &ldquo;A Victorian Christmas.&rdquo; Historic UK, <a href="https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/A-Victorian-Christmas/">https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/A-Victorian-Christmas/</a>
</li>
<li>
&ldquo;Exploring Edwardian Christmas Traditions.&rdquo; {10-11} Carlton House Terrace, Sep. 2019, <a href="https://10-11cht.com/news-offers/edwardian-christmas">https://10-11cht.com/news-offers/edwardian-christmas</a>
</li>
<li>
&ldquo;How Britain Celebrated Christmas During The Second World War.&rdquo; Imperial War Museum, <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/how-britain-celebrated-christmas-during-the-second-world-war">https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/how-britain-celebrated-christmas-during-the-second-world-war</a>
</li>
</ol>
&ldquo;The Real Story of the Christmas Truce.&rdquo; Imperial War Museum, <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-real-story-of-the-christmas-truce">https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-real-story-of-the-christmas-truce</a>

Christmas With The Killicks

meet-the-artists-abel-kesteven-and-nabil-hamad

<h1>Meet The Artists: Abel Kesteven and Nabil Hamad</h1>
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600x200px%20-%20Meet%20The%20Artists%20Abel%20&amp;%20Nabil.png" alt="Meet The Artists: Abel Kesteven and Nabil Hamad - title added in the foreground of a multicoloured artwork" />
&nbsp;
In this blog, we talk to local artists <a href="https://www.abelkesteven.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Abel Kesteven</a> and <a href="https://www.nabilabouhamad.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nabil Hamad</a> about who they are and what inspired their exhibition 'Spontaneity'.
&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;Spontaneity at Honeywood Museum, Thursday - Saturday until 17 December 2022. Artwork will be available for purchase.
&nbsp;
<h2>Introduce yourselves, tell us about yourselves?</h2>
Abel Kesteven (AK): My name is Abel Kesteven and I live and work in Carshalton. My 'day job' involves running therapeutic art sessions for adults with Autism, Cerebral Palsy and mental health problems. This work is a huge source of inspiration to me both in terms of the art they produce but also how spontaneous and free they are when making it.
 Nabil Hamad (NH): At the end of the seventies I left my country of origin, Lebanon &mdash; the country of my father and ancestors, because of the civil war there at the time. I headed to Europe in search for an environment where democracy and equality between races and religions existed all under one law. I stayed in Paris for a while, where I experimented in new styles of artistic practice. Paris held an attraction to me because its where modern art originated.
&nbsp;
I then moved to London to be appointed Art Director for a Lebanese magazine that was read by free-thinking people hungry for liberty. Before all this, when I was in Lebanon, I studied art under the tutelage of a great artist of Armenian origin named Paul Guiragossian. During that period of study, I started a career as a political cartoonist. I then got very interested in graphic art, and started to combine the two. Eventually, I started getting jobs as an art director for magazines &mdash; a profession I stuck with for the next twenty-five years. But I didn&rsquo;t stop with my fine art practice. It remained close to my heart. I would spend entire weekends in my studio, working with paint on canvas.
&nbsp;
<h3><img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600px%20x%20400%20px%20Abel%20and%20Nabil.png" alt="Abel Kesteven" /></h3>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<h2>What inspired the Spontaneity exhibition?</h2>
AK: I worked as a freelance illustrator after leaving college but always felt more inspired producing my own self motivated work. I struggled to follow a clients lead. I made paintings of moving figures/crowds in London stations but always from photographs. I'd always worked in sketchbooks (drawing people and animals usually), and I soon realised that this was my most authentic work. The work that gave me the most satisfaction.
&nbsp;
Having met Nabil a couple of years ago I found that we both shared the same outlook in terms of producing spontaneous work whether from imagination or from life, (or indeed a combination of the two). We realised that our work complimented each others in terms of colour, line and simplicity of form as well as an interest in the human form...moving.
&nbsp;
NH: The inspiration to Spontaneity comes from being completely honest with feelings. I believe action and reaction carry huge motions of creation because they are blowing up with real human feelings and affection. One of the surrealists said, &ldquo;the more the brain does not interfere, the more the creation will be high and honest&rdquo;.
&nbsp;
<h3><img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600px%20x%20400%20px%20Image%20One%20Cropped.png" alt="Abel Kesteven and Nabil Hamad's multicoloured artwork" /></h3>
&nbsp;
<h2>What can people expect from this exhibition?</h2>
AK: Nabil and I also work in 3 dimensions and that is another connection we have. My sculptures share themes with my pastel, mixed media and monoprint work often animals and people, (and their relationships with each other). The exhibition includes earlier landscape/parkscape paintings together with more recent work depicting folk musicians in black and white and mixed media collage. I'm very much looking forward to meeting the public together with Nabil to discuss my love of artistic spontaneity. I hope that the excitement I get from working from life shows through in the work.
&nbsp;
NH: The public who will visit this show at Honeywood Museum can expect to respond with tenderness and love because the artworks speak to their real pulse and feelings.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600px%20x%20400%20px%20Image%20Updated.png" alt="Abel Kesteven and Nabil Hamad's artistic sculpture of a bulldog" />
&nbsp;
<h2>Have you got any exhibition highlights?</h2>
NH: I admire all the works in this show because they are like my children. But there is one in particular that came into being accidentally after ink dripped on white paper. It then emerged into a figure of a woman.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600px%20x%20400%20px%20Image%20One%20Nabil.png" alt="Abel Kesteven and Nabil Hamad's artwork of a purple coloured female figure" />
&nbsp;
<h2>What are you looking forward to about displaying your work at Honeywood Museum?</h2>
AK: I have exhibited work at the Honeywood Museum on several occasions and I love the building itself, the warm atmosphere and of course, it's an idyllic setting. Jane [Heritage Development Officer in Sutton Council's Cultural Services] is a superb curator and I leapt at the chance of having a joint exhibition. Some of the art I have on show have been created locally at Beddington Park as well as at the Demesnes road allotments. (I chose the allotments as a project during lockdown as it was very peaceful and one of the few places it was permitted to go)!
&nbsp;
NH: I don&rsquo;t like to preach, but I do believe this sort of art will be practiced fairly widely in the near future, and that&rsquo;s because of its authenticity and its conveying of real feeling and love.
&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m looking forward to the whole show itself, and to the opportunity of having my art seen by a wider audience.
&nbsp;
<hr />
&nbsp;
Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> and about other <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at Honeywood Museum, Whitehall Historic House and also in Sutton's Libraries.
&nbsp;
Follow Sutton Heritage on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage/" target="_blank" aria-invalid="true" rel="noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Meet The Artists: Abel Kesteven and Nabil Hamad

Meet The Artists: Abel Kesteven and Nabil Hamad

suttons-role-in-world-war-two

<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Borough&rsquo;s Role In World War 2</h1>
by Imogen
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600px%20x%20200px%20Sutton's%20Role%20in%20World%20War%20Two.png" alt="Sutton's Role in World War Two - the title added to the foreground of an old photo of a bomb-damaged school" />
&nbsp;
To commemorate Remembrance Day 2022, our last blog post focused on the London Borough of <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/the-blog/suttons-role-in-world-war-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton&rsquo;s role in World War 1</a>, both with regard to the general populace and with individual people who played their part. For Remembrance Sunday, we will be discussing the role that the Borough had during World War 2.
&nbsp;
In particular, one of our volunteers Geoff West has recounted his own experiences of World War 2 for this article. This includes experiences of the war back in Cheam and experiences of the evacuation process that occurred at the time.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center;">The Blitz</h2>
&nbsp;
In contrast with World War 1, the technology and weapons needed for war had evolved. Rather than merely battling in the trenches, opposing sides could invade each others&rsquo; countries and bomb them from above. In particular, the Germans bombed British cities such as London in what became known as the Blitz. 1942 to 1944 in particular saw the Baedeker bombings, in which the Axis forces targeted famous tourist attractions in order to damage British morale.
&nbsp;
Since the Borough was in the London area, it too was the victim of the Blitz. Many homes were bombed and the inhabitants inside were either gravely injured or killed - in total, more than thirty seven people in the borough were killed in the bombings. Sometimes though, the inhabitants survived, but lost their homes. Most of the incidents occurred in 1940, when the Blitz had just started, and 1944, when it was coming to an end. More information about individual bombings can be found in the Sutton Archives.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Wallington%20County%20Grammar%20School.png" alt="A damaged Wallington County Boys&rsquo; School" />
Staff and students looking on at the damage to Wallington County Boys&rsquo; School, which was bombed on the 20th February 1944. All the occupants escaped uninjured.
&nbsp;
Geoff recalls a flying bomb landing on the Browning Avenue/Calbeck Road Junction on the 16th June 1944, killing ten people and injuring over forty. He says that:
&nbsp;
&ldquo;We were still indoors, on the way to the back door and the shelter. I was in the passage between the Stairs and the Kitchen, my sister Barbara and our Lodger were still coming down the stairs! The blast travelled between Caldbeck Avenue and us in Longfellow Road. It brought a lot of the plaster and lath ceiling down and shattered most of the glass in the windows, except for the Dark Room sash window which was found to be resting on the ground and leaning against the window cill, with all the glass intact. The Back Yard was otherwise covered in glass shards, as we rather belatedly picked our way down the garden to the Anderson Shelter. The next day, on the way to school, we passed damaged shops and piles of debris which had by then been piled up along the edge of the footpath.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Guy%20Road.png" alt="A destroyed cottage" />
Damage done to a cottage at Guy Road by a V1 doodlebug on the 1st July 1944. The occupant survived.
&nbsp;
It wasn&rsquo;t just the enemy bombs that civilians had to watch out for. On the 24th February 1940, a British warplane crashed into a house on Foresters Drive in Wallington while the pilot was on his first solo flight. Two residents died from their wounds in the War Memorial Hospital.
&nbsp;
Moments of heroism were demonstrated during these dark times though. On the 16th April 1941, the original California Arms pub and station were bombed, with 10 people killed and many more injured. However, the Canadian Pte Gibb held up debris for three hours and saved many more lives in the process, leading to him receiving the British Empire Award for his act of courage.
&nbsp;
In response to the Blitz, many children were sent off to the countryside as evacuees. This included people from the Borough, with plenty of people lining up at Cheam Village station saying goodbye to their families for instance. In some cases, siblings were separated from each other.
&nbsp;
&ldquo;Soon after the Flying Bomb Incident, we were taken to South Wales. I can remember getting on a coach at the side of Cheam Baths, but nothing of the train journey or the coach journey at the other end. Anyway, we ended up at a small town in the Upper Rhondda Valley called Tonyrefail. Through lack of suitable billets, I had to be separated from my mother and two sisters. I apparently just walked off without even a goodbye! Although we were only a few hundred yards apart, I was only allowed to visit them once a week and I don&rsquo;t think my mother was allowed to visit me at all.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Obviously, living in the countryside was a wholly different scene for children from the city - some hadn&rsquo;t even seen farm animals before being evacuated. The experiences that evacuee children had in their new homes were mixed, with some staying with caring families and some being severely mistreated. Cheam resident Barbara Shrives had it both ways - initially she and her sister stayed with a &ldquo;real witch&rdquo; who they fled from, but afterwards got to stay with a &ldquo;lovely family&rdquo;. Geoff also had a mixed experience:
&nbsp;
&ldquo;I was billeted with two old ladies, a Mrs Evans and a Mrs Gimblett. Mrs Gimblett was the widow of the Revd. Gimblett, a Baptist Minister. We had to go to Church every Sunday and sit through a Service in Welsh, and Services were always very long! They were not used to children and not very welcoming or friendly. However, also staying there was their sister-in-law, the so-called English Mrs Gimblett from Crawley. She was kind and very understanding, a friend to me and presumably to the other Evacuee, 12 yr old Derek from North Cheam.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Fighting Back</h2>
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Croydon%20Airport.png" alt="An old picture of croydon airport" />
Croydon Airport
&nbsp;
Croydon Airport played a particularly large role in the war. The predecessor to Heathrow Airport and Britain&rsquo;s busiest airport between the two world wars, it took to its original role of protecting Britain from aerial attacks on the 30th August 1939, taking up the name of the Royal Air Force Station Croydon. Many squadrons and aircraft arrived and transited through RAF Croydon over the next few months, with the first squadrons arriving on the 2nd September.
&nbsp;
On the 15th August 1940, Croydon Airport was attacked by enemy forces in the infamous &ldquo;Rubensdorffer&rdquo; raid. Hitler had given orders to have the important airfields in Britain bombed, but the commander Walter Rubensforffer attacked Croydon instead of Kenley by mistake. Radar picked the raiders up and nine Hurricanes from 111 Squadron were scrambled thirty minutes before the attack, therefore ready and waiting. However, the damage was severe - 200 local homes were damaged and 62 civilians were killed. It was also a major turning point in the war - afterwards, the Axis forces stopped focusing on bombing the airfields and instead started focusing on bombing London.
 <img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/The%20Bourjois%20Factory.png" alt="An old picture of the Bourjois Factory" />
The Bourjois Factory, which made perfume, was one of the many places bombed during the Croydon raid.
&nbsp;
RAF Croydon&rsquo;s squadrons also played a major role in the Battle of Britain, which started in July 1940. Residents residing in the Borough could see the planes fighting in the air, with Geoff remembering the event clearly:
&nbsp;
&ldquo;My earliest memory is of the occasion when we all went out at the back to watch a dog fight, presumably between Spitfires and Messerschmitts, weaving about each other.&nbsp; It was way to the south of us, though, and noiseless.&nbsp; Probably even as far away as Banstead!&rdquo;
&nbsp;
One borough resident who took part in the war effort was James Farrar, who had grown up in Carshalton. He often wrote during his life, whether it be poems or accounts of events that had occurred. At the age of 18 in 1942, he enlisted with the RAF and continued to write about his experiences, even as he moved from one place to another. He ultimately died on a dawn mission with the RAF on the 26th July 1944, three months before his 21st birthday. His writing is compiled in The Unreturning Spring, published by the Friends of Honeywood Museum.
&nbsp;
If you are curious about finding out more about the Borough&rsquo;s role in World War 2, you can come and see the WW2 exhibit at our sister heritage centre <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Honeywood Museum</a>. Some of the information in the exhibit helped inform this blog post, as did Geoff West&rsquo;s accounts.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<hr />
&nbsp;
Works Cited:
<ol>
<li>
Farrar, James. The Unreturning Spring. Friends of Honeywood Museum, 2008.
</li>
<li>
West, Geoff. &ldquo;Memories of WW2.&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
&ldquo;World War Two - More War.&rdquo; Historic Croydon Airport Trust, <a href="https://www.historiccroydonairport.org.uk/history/world-war-ii-military-operations/">https://www.historiccroydonairport.org.uk/history/world-war-ii-military-operations/</a>
</li>
</ol>

Sutton's Role in World War Two

sutton-archives-collection-stars-in-mrs-harris-goes-to-paris

<h1>Sutton Archives is back on the Silver Screen!</h1>
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Council%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Sutton%20Archives%20in%20Mrs%20Harris%20Goes%20to%20Paris%201.jpg" alt="Historic photo of young male soldier from Sutton Archives used in Mrs Harris Goes to Paris" />
&nbsp;
A photo from the Knights-Whittome photo collection at Sutton Archives features in the major motion picture, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris.
&nbsp;
Released in 2022 and written by Paul Gallico, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris tells the feelgood story of a 1950s cleaning lady living in Battersea, widowed in the war, who falls in love with the couture Dior dress of a client, and decides that she must have one of her own. During a whistlestop adventure to Paris, the titular Mrs re-discovers her own worth, something she has neglected since the death of her late husband, Sgt. Edward Harris, whose image from Sutton Archives graces a frame on her bedside table throughout the film.
&nbsp;
The photograph representing Mrs Harris's late husband was sourced from Sutton Archives, from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pastonglass/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Knights-Whittome collection</a>, taken by Sutton High Street photographer David Knights-Whittome who had two studios, one in Sutton and one in Epsom (a touch different from the streets of Paris). The collection contains over 1400 military portraits on glass where we know that the photographer offered discounts to those soldiers in uniform who commissioned an image at the Epsom studio.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Council%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Sutton%20Archives%20in%20Mrs%20Harris%20Goes%20to%20Paris%202.jpg" alt="Photo negative of young male soldier from Sutton Archives used in Mrs Harris Goes to Paris" />
&nbsp;
The actual image is believed to be of John Greville Fulkes, born 1887, and posted to the camp for officer training as a Royal Fusilier in the 19th Battalion at the time the portrait was taken in 1911. Fulkes was commissioned 2nd Lt. into the Essex Regiment in July 1916 and was killed in action just 4 months later on 13 November 1916. His name is memorialised on the Thiepval memorial.
&nbsp;
Film watchers may also spot another Sutton Archives-sourced photograph by Knights-Whittome during Mrs Harris stay in Paris. A French aristocrat, the Marquis de Chassagne, while sharing tales from his English education produces a framed photograph of the school he attended. The original photo has been retouched to include the image of a maid to whom he was attached, but the school represented here is in fact Chigwell School, photographed in around 1908.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Council%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Sutton%20Archives%20in%20Mrs%20Harris%20Goes%20to%20Paris%203.jpg" alt="Photo of school year of young children from Sutton Archives used in Mrs Harris Goes to Paris" />
&nbsp;
Sutton Archives were first approached in 2020 by the art department of Mrs Harris Goes to Paris. The film has since been nominated in the British Independent Film Awards 2022 for Best Costume Design. It is not the first time the photo collection has featured in a major film; images also featured in the blockbuster, <a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=SUTTON+ARCHIVE0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1917</a>, directed by Sam Mendes.
&nbsp;
Abby Matthews, Archive Manager for Sutton Council's Cultural Services, commented.
&nbsp;
&rsquo;After such a long lead time, and intervening months of intermittent lockdown, I wasn&rsquo;t sure if our archive images would make the final cut, but having watched the film, I&rsquo;m thrilled to see that the two images chosen occupy significant moments in the narrative, and one is a real focal point for the lead character.
&nbsp;
The <a href="https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">digitisation of the Knights-Whittome glass plate collection</a> represents over 4 years of hard work and passion from the London Borough of Sutton heritage team &amp; volunteers. I am incredibly proud to see this effort rewarded by the recognition of their value, both from researchers and the ancestors of these sitters but also by their inclusion in huge blockbuster movies such as this, Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, and 1917. These photographs speak for themselves. They are a unique and precious resource for anyone interested in WW1 and local history, and a real jewel in our collection crown. But Sutton Archives has a wealth of other collections that can aid family and local history. We welcome enquiries and donations that can enrich our understanding of the borough&rsquo;s rich past, and we are open to licensing enquiries from individuals as well as from large production companies&rsquo;.
&nbsp;
The Knights-Whittome collection was conserved and digitised following two National Heritage Lottery Fund grants. For those interested in more from Sutton Archives, visit the <a href="https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Past on Glass website</a> or <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/local-studies-archives-and-family-history-centre">book a visit</a> today.

Photos from Sutton Archives feature in acclaimed 2022 film 'Mrs Harris Goes to Paris'.

Sutton Archives collection stars in Mrs Harris Goes to Paris

suttons-role-in-world-war-one

<h1 style="text-align: center;">The Borough's Role in World War One</h1>
by Imogen
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600px%20x%20200px%20Suttons%20Role%20in%20WW1.png" alt="Sutton's Role in World War One Blog - title added in foreground of a photo of a memorial column" />
&nbsp;
To commemorate Remembrance Day 2022, we will be discussing the London Borough of Sutton and its role in both of the World Wars. This blog post will provide information on its role in the First World War.&nbsp;
 <a href="https://www.sutton.gov.uk/-/remembrance-services-in-sutton">You can find out what Civic acts of remembrance are taking place throughout Sutton</a>, as well as visiting <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/whitehall-historic-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whitehall Historic House&rsquo;s</a> permanent remembrance exhibition to the local men who fought and served during the war from Thursday to Saturdays, 10-5pm.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Struggling Together</h2>
&nbsp;
When the war was first announced, people believed the idea of it being the &ldquo;Great War&rdquo;. They were convinced that it was for a noble cause and, most infamously, that it would be over by Christmas. However, as the years went by, more people became aware of the atrocities of the war, especially as families lost loved ones abroad.
&nbsp;
Initially, joining the army was voluntary, and plenty of propaganda was used to convince men to sign up. By January 1916, 168 men from Cheam had signed up to fight in the war, being sent to places as far off as India, Egypt and the Middle East. Two months later in March, conscription was introduced, which meant that all men between 18 and 41 years of age, and were able to fight, had to sign up. As Cheam had a population of 6500 at the time, this would have no doubt had a major impact on the local residents.
&nbsp;
Those who weren&rsquo;t able to help out in the army mainly contributed to the war effort back at home. They tended to work in factories on ammunition to be used in the war, hospitals helping out the injured, or at refugee centres sheltering people who came there. However, those who tried to stay out of the war due to their pacifist beliefs were treated as cowards and shunned by others, an attitude that persevered in World War 2 as well.
&nbsp;
Some places that were originally not used for war efforts ended up being converted for these purposes. The Brocks Firework Factory, for instance, was originally set up for making fireworks, but turned to making munitions for the WW1 efforts. Most of the employees were women and the number of staff employed rose from 400 to 2000. Making the munitions was a risky job - five employees, including a Worcester Park resident, were killed in explosions at the factory.
&nbsp;
There were around 265,000 Belgian refugees that came over to Britain during the war, because of Germany invading Belgium in order to get to France. Sutton was one of the many towns helping them out, with a Sutton Belgian Refugees Committee being set up after a meeting held by the Sutton Urban District Council on the 13th October 1914. Manor Park House in Sutton housed 60 refugees, mainly consisting of women and children, and four family houses were also offered as means of shelter. The White House in Cheam was also used as a hostel for Belgian refugees from 1916 to 1918, though not many details have been recorded relating to this time period. Almost all of the refugees had returned to Belgium by 1919.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/The%20White%20House%20Cheam%20600px%20x%20400%20px.png" alt="Photo of The White House, Cheam" />
Photo of the White House in Cheam, from Sutton Archives.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
From 1918 to 1919, the White House was converted into an auxiliary hospital, possibly in response to the German spring offensive that started in March 1918. It was one of many auxiliary hospitals set up in the UK during this time, another one being the S. Croydon Relief Hospital in South Croydon. More information about the auxiliary hospitals around at the time can be found on the Red Cross website in their First World War Volunteers section.
&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Individual People In World War 1</h2>
&nbsp;
There were many residents in the Borough that played their part in the war, whether it be on the frontline or back home. Cheam in particular had several of its residents play important roles.
&nbsp;
One Cheam resident who had a particularly major role was Wing Commander Frank Brock. He was a member of the Brock family, who owned the Brocks Firework Factory in Cheam and were active VADs during the war. Brock himself was known for his inventions, such as the Brock Bullet, Dover Flare and smokescreen he developed whilst working at the Royal Navy Experimental Station in Stratford. In January 1918, he received an OBE for his services to King and Country. Three months later on the 23rd April, he died in battle whilst overseeing his smokescreen invention at Zeebrugge, leaving behind his wife Gladys.
&nbsp;
John Stewart Muller, one of the members of the Killick and Muller family line that lived in Whitehall, was also one of the people fighting in WW1. He ultimately died from tuberculosis on the 27th July 1918, a common disease at the time and especially prevalent in soldiers due to the poor conditions in the trenches, including a lack of food and the various rats, lice and other pests that the soldiers had to deal with on a daily basis.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600px%20x%20400%20px%20Nurse%20Anderson.png" alt="Photo of Nurse Anderson from the David Knights-Whittome collection at Sutton Archives." />
Photo of Nurse Anderson from the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pastonglass/albums/72157650520057069/with/16580337221/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Knights-Whittome collection</a> at Sutton Archives
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Back at home, Jane Verling-Brown was one of the nurses at the auxiliary hospital at the White House, volunteering from October 1918 to July 1919. Beforehand in 1901, she had been working at the Great Northern Central Hospital in Islington. It must have been quite a change for her - back in Islington, she would have been helping the &ldquo;sick poor&rdquo;, but at the White House she would have been dealing with all sorts of ghastly injuries caused by war.
&nbsp;
David Knights-Whittome was a prominent photographer in Sutton from 1904-1918. During this time he took many photographs of people during the First World War. Many of these photographs can be found <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/pastonglass/albums/72157650520057069/with/16580337221/">here</a>. Our sister blog, Past on Glass, features research on some of the people found in these photos, you can read some of these <a href="https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/category/ww1/page/6/">here</a>
&nbsp;
<h3 style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">&ldquo;Lest We Forget&rdquo;</h2>
&nbsp;
Throughout the borough, many war memorials have been erected. They are still standing today and have often been used to pay tribute to those that died in later wars. These are just a few of the memorials erected in the borough.
&nbsp;
On the 13th March 1921, the Carshalton War Memorial was unveiled by Major-General, Sir John Langley. Initially, 237 names were inscribed on it, but the number has increased throughout the years in order to take other wars into account. As a result, it expanded over the road so it now comes in two parts. Both parts stand near Honeywood Museum next to the pond.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Carshalton%20War%20Memorial%20600px%20x%20400%20px.png" alt="Photo of Both parts of the Carshalton War Memorial as they stand today." />
Both parts of the Carshalton War Memorial as they stand today.
&nbsp;
On the 16th March 1921, the Cheam War Memorial was unveiled. Made from Portland stone, it was designed by Charles J. Marshall and paid for by local community fundraising. However, much scorn was directed towards the decision to include a field gun next to it, especially when it was discovered to be a German field gun. One night, some local youths took the gun and threw it into the old Cheam Brickworks sandpit near Springclose Lane, never for it to be seen again. Since then, Cheam Library has been built on the site where the gun once stood. The memorial itself still remains, though the stone seats surrounding it have since been removed. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the war, new benches were set up around the area.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Cheam%20War%20Memorial%20Old%20600px%20x%20400%20px.png" alt="Cheam War Memorial with the accompanying field gun. Photo from the Sutton Archives&rsquo;s Local Studies Collection." />
Cheam War Memorial with the accompanying field gun. <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/local-studies-archives-and-family-history-centre">Photo from the Sutton Archives&rsquo;s Local Studies Collection</a>.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Cheam%20War%20Memorial%20Current%20600px%20x%20400%20px.png" alt="Photo: Cheam War Memorial as it stands today." />
Cheam War Memorial as it stands today.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
On the 26th June 1921, the Sutton War Memorial was unveiled by Sir Ralph Forster, with the Bishop of Southward attending the ceremony. It was made from Portland Stone with brass plaques on all four sides of its base. It currently stands in Manor Park.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/600px%20x%20400%20px%20Sutton%20Memorial%20Edited.png" alt="Sutton War Memorial as it stands today." />
Sutton War Memorial as it stands today.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
To commemorate the centurion of the War, the Borough put on several events from 2014 to 2018. A ceremony was held at Carshalton Memorial Gardens in August 2014, led by the Royal British Legion, the Mayor and local councillors. The Battle of the Somme was commemorated in 2016, on the 1st July 2016 as members of the Carshalton and Wallington Royal British Legion gathered at Carshalton War Memorial, and on the 11th November 2016 as a documentary on the Somme was shown at St. Andrew&rsquo;s Church to an audience of around 700 people. In 2017, a major project called Sutton Remembers World War 1: The Graves took place to commemorate those who died from the effects of war and were buried in the borough. These are only some of the many extraordinary events that took place during those four years.
&nbsp;
If you are curious about finding out more about the Borough&rsquo;s role in World War 1, you can come and see the WW1 exhibit at <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/whitehall-historic-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Whitehall Historic House</a>. It has both facts about the people in WW1 and photos taken during that period. Some of the photos here were even used in the Golden Globe winning movie 1917.
&nbsp;
If you are interested in finding out more about Sutton&rsquo;s local history during either of the two World Wars, visit <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/local-studies-archives-and-family-history-centre">Sutton Archives Local Studies Searchroom.</a>&nbsp;Read the follow up blog article on <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/the-blog/suttons-role-in-world-war-two">Sutton's Role in World War 2</a>.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<hr />
Works Cited:
<ol>
<li>
Marshall, Charles J. History of Cheam &amp; Sutton, S.R. Publishers Limited, 1971.
</li>
<li>
Bower, Dick, Brett Young, Tony, Mills, Roger and Tope, Graham. Sutton Remembers: 2014-2018, 2019.
</li>
<li>
&ldquo;A House Through the Ages: S3, Ep.6 &ndash; The Auxiliary Hospital.&rdquo; The Past on Glass and Other Stories&hellip;, 19 May 2022, <a href="https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/a-house-through-the-ages-s3-ep-6-the-auxiliary-hospital/">https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2022/05/19/a-house-through-the-ages-s3-ep-6-the-auxiliary-hospital/</a>
</li>
<li>
&ldquo;The Belgian Refugees in Sutton, 1914-1917.&rdquo; The Past on Glass and Other Stories&hellip;, 4 Aug. 2022, <a href="https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2022/08/04/the-belgian-refugees-in-sutton-1914-1917/">https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2022/08/04/the-belgian-refugees-in-sutton-1914-1917/</a>
</li>
<li>
&ldquo;The Belgian Refugees in Sutton, 1914-1917: Part 2.&rdquo; The Past on Glass and Other Stories&hellip;, 24 Aug. 2022, <a href="https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2022/08/24/the-belgian-refugees-in-sutton-1914-1917-part-2/">https://pastonglass.wordpress.com/2022/08/24/the-belgian-refugees-in-sutton-1914-1917-part-2/</a>
</li>
</ol>

Sutton's Role in World War One

meet-the-artist-john-stillman

<h1 style="text-align: center;">Meet The Artist:&nbsp;John Stillman</h1>
&nbsp;
<img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk//custom/web/content/MTA%20John%20Stillman%201.png" alt="Painting of a pond and landscape with the text 'Meet The Artist: John Stillman'" />
<div>
&nbsp;
In this blog, we talk to local Artist John Stillman about who he is and what inspired his exhibition 'From The Sky Down'.
&nbsp;
Visit From The Sky Down at Honeywood Museum, Thursday - Saturday until 5 November 2022. Artwork will be available for purchase.
</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>Introduce yourself, tell us about yourself?</h2>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>My name is <a href="https://www.johnstillman.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Stillman</a> and I have been painting and drawing from an early age. For the past sixteen years, I have been lucky enough to paint full-time and organise my life around painting and exhibiting. I cannot quite believe that my painting journey is still ongoing, but pleased it is, it remains a precarious way of earning a living.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>I was born in Carshalton on June 6th 1968 and have lived here all my life. I grew up near Butter Hill and spent many happy days playing along the River Wandle and Grove Park as well as Beddington Park. As a keen naturalist, I was always looking and observing&nbsp;the natural world from bird watching to collecting bugs and butterflies. So the natural world has played a big part in my life and still does, which also led me to picking up a pencil and paintbrush and want to record what I was seeing.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>That is really where it all started out and about in the local parks and wasteland with a sketchbook and pencils.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/MTA%20John%20Stillman%202.png" alt="Photo of the artist painting a coastal landscape on an easel" /></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>What inspired the&nbsp;From The Sky Down&nbsp;Exhibition?</h2>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>A new book really...I wanted to produce a second book of my paintings as it had been 10 years since my first book &lsquo;The Paintings of John Stillman&rsquo; had been published and felt that it was about time to put together a collection of work that best represented the past 10 years plus to add to the story of the previous book.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>It was only on reflection when looking through all of my notes and references for my first book that I was well aware of how much I had left out, and even forgotten about. I felt I should revisit some of the memories that I feel have led me to follow a career in art.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Deciding on a title for any book is always a daunting task and I felt I needed to look at my working methods and then the title may come from the process.&nbsp;The sky has always been the starting point when painting my landscapes. I find that once the sky has been established the overall feeling and mood of the painting tends to be set.&nbsp;And as a general rule I seem to paint from the sky down.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>So that&rsquo;s how I arrived at the title&nbsp;From the Sky Down&nbsp;not only for the book but also the exhibition.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/MTA%20John%20Stillman%203.png" alt="Landscape painting of a pond and church" /></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>What can people expect from this exhibition?</h2>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>They can expect a varied selection of paintings from local scenes to landscapes of Umbria to the Algarve as well as Brighton and the Isle of Wight. It really doesn&rsquo;t have a theme at all this show as it is probably the most varied exhibition of my paintings that I have put together. The reason for this is that over 90% of the paintings are featured in the new book&nbsp;&lsquo;From the sky down&rsquo;,&nbsp;so it is a great opportunity to acquire an original painting that is in the book.&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>I will also have a selection of paintings from private collectors that are also featured in the new book that have not been seen before. So all being well there will be something for everyone to view and enjoy.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/MTA%20John%20Stillman%204.png" alt="Triptych of landscape paintings, a bay full of boats, a flower garden and a snowy field" /></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>Have you got any exhibition highlights?</h2>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>The exhibition itself really, it's difficult to pick highlights as every painting on show means a lot to me as each one tells its own story.</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<h2>What do you enjoy about displaying your work at Honeywood Museum?</h2>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>Honeywood has played a big part in my life. My mum and dad had their wedding reception there after being married at All Saints Church and my first solo exhibition was held there in memory of my dad in 2001. So all in all not only is it the centre of Carshalton it has been the venue that kick started me exhibiting as a local artist. So for me its good to be back!</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>
Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> and about other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at&nbsp;Honeywood Museum,&nbsp;Whitehall Historic House and also in Sutton's Libraries.
&nbsp;
Follow&nbsp;Sutton Heritage&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>
</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>

Meet The Artist: John Stillman

meet-the-artist-jill-cromwell

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Meet The Artist: Jill Cromwell</h1>
&nbsp;
Capturing The Summer in Stiching Exhibition by talented textile artist Jill Cromwell includes hand embroidery, applique, painting and mixed media.
&nbsp;
In this blog, we talk to&nbsp;Jill Cromwell&nbsp;about who she is and what inspired her exhibition.
&nbsp;
Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://visit-honeywood-museum.eventbrite.co.uk/">Capturing The Summer in Stitching</a> at Honeywood Museum.&nbsp;Thursday to Saturday, 10am - 5pm, until 27 August 2022.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Capturing%20The%20Summer%20in%20Stitches%204.png" alt="Capturing The Summer in Stitches - artwork of a colourful bird" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Capturing%20The%20Summer%20in%20Stitches%205.png" alt="Capturing The Summer in Stitches - artwork of a colourful bird among brightly coloured flowers" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Capturing%20The%20Summer%20in%20Stitches%207.png" alt="Capturing The Summer in Stitches - a print saying there are fairies at the bottom of the garden" width="310" height="310" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Introduce yourself, tell us about yourself?</h2>
I&rsquo;m Jill and I am a textile artist. My career was working with nursery-age children in Sutton and now I enjoy my art and being with my family. I did a fine art textile A level course at Sutton Adult Learning quite a few years ago where I learnt various textile art techniques such as painting, printing and stitching on fabric, felt making and appliqu&eacute;.
&nbsp;
Since then I have exhibited with different groups at several venues including Sutton Library and Denbies in Dorking. Recently I have been sharing my textile art skills with the Sutton South Hello Group run by the ever enthusiastic Heather and we have enjoyed exhibiting together at Honeywood Museum. At the latest one during the Jubilee I was delighted to make the dress and accessories for the Queen mannequin.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/1080px%20x%201080px%20Jill%20Cromwell.png" alt="Jill Cromwell" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What was the inspiration for your exhibition?</h2>
When I found out I was exhibiting in the summer I thought it would be good to show bright coloured textiles and stitching to give a real summer vibe.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What can visitors expect from this exhibition?</h2>
Visitors can expect bright colours, fun, a variety of stitch and paint techniques and subjects to give a real feel for the season of summertime.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Capturing%20The%20Summer%20in%20Stitches%201.png" alt="Capturing The Summer in Stitches - embroidery of orange and yellow plants against a blue backdrop" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Capturing%20The%20Summer%20in%20Stitches%202.png" alt="Capturing The Summer in Stitches - embroidery of green dandelions against a green and blue backdrop" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Capturing%20The%20Summer%20in%20Stitches%203.png" alt="Capturing The Summer in Stitches - embroidery of beach huts" width="310" height="310" />
&nbsp;
<h2>Have you got any exhibition highlights?</h2>
I particularly like the flowers and the fantasy in my work but I think two of my highlights are Woody the Woodpecker and Auburn Hare.
&nbsp;
<h2>What do you enjoy about displaying your work at Honeywood Museum?</h2>
I like the friendly and historic feel Honeywood has and I am particularly happy to be displaying my work in the downstairs art gallery as it is quite compact and shows off my artwork well.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> and about other <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at&nbsp;Honeywood Museum,&nbsp;Whitehall Historic House and also in Sutton's Libraries.
&nbsp;
Follow&nbsp;Sutton Heritage&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>

Meet The Artist: Jill Cromwell

Meet The Artist: Jill Cromwell

meet-the-artist-rebecca-tucker

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Meet The Artist: Rebecca Tucker</h1>
&nbsp;
Sutton Council's Cultural Services&nbsp;have partnered with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carshaltonartists.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carshalton Artists</a> to deliver 'Water',&nbsp;an exhibition of new and inspiring water-themed artworks by local artists. An exciting collection of work will be displayed including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, model making, ceramics and photography.
&nbsp;
In this blog, we talk to Rebecca Tucker, who is part of Carshalton Artists about who she is and what inspired her exhibition piece.
&nbsp;
Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://visit-honeywood-museum.eventbrite.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Water Exhibition</a> at Honeywood Museum.&nbsp;Thursday to Saturday, 10am - 5pm, until 23 July 2022.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Water%20Exhibition%202.png" alt="Carshalton Artists Water Exhibition - artwork of coloured shapes resembling water" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Water%20Exhibition%201.png" alt="Carshalton Artists Water Exhibition - photo of a diver underwater looking at a whale" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Water%20Exhibition%2013.png" alt="Carshalton Artists Water Exhibition - artwork of big blue paint splashes" width="310" height="310" />
Carshalton Artists, Water Exhibition at Honeywood Museum
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Introduce yourself, tell us about yourself?</h2>
My name is Rebecca Tucker, I am a Lancashire born/London based painter, with a BA in Fine Art from Reading University way back in 1996. I live and work in Carshalton and share my time between running a successful 20 year old interior design studio with my business partner and working hard to establish my painting practice. My work is predominantly abstract landscapes, but the degree of abstraction is constantly changing from painting to painting. So I describe it as working on the spectrum between abstraction and representation! I love the idea of suggesting something 'recogniseable' to a viewer and then essentially thwarting that perception by drawing them in to see the beauty of paint on a surface, to see the abstract marks. I work primarily with water-based materials which allows the use of water itself as part of the process, I enjoy painting layers and then fully or partially washing them away, taking advantage of the &lsquo;happy accidents&rsquo; that occur, which brings an element of experimentation and the 'unknown' into every painting.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What was their inspiration for your piece?</h2>
'Night Swimming' is a piece from my longstanding 'horizon' series. I play with the idea that as soon as you put a horizontal line across a painting then there is an automatic connotation of a 'landscape'. I will then push and pull against that with the paint, using the colour and texture and tone and the marks I make to reinforce the idea of a landscape whilst also at the same time bringing the viewer back to the sheer joy of paint on a surface. Essentially I take the subject and push it towards abstraction to a greater or lesser degree whilst still keeping those links with the initial landscape. 'Night Swimming' is an atmospheric, moody piece that will hopefully transport the viewer to a time and a place in their minds, associated with water and that very particular evening light associated with warm, late summer evenings.
&nbsp;
<img src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/SS%20Blog%20-%20Night%20Swimming.png" alt="Night Swimming Artwork" width="600" height="400" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Tell us about being a part of Carshalton Artists?</h2>
Carshalton Artists is a fantastic community of diverse artists, brought together with the common goal of working with and alongside other local artists. It is a support network, an ideas generator, a group that helps us find our way doing something that can feel quite lonely without other like-minded people around us. I paint in my studio in my garden, on my own, a necessarily solitary pursuit for me. But when it comes to getting my work out there and pushing forward with this 'business' of art then the support of a group like Carshalton Artists is essential.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What do you enjoy about displaying your work at Honeywood Museum?</h2>
Honeywood Museum holds a very special place in the hearts of all Carshalton residents. How the history of the place seeps into you when you walk round, the focal point it gives to Carshalton and the variety of events and exhibitions that takes place there. A true hub of the local arts scene, and beautifully located with it's view across the ponds. Idyllic! To have my work in exhibitions there is a privilege indeed!
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> and&nbsp;about other <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at&nbsp;Honeywood Museum,&nbsp;Whitehall Historic House and also in Sutton's Libraries.
&nbsp;
Follow&nbsp;Sutton Heritage&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>

Meet The Artist: Rebecca Tucker

Meet The Artist: Rebecca Tucker

meet-the-artist-caroline-warwick

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Meet The Artist: Caroline Warwick</h1>
&nbsp;
Sutton Council's Cultural Services have partnered with <a href="https://www.carshaltonartists.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carshalton Artists</a> to deliver 'Water',&nbsp;an exhibition of new and inspiring water-themed artworks by local artists. An exciting collection of work will be displayed including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, model making, ceramics and photography.
&nbsp;
In this blog, we talk to Caroline Warwick, who is part of Carshalton Artists, about who she is and what inspired her exhibition piece.
&nbsp;
Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://visit-honeywood-museum.eventbrite.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Water Exhibition</a>&nbsp;at Honeywood Museum. Thursday to Saturday,&nbsp;10am - 5pm, until 23 July 2022.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Water%20Exhibition%20Blog%202.png" alt="Carshalton Artists Water Exhibition - painting of docked boats by a body of water" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Carshalton%20Artists%20Water%20Exhibition4.png" alt="Carshalton Artists Water Exhibition - painting of a woman walking away on a pier" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/:custom:web:content:Carshalton%20Artists%20Water%20Exhibition6.png" alt="Carshalton Artists Water Exhibition - painting of a goldfish swimming through water" width="310" height="310" />
Carshalton Artists, Water Exhibition at Honeywood Museum
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Introduce yourself, tell us about yourself?</h2>
I'm Caroline Warwick, also known as Carrie the potter. I started pottery classes over 20 years ago at Sutton College and was soon well and truly hooked!&nbsp; I did a BTEC in Ceramics at the College in 2009 and continue to take classes as there's always something new to learn. I work out of my studio in our loft conversion in Carshalton where we have lived for almost 40 years. I work mainly on the wheel, throwing functional pieces from porcelain and white stoneware.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What was their inspiration for your piece?</h2>
My original inspiration was for a fish bowl, it was to be a large bowl in an azure blue glaze with fish and reeds decoration, using my handmade stamps, also made out of clay. It was to look as if there were fish in the bowl.&nbsp; Unfortunately, something went wrong with the clay I used for this piece and the first attempt came out of the glaze firing with a huge spiral crack around it. So, I made another one, refined the design and decided not to use a darker slip around the rim. That one also came out of the kiln with a spiral crack. I've lost other pieces due to this and have now changed the clay to avoid any further problems as I suspect there was some contamination in the clay.&nbsp; It's very frustrating to get to the final stage, having thrown, trimmed, bisque fired, decorated and glazed a piece, to have it fail but that's why potters talk so much about the 'kiln gods'.&nbsp; There is a lot of skill and knowledge needed, but sometimes the kiln gods just won't play ball!&nbsp; With time running out I used the same technique to produce a small, porcelain tealight holder.&nbsp; When lit the fishes can be seen glowing through the translucent porcelain.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/fish%20tealights%20before%20stamping.jpeg" alt="Fish Tea Lights Before Decoration" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/fish%20tealights%20glazed.jpeg" alt="Fish Tea Lights" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/1080%20x%201080%20Caroline%20Wick%20Under%20The%20Sea.png" alt="Caroline Warwick Fish Tea Lights in the Water Exhibition" width="310" height="310" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Tell us about being a part of Carshalton Artists?</h2>
I'm one of the original artists who participated in the first CAOS in 2017 and it's been wonderful to see its popularity grow over the years, despite two years' lockdown.&nbsp; As a potter, working alone in my studio, it's lovely to meet and be inspired by other Carshalton Artists.&nbsp; The 'arty drinks' are a popular way of meeting up informally to learn what people are doing and learning about workshops and the activities, workshops and classes some of the artists are offering. I'm proud to be living in Carshalton with such a vibrant, creative and supportive community.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What do you enjoy about displaying your work at Honeywood Museum?</h2>
I've always loved Honeywood Museum, it is such a delightful building in an ideal setting by the ponds. I took my boys there when they were little and will soon be taking my granddaughter.&nbsp; It's such an intimate space and the garden is lovely. The current management have done lots to increase visitor numbers and I have really enjoyed both displaying my work there, participating in the craft fair last summer and visiting the exhibitions, as well as attending one or two very informative talks on local history.&nbsp; All this on my doorstep, how lucky is that?!
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> and&nbsp;about other <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at&nbsp;Honeywood Museum,&nbsp;Whitehall Historic House and also in Sutton's Libraries.
&nbsp;
Follow&nbsp;Sutton Heritage&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>

Meet The Artist: Caroline Warwick

Meet The Artist: Caroline Warwick

meet-the-artist-julian-heath

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Meet The Artist: Julian Heath</h1>
&nbsp;
Sutton Council's Cultural Services have partnered with <a href="https://www.carshaltonartists.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carshalton Artists</a> to deliver 'Water',&nbsp;an exhibition of new and inspiring water-themed artworks by&nbsp;local artists. The disciplines of&nbsp;painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, model making, ceramics and photography&nbsp;will be on display.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
In this blog, we talk to <a href="https://www.julianheathphotography.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Julian Heath</a>, part of Carshalton Artists&nbsp;about what inspired his stunning photo of Carshalton Ponds included in the Water Exhibition.
&nbsp;
Visit the&nbsp;<a href="https://visit-honeywood-museum.eventbrite.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Water Exhibition</a>&nbsp;at Honeywood Museum. Thursday to Saturday,&nbsp;10am - 5pm, 11 June - 23 July 2022.
&nbsp;
In addition on 25 &amp; 26 June and 2 &amp; 3 July, Honeywood Museum hosts an event of <a href="https://www.carshaltonartists.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carshalton Artists Open Studios</a>. See demonstrations, artist led workshops, artwork for sale and much more! FREE - drop in!
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Carshalton%20Artists%20Water%20Exhibition%201.png" alt="Carshalton Artists - Water Exhibition 1" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Carshalton%20Artists%20Water%20Exhibition%202.png" alt="Carshalton Artists Water Exhibition 2" width="310" height="310" />&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Carshalton%20Artists%20Water%20Exhibition%203.png" alt="Carshalton Artists Water Exhibition 3" width="310" height="310" />
Carshalton Artists, Water Exhibition at Honeywood Museum&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Introduce yourself, tell us about yourself?</h2>
My name is Julian Heath, I have been taking photographs since I was 16 years old and I&rsquo;m now 77 so; I have a good knowledge of the technicalities of image-making and for many years was taking &lsquo;stock&rsquo; photos for picture libraries.
&nbsp;
In more recent years since 2010, I have been working on and honing my skills in Fine Art Photography with three exhibitions in a gallery in Beckenham with other artists under the banner of South East Open Studios with some modicum of success.&nbsp; In 2014 I had a &lsquo;One man&rsquo; exhibition at Honeywood Museum and thereafter I was selling my images through Mine Gallery (now closed) and three other galleries in Surrey.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Julian%20Heath%20-%201080%20x%201080.png" alt="Julian Heath, Photographer" width="310" height="310" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What do you enjoy about displaying your work at Honeywood Museum?</h2>
Honeywood Museum is a great centre for local arts and so; displaying works there will always be seen by many people interested in all aspects of the art world and just the general public who are interested in local history and the arts.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What was their inspiration for your piece?</h2>
My image attached, &lsquo;Carshalton Ponds, Winter,&rsquo; was a combination of good fortune with regard to the bad weather conditions, time of year/day with the late fiery sunset silhouetted behind the lattice of tree branches but it still needed a lift with some work in Photoshop and other software which emphasised the drama in the scene.&nbsp; I am very pleased with the way it has turned out.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: 265px;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Carshalton%20Ponds,%20Winter%20III.jpeg" alt="Honeywood Museum in the autumn" width="600" height="572" />
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Tell us about being a part of Carshalton Artists?</h2>
To me, CAOS is a big happy family of friends who can talk together and take inspiration from each other and meet-up at Arty Drinks at The Cryer. I keep in touch with some members of the group and at drinks evenings its good to chat with other artists too.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> and&nbsp;about other <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at&nbsp;Honeywood Museum,&nbsp;Whitehall Historic House and also in Sutton's Libraries.
&nbsp;
Follow&nbsp;Sutton Heritage&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>

Meet The Artist: Julian Heath

Meet The Artist: Julian Heath

volunteer-spotlight-stuart

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Volunteer Spotlight: Stuart</h1>
&nbsp;
In this blog we talk to Stuart, Sutton Libraries Customer Service Assistant&nbsp;and soon to be Project Officer for The Reading Retreat.&nbsp;He shares how volunteering with Sutton Council's Cultural Services&nbsp;has&nbsp;helped him into full time employment.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">For those that don&rsquo;t know, tell us a bit about yourself.</h2>
&nbsp;
Hi! My name is Stuart, and I currently work as a customer service assistant within Sutton libraries. I really like my job, every day is different, and there's a huge variety in the skill-sets we get to use. I have a background in customer service, however this is definitely my favourite role to work in so far, as you are at the heart of the community and get a real sense that you&rsquo;re making a difference.
&nbsp;
For someone who works in a library, it&rsquo;s probably surprising how few books I actually read, although It is rare for me to go a day without listening to an audiobook. Like a lot of people my age I spend a good amount of my free time browsing the internet and playing video games, but has come in useful when helping others to access computers within the libraries.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Why did you apply to volunteer with the Cultural Services team?</h2>
&nbsp;
When I first applied to volunteer I had been unemployed for a while, and was really just looking for a way to spend some time productively, and I guess have something new to put on a CV. I have always been interested in books, and having done a degree in English, I thought libraries would be a great place to give back; especially as they had been so helpful to me in the past. Volunteering made me feel a lot more connected to the community, and gave me a real sense of belonging at a time when I didn't particularly have that otherwise.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What are you looking forward to during your time in your new role?</h2>
&nbsp;
I'm about to move into a new role within Sutton&rsquo;s Council's Cultural Services (Project Officer for The Reading Retreat), and I&rsquo;m really excited about the opportunities it will give me to both connect with the community and to further my own personal development. The role will actually involve coordinating with volunteers, so I think it will be very interesting to see how I can use my previous experience in the role.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Why should people consider volunteering?</h2>
&nbsp;
I think it&rsquo;s just a great way to use your free time. Volunteering gave me a space to give back to my community, to develop skills, and to meet new, like minded people.&nbsp; It was an amazingly rewarding experience, and is at least somewhat responsible for the position I've now found myself in.&nbsp; If you want to help others, and to help your community, I really can't think of an easier way to do so.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">If someone wrote a biography about you, what would the title be and why?</h2>
&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s hard to think of anyone actually writing a biography about me. Barring any unscrupulous events I hesitate to disclose here, I think I&rsquo;ve lived a fairly normal life up until now. &ldquo;A series of ordinary events&rdquo; does have a certain ring to it.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Find out more about <a href="https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/90a5ab5e-9252-459a-9715-43172c60d90a/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">volunteering</a> with Sutton Council's Cultural Services.

Volunteer Spotlight: Stuart

Volunteer Spotlight: Stuart

meet-the-artist-carole-baker

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Meet The Artist: Carole Baker</h1>
&nbsp;
Photography exhibition&nbsp;Pause: Time to Breathe&nbsp;captures the wonderful coastlines of the UK, and amazing green spaces in Surrey.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Fabulous Furry Friends Trail&nbsp;is a yarn bombing display that can be followed as a trail.
&nbsp;
In this blog, we talk to Carole Baker from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.creativecarole.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Creative Carole</a>&nbsp;about who she is and what inspired the&nbsp;Pause: Time to Breathe&nbsp;exhibition and the&nbsp;Fabulous Furry Friends Trail.
&nbsp;
Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://visit-honeywood-museum.eventbrite.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pause:&nbsp;Time To Breathe</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://fabulous-furry-friends-trail.eventbrite.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fabulous Furry Friends Trail</a> at Honeywood Museum.&nbsp;Both are on display Thursday to Saturday, 10am - 5pm, 6 January - 5 February 2022.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Who is Carole Baker?</h2>
I have always involved myself in creative pastimes, a great way to escape the stresses of the day.&nbsp; I started patchwork and quilting in 2004, meeting a wonderful set of creative friends. Crochet came a little later in 2010, when I was looking for a new challenge, and something more portable. I am also a passionate photographer, which has allowed me to see the world through fresh eyes. My passion for photography came in 2014 when I signed up for an evening class &ndash; hoping to take a better picture. This decision, without a doubt, changed my life.
&nbsp;
I was made redundant at the end of 2020, and immediately made the decision to work on something cheerful for the community, while keeping myself busy. A post box hat, what else!! A trend sweeping across the nation. Could I manage a whole year of hats &ndash; challenge set. Starting with a rainbow hat for our local post box during a bleak, cold and grey January 2021, the first hat was completed to much jubilation. This led to many other projects that year, including being invited to help Carshalton Artist during their summer exhibition. Yarn bombing Honeywood Walk during the summer, with the furry friends and colourful tree mandalas, was a massive highlight for me!
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9240%20Resized.png" alt="Carole Baker" width="625" height="417" />&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What inspired the Furry Friends Trail and the exhibition Pause: Time To Breathe?</h2>
The Furry Friends were a huge hit in summer 2021 as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.carshaltonartists.com/openstreets2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carshalton Artists Open Streets Exhibition</a>&nbsp;at Honeywood Museum, and it would seem only right to allow them out to play once more. They were enjoyed by so many, young and old. The smiles they brought to everyone during that summer has inspired the new display. I very much hope another fun, colourful and ever so slightly bonkers display is just what we all need to get us through January 2022.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/HW%20Simon%20Seagull%20Large.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Furry%20Friends%20Summer%202020%201.png" alt="Furry Friends at Carshalton Artists Open Streets Festival 2020 - a crochet chick" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/camping%20cuthbert%20Large.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Furry%20Friends%20Summer%202020%202.png" alt="Furry Friends at Carshalton Artists Open Streets Festival 2020 - a crochet worm and tent" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/HW%20Friends%202%20Large.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Furry%20Friends%20Summer%202020%203.png" alt="Furry Friends at Carshalton Artists Open Streets Festival 2020 - various crochet insects in a bush" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;
*Click to enlarge images
&nbsp;
Pause: Time to Breathe was inspired by my beautiful surrounding. I love sharing my images, and was due to exhibit for the first time in April 2020. I&rsquo;m delighted that Sutton Council's Cultural Services have agreed for me to share some of my moments with you at Honeywood Museum.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9182%20Reovered.png" alt="Pause: Time To Breathe Exhibition at Honeywood Museum - framed photos of coastlines during dusk" width="625" height="417" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What can people expect from the exhibition Pause: Time To Breathe &amp; The Fabulous Furry Friends Trail?</h2>
For the Furry Friends exhibition expect colour, fun and an ever so slightly bonkers display of our furry friends. With the&nbsp;Pause exhibition comes a sense of calmness, peace and time to breathe, just for a moment.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Have you got any highlights for people to look out for when they visit your exhibition?</h2>
Furry Friends: It&rsquo;s been a complete joy putting the friends together for the new display, introducing a few new faces and creating new scenes. The highlight for me will be seeing smiling faces coming out of Honeywood Museum.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9198.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Furry%20Friends%202022%201.png" alt="Fabulous Furry Friends Trail at Honeywood Museum - a crochet telephone box" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9207%20Large.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Furry%20Friends%202022%202.png" alt="Fabulous Furry Friends of Honeywood Museum at Honeywood Museum - a crochet bee hanging on a framed picture" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9224.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Furry%20Friends%202022%204.png" alt="numerous crochet mushrooms and pumpkins - Fabulous Furry Friends of Honeywood Museum at Honeywood Museum" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;
*Click to enlarge images
&nbsp;
Pause: Gathering images that sit well together for the exhibition has involved revisiting some of my old images. Evoking so many memories of places I&rsquo;ve been to, enjoying time with friends who share my passion for photography, and seeing how far I&rsquo;ve progressed with my photography. In the grand scheme of things, this really is still a new skill for me, and I&rsquo;m proud to share my images with you. Every day is a school day with my photography, and I hope I can inspire someone else to take their love of photography forward.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9179%20Large.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9179-Recovered.png" alt="Pause Time to Breathe Exhibition at Honeywood Museum - framed photo of a beach at sunset" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9180%20Large.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9180%20New.png" alt="Pause Time to Breathe Exhibition at Honeywood Museum at Honeywood Museum - framed photo of a tree top" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9173%20Large.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_9173%20New.png" alt="Pause Time to Breathe Exhibition at Honeywood Museum at Honeywood Museum - framed photo of the sea" width="200" height="200" /></a>
*Click to enlarge images&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> and about other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at&nbsp;Honeywood Museum,&nbsp;Whitehall Historic House and also in Sutton's Libraries.

Meet The Artist: Carole Baker

Meet The Artist: Carole Baker

the-know-our-place-project-3-saving-whitehall

<h1 style="text-align: left;">The &lsquo;Know Our Place&rsquo; Project #3: Saving Whitehall</h1>
&nbsp;
Welcome to the final destination on our journey through Whitehall Historic House and it&rsquo;s ambition to push a dwelling loved by its community into the future. &lsquo;Saving Whitehall&rsquo; is the closing stage, where we look at how the building will maintain itself for many years to come.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Know%20Our%20Place%20Saving%20Whitehall%20-%201%20-%20Whitehall%20Historic%20House.jpg" alt="Whitehall Historic House" width="600" height="300" />
&nbsp;
As we&rsquo;ve seen in the&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/the-blog/the-know-our-place-project-1-knowing-whitehall">first</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/the-blog/the-know-our-place-project-2-sharing-whitehall">second</a>&nbsp;articles, Whitehall Historic House is no stranger to transformation. Over the course of several centuries it turned from a warehouse to a home, gaining a daring winding architecture in the process. Over a few short years it was refurbished as a museum, replacing a damp problem and intrusive 20th century fixtures with accessible ramps, a lift and a fully explorable attic. The freedom to be moulded and reshaped for multiple purposes is key to the building&rsquo;s prolonged existence, as is its fearlessness to enter new fields.
 So it should come as no surprise that it&rsquo;s already entered cyberspace, having been entirely&nbsp;<a href="https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=EsswyiNiuHQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">digitally recreated in 3D</a>. Guests are able to take a free virtual trip through Whitehall&rsquo;s walls through an internet browser, at any time and location of their choice. Sutton Council&rsquo;s Cultural Services have filled the digital house with all sorts of&nbsp;informational tidbits and fun easter eggs to find&nbsp;like tudor characters hidden around corners. Continuing updates allows the house to stay relevant, transcending it&rsquo;s physical presence into something more.
 &ldquo;The careful renovation and maintenance works has seen a major investment in Whitehall's future as a key cultural and community site in Cheam. The works have not only increased accessibility, with carefully designed extensions allowing for lift access to the 1st floor, they have also allowed the space to be more easily reinterpreted. Exhibitions from the residents and artist, and host of varied events and activities have turned Whitehall into a canvas for community and artists ambitions&rdquo;&nbsp;- Will, Area Customer Services Manager, Whitehall Historic House
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Know%20Our%20Place%20Saving%20Whitehall%20-%202%20-%20Whitehall%20Garden.jpg" alt="the garden of Whitehall Historic House" width="600" height="300" />
The scenic garden of Whitehall Historic House
&nbsp;
The house has also become one of Sutton&rsquo;s newest, officially licensed&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/civil-ceremonies">civil ceremony venues</a>. The timber framed walls and lush gardens provide the most romantic and intimate settings for couples taking up their nuptials. With a more affordable price point than many other sites and architecture steeped in history, the revenue&nbsp;from ceremonies&nbsp;will help&nbsp;ensure it endures into the future. And the on-site cafe offers convenient food and drink options for bride and grooms to be. Brought into the building in late 2019,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.freedomcaffe.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Freedom Caffe</a>&nbsp;is an independent cafe specialising in the most delicious vegetarian and vegan food and drink. It adheres to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lifegate.com/initiative/zero-impact" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lifegate CO2 Zero Impact</a>&nbsp;standards aiding in sustainability for the planet.
 Accessibility is an important facet of Whitehall Historic House, with more efforts being made globally to allow those living with a disability to enjoy experiences like everyone else. During the Know Our Place project an audio description tour and visual guide have become available, explaining how to navigate the house and exhibits on display. While these are available for all, they&rsquo;re especially helpful to those with sight loss or cognitive difficulties. A book was also produced called &lsquo;<a href="https://tlc.overdrive.com/llc-sutton/content/media/5612245" target="_blank" rel="noopener">At Home In Whitehall</a>&rsquo;, in collaboration with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.suttonmencap.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton Mencap</a>, a local charity which works to improve the lives of people with a learning disability and their carers. Sutton Mencap&rsquo;s members contributed their interpretations of Whitehall&rsquo;s objects, creating an alternative guide to the house and a tangible product they could feel proud of. And there have been a number of SEND-friendly events such as quiet open days, mystery object handling, sensory theatre and interactive makaton performances.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Know%20Our%20Place%20Saving%20Whitehall%20-%203%20-%20A%20School%20Trip%20in%20Whitehall.jpg" alt="Five school children looking upon the model of Nonsuch Palace" width="600" height="300" />
A class trip of school children looking upon the model of Nonsuch Palace
&nbsp;
Whitehall Historic House utilises a plentiful and thriving network of volunteers to help operate its various events and give behind-the-scenes access to its inner workings. It&rsquo;s a great and&nbsp;easy opportunity to get experience or get social&nbsp;with friendly like-minded people (anyone interested in volunteering can&nbsp;<a href="https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/90a5ab5e-9252-459a-9715-43172c60d90a/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apply here</a>). Thanks to that bedrock of community help, the building will continue to be a space where tomorrow&rsquo;s artists can have a platform to display their creations to the world.
 Despite the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hlf.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Lottery Heritage Fund</a>&nbsp;coming to an end in 2021, Whitehall Historic House continues to do more and be more for its community. It&rsquo;s not just limited to arts and events but can turn itself to facilitate a range of uses. From hosting product showrooms, to private networking functions, to fitness classes in the gardens - not&nbsp;bad for a 500 year old house.
&nbsp;
<div style="text-align: left;"><hr />
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
Find&nbsp;out more about&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/whitehall-historic-house">Whitehall Historic House</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://suttonculturalservices.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">book your place now</a>&nbsp;to visit the building or attend an event.

Looking at how the building will maintain itself for many years to come

The ‘Know Our Place’ Project #3: Saving Whitehall

the-know-our-place-project-2-sharing-whitehall

<h1 style="text-align: left;">The &lsquo;Know Our Place&rsquo; Project #2: Sharing Whitehall</h1>
&nbsp;
We continue our journey through Whitehall Historic House and the &lsquo;Know Our Place&rsquo; project, which aims to bring the Tudor building to the present day. The next stage is &lsquo;Sharing Whitehall&rsquo; where we&rsquo;ll celebrate the positive impact and good experiences people have enjoyed.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Know%20Our%20Place%20Sharing%20Whitehall%20-%201%20-%20Whitehall%20Building.jpg" alt="Whitehall Historic House" width="600" height="300" />
&nbsp;
You may be&nbsp;ambling&nbsp;up the winding staircase, or browsing the&nbsp;<a href="https://suttonculturalservices.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">busy event listings</a>, but it doesn&rsquo;t take long to realise Whitehall Historic House is entirely dedicated to giving back to its community. Supported by a &pound;1.9 million&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hlf.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF)</a>&nbsp;grant, the unique building has offered an overflowing pick n mix of events for people to enjoy, and offered itself as a stage to showcase unseen talent and uplifting organisations.
 &ldquo;The opportunity to display work in the exhibition gave everybody a great boost. It validated the effort that they had put into their work.&rdquo;&nbsp;- Heather, Sutton South Hello, #UnlockedArt Exhibition 
&ldquo;We wanted to write about our lives in Sutton, and in particular how we each connect to Whitehall - one of the borough&rsquo;s oldest buildings. The resulting exhibition explores the connection between past and present, amplifying the voices of&nbsp;ordinary women who have lived extraordinary lives. What was most important to us was creating a cohesive body of work that represents Sutton&rsquo;s diversity, and how we can connect through creatively thinking about spaces such as Whitehall.&rdquo;&nbsp;- Members of Sutton Women's Network Creative Writers group, Whitehall In Words Exhibition
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Know%20Our%20Place%20Sharing%20Whitehall%20-%202%20-%20Song%20Takeover%20With%20Colourful%20Lanterns.jpg" alt="multi-coloured lanterns hanging from the ceiling of the Tudor Hall in Whitehall Historic House" width="600" height="300" />
A corner of Whitehall's Tudor Hall adorned with multi-coloured lanterns from Song Gin-Young
&nbsp;
Artistic showcases have often told the stories of people from the area. The &lsquo;A Good Yarn&rsquo; exhibition displayed vibrant finger-knitted art pieces, telling the story of refugees and migrants, curated by Samia Tossio (<a href="https://www.samiart.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SamiArt</a>). Foundation and BTEC students of The University of the Creative Arts Epsom created the &lsquo;Interruptions&rsquo; art display, which pushed Whitehall's exhibition spaces in new directions. And the&nbsp;epitome of artistic expression in a 500 year old house&nbsp;came with &lsquo;Song In Whitehall&rsquo;. This was a full house takeover by transient multidisciplinary Korean artist Song Gin-Young (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/songginyoung/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">송SONG</a>), filling every corner of the house with dream-like lanterns and hand-crafted dolls of historic figures. And the list&nbsp;of contributers&nbsp;goes on and on of groups like Sutton South Hello, Whitehall Youth Panel (consisting of young people from Nonsuch High School for Girls), Sutton Women's Network&nbsp;and more&nbsp;that have brightened the walls of Whitehall Historic House with their passion.
 Passively appreciating art isn&rsquo;t for everyone. For those that prefer more active entertainment, Whitehall Historic House has provided it in spades. It&rsquo;s rare for there not to be an adventure trail occuring - a scavenger hunt around the building for young children (and those that are young at heart) to explore all the nooks and crannies in the house. Sutton Council&rsquo;s Cultural Services have made Whitehall Historic House the setting for a great many events from a multitude of professional organisations, many of which contributed to the sell out&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage/status/1430576355889012738" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Summer Programme 2021</a>. It played host for everything from live theatre shows from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.h2hsensorytheatre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Head2Head Sensory Theatre</a>, to coding workshops with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.firstclasscoders.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">First Class Coders</a>, to kendo East Asian culture demonstrations with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Japan-Cultural-Activities-Sutton-132271710213860/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Japan Cultural Activities Sutton</a>.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Know%20Our%20Place%20Sharing%20Whitehall%20-%203%20-%20Children%20Event%20in%20the%20Garden.jpg" alt="An event in the garden with young children attentively interacting with the speaker" width="600" height="300" />
An event in the garden with young children attentively interacting with the speaker
&nbsp;
Plus, it featured&nbsp;a slew of events with an environmental focus&nbsp;like workshops and family activities from&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fastfashiontherapy.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fast Fashion Therapy</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goldentoadtheatre.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Golden Toad Theatre</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://suttoncommunityfarm.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton Community Farm</a>&nbsp;and storyteller and musician,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/jennyshows/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jenny Lockyer</a>. Preserving the future is a key part of Whitehall Historic House. And how it intends to do that is the focus of the next and final article.
&nbsp;
<div style="text-align: left;"><hr />
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
Find&nbsp;out more about&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/whitehall-historic-house">Whitehall Historic House</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://suttonculturalservices.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">book your place now</a>&nbsp;to visit the building or attend an event.

Celebrating the positive impact and good experiences people have enjoyed

The ‘Know Our Place’ Project #2: Sharing Whitehall

the-know-our-place-project-1-knowing-whitehall

<h1 style="text-align: left;">The &lsquo;Know Our Place&rsquo; Project #1: Knowing Whitehall</h1>
&nbsp;
Join us on a journey through Whitehall Historic House. Over a series of articles we&rsquo;ll be delving into the &lsquo;Know Our Place&rsquo; project, a 7 year endeavour to revitalise the home from the past in the heart of Cheam Village. We start with the &lsquo;Knowing Whitehall&rsquo; stage, looking at how the building has connected Cheam&rsquo;s heritage to its community.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Know%20Our%20Place%20Knowing%20Whitehall%20-%201%20-%20Whitehall%20Sketch.jpg" alt="Whitehall Sketch" width="600" height="300" />
&nbsp;
Whitehall Historic House first came into being around 1500. A phrase like &ldquo;500 year history&rdquo; may easily fly over your head&nbsp;but (to put that into context), every week people walk by walls that witnessed&nbsp;everything between the ascension of Henry VIII to the throne, to the invention of the internet. Today you can make wooden floorboards creak,&nbsp;just as Queen Elizabeth I may have done&nbsp;(more on that later). Visitors can read the story of the building, and Cheam itself. From the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian details in the design, to the old village&rsquo;s heralded pottery and farming exploits, to stories of Cheam men and women contributing to the first world war. Cheam&rsquo;s history is at the heart of Whitehall&rsquo;s story.
 &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s very much the history that this building provides to the local area. It tells a story of Cheam, and I think that&rsquo;s something that you don&rsquo;t really find in many areas. Especially in London nowadays, they don&rsquo;t have that heritage there...it&rsquo;s really unique to this area, so I think that is something we should really cherish.&rdquo;&nbsp;- Whitehall Historic House visitor
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Know%20Our%20Place%20Knowing%20Whitehall%20-%202%20-%20Cheam%20Serves%20The%20Nation%20Display.jpg" alt="'Cheam Serves the Nation' display in Whitehall Historic House" width="600" height="300" />
'Cheam Serves the Nation' display in Whitehall Historic House
&nbsp;
Despite its name, Whitehall Historic House wasn&rsquo;t built as a house at all. Since the layout doesn&rsquo;t fit with conventional house plans of the time it&rsquo;s thought to have originally been a wool warehouse, due to the local farming land and wool having substantial economic value at the time. Over the following centuries the house would be extended and modified into the curious puzzle of rooms that have entertained mercenary philosophers, merchant captains and modern audiences.
 Whitehall Historic House has a fabled brush with royalty. After Henry VIII constructed Nonsuch Palace (consequentially giving Cheam new relevance), Queen Elizabeth I is believed by some to have held an impromptu council meeting in the house. Speculation also suggests a&nbsp;royalist sympathiser around the time of King Charles I&nbsp;may have been an early occupant of the house. The word &ldquo;remember&rdquo; is imprinted on a door found in the attic, thought to be his final word before being beheaded in 1649 - and showing support for the executed King could have made the residents guilty of treason.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Know%20Our%20Place%20Knowing%20Whitehall%20-%203%20-%20Remember%20The%20Door.jpg" alt="The door with &quot;Remember&quot; etched on the surface" width="600" height="300" />
The door with "Remember" etched on its surface
&nbsp;
Of the many interesting characters to call Whitehall their home,&nbsp;James Boevey stands out with an illustrious career&nbsp;as a merchant, lawyer and owner of the former Royal Forest of Exmoor in Somerset (over 18,000 acres large). James lived in Whitehall from 1679, where rumours allege he may have used the gardens to illegally manufacture coins. During his life he&rsquo;d written several works on the topic of &ldquo;Active Philosophy&rdquo; which could be seen as the 17th century equivalent to self-help literature - insights potentially gained due to being very well-travelled. James Boevey was as complex as he was intrepid.
 The most recently known residents to live there were the Killick family. From 1742, it was owned by (and passed from)&nbsp;John Killick, to his son&nbsp;Captain James Killick, who co-founded &lsquo;Killick Martin&rsquo;, a Transportation &amp; Logistics company that still operates today. It passed to James&rsquo;s son&nbsp;William Killick, then to his daughters Charlotte&nbsp;and&nbsp;Harriet Killick&nbsp;who opened it up for student boarding for the local Cheam School. Their niece,&nbsp;Penelope Muller&nbsp;(n&eacute;e Noakes) lived in the house from 1882 and it eventually passed to her daughters,&nbsp;Susan Mary&nbsp;and&nbsp;Harriet Maud Muller. They passed it to their niece&nbsp;Doris Mills, where it was bought by Sutton Council in 1963. That&rsquo;s 7 generations and over 200 years under the ownership of one family lineage.
&nbsp;
Since then, with the help of the <a href="https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Lottery Heritage Fund</a>&nbsp;and a building refurbishment, Sutton Council&rsquo;s Cultural Services host a range of events and activities to the modern public, which we&rsquo;ll be talking about in the next article.
&nbsp;
<div style="text-align: left;"><hr />
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
Find&nbsp;out more about&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/whitehall-historic-house">Whitehall Historic House</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://suttonculturalservices.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">book your place now</a>&nbsp;to visit the building or attend an event.

Exploring how Whitehall has connected Cheam&rsquo;s heritage to its community

The ‘Know Our Place’ Project #1: Knowing Whitehall

exhibition-spotlight-art-against-domestic-violence

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Exhibition Spotlight: Art Against Domestic Violence</h1>
&nbsp;
The&nbsp;Art Against Domestic Violence&nbsp;Exhibition features an assortment of artistic creations completed by local women who attended Art for Wellbeing sessions delivered by Anna Virabyan from Intuit Art at Sutton Women's Centre.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The exhibition is dedicated to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sutton.gov.uk/news/article/923/sutton_council_marks_white_ribbon_day_to_end_men_s_violence_against_women" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White Ribbon Campaign</a>&nbsp;the largest global initiative to end male violence against women by calling on men to take action to make a difference&nbsp;&amp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/take-action/16-days-of-activism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence</a>.
&nbsp;
In this blog, we talk to Anna Virabyan from Intuit Art about who she is and what inspired the 'Art Against Domestic Violence Exhibition.
&nbsp;
Visit the <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/visit-honeywood-museum-for-new-winter-exhibitions-tickets-152988311157" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Art Against Domestic Violence</a> exhibition at Honeywood Museum. On display Thursday to Saturday,&nbsp;10am - 5pm, until 11 December 2021.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Who is Intuit Art?</h2>
Intuit Art is the creative name encompassing all of the artistic services I provide. I collaborate with different organisations to celebrate and&nbsp;encourage people&nbsp;and build wellness through diverse therapeutic artistic activities using different art mediums such as watercolours, acrylic and charcoal, etc. My unique approach helps students develop an aesthetic appreciation of art whilst enabling them to create functional portfolios of their artworks.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_8685%20(Resized).png" alt="Anna Virabyan stood in front of five artworks of coastlines" width="625" height="417" />&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What inspired the Art Against Domestic Violence exhibition?</h2>
As a survivor of domestic violence, I have firsthand experience and fully understand the benefits which can be gained by expressing and releasing emotion in a creative way. I am keen to help and support people by providing the opportunity for everyone to benefit from this therapeutic process irrespective of their artistic abilities and have been inspired by the dedication of all who have attended my recent Art for Wellbeing sessions.&nbsp; I believe that the focus and strength in each piece is gained through the actual creative process rather than from the finished result itself and I am proud of each and every person who has attended the sessions to produce emotional and meaningful artwork creations.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp;<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Art%20Against%20Domestic%20Violence%204.png" alt="woman stood in front of 3 artworks above a fireplace ledge" width="625" height="417" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What is the goal of the exhibition?</h2>
My goal is to raise awareness of Domestic Violence and bring communities together adding value to support people by offering diverse therapeutic artistic activities.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What can people expect to see at your exhibition?</h2>
Visitors to the exhibition can look forward to viewing an inspiring collection of artworks symbolising the wide range of emotions felt by local residents who attended my recent Art for Wellbeing sessions.&nbsp; The many artistic creations are in a variety of styles, symbolising different stages of worry, trauma, anxiety, recovery, optimism and hope, and my wish is that visitors will be inspired by the exhibition and will look into ways in which art can help in so many aspects of life.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/WhatsApp%20Image%202021-04-21%20at%2012.24.05.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Art%20Against%20Domestic%20Violence%20Blog%203%20200%20x%20200.png" alt="artwork of the back of a hand with the index and middle fingers crossed" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/WhatsApp%20Image%202021-06-26%20at%2014.09.35.jpeg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Art%20Against%20Domestic%20Violence%202.png" alt="artwork of two giraffe's touching heads" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG-20210715-WA0013%20(1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Art%20Against%20Domestic%20Violence%203.png" alt="painting of red flowers placed inside a fishbowl" width="200" height="200" /></a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Have you got any highlights for people to look out for when they visit your exhibition?</h2>
Yes, everything is a highlight!&nbsp; With so many different minds, and such a variety of independently created artworks, no two are the same and there is something exciting and inspiring to be found in all artworks on display.&nbsp; Artworks are complemented by written comments to help visitors understand the background behind these creations, every picture tells a story.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_8741%20Resized.png" alt="three pieces of art on a wall, one of a sunset over a body of water, another of a tree in autumn, and the other of a field of flowers before an old house" width="625" height="417" />
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Find out more about Intuit Art on their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/wellnessarttrainer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/intuit.art/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>
&nbsp;
Intuit Art would like to thank&nbsp;<a href="https://suttonwomenscentre.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton Women&rsquo;s Centre</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.suttoncollege.ac.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton College</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sutton.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton Council</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sutton Council's Cultural Services</a>&nbsp;and the funders,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ansutton.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arts Network Sutton</a>&nbsp;for making this exhibition possible.
&nbsp;
Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> and about other <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at&nbsp;Honeywood Museum,&nbsp;Whitehall Historic House and also in Sutton's Libraries.
&nbsp;
Follow&nbsp;Sutton Heritage&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>

Exhibition Spotlight: Art Against Domestic Violence

Exhibition Spotlight: Art Against Domestic Violence

exhibition-spotlight-crafting-a-village

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Exhibition Spotlight: Crafting a Village</h1>
&nbsp;
Crafting a Village&nbsp;is an exciting exhibition of inspirational model houses and buildings, created from mixed media, clay, card and textiles and turned into a model village by Sutton South Hello, the award-winning community group for older people.
&nbsp;
In this blog we talk to Sutton South Hello about who they are and what inspired their 'Crafting a Village' Exhibition at Honeywood Museum.
&nbsp;
See&nbsp;<a href="https://visit-honeywood-museum.eventbrite.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crafting a Village</a>&nbsp;every Thursday to Saturday 10am - 5pm,&nbsp;until 30 October 2021.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Who are Sutton South Hello?</h2>
Sutton South Hello is a community group for the over 50s, run by volunteers. Our aim is to create a warm and friendly atmosphere where people can meet others and have an enjoyable afternoon. We have a social club and an arts &amp; crafts club.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_6832%20(Edited)%20(3).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Crafting%20a%20Village%20-%20Whitehall.png" alt="Crafting a Village at Honeywood Museum - miniature model of Whitehall Historic House" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_6881%20(1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/2.png" alt="Crafting a Village Exhibition at Honeywood Museum - miniature model of a building made of card" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_6887.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/3.png" alt="Crafting a Village Exhibition at Honeywood Museum - public display board stood next to a grassy area" width="200" height="200" /></a>
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What inspired the&nbsp;Crafting a Village exhibition?</h2>
Since Sutton South Hello started 8 years ago we have always worked on collaborative projects and ones that demonstrate the different skills in our group. Two of our members suggested a model village. We thought about it and asked advice from a local artist who helped us devise a plan for the village. We then held sessions making cottages out of different materials; decorated them and put them on the village layout. Trees of shredded scouring pads, people made of plastic from a 3D printer, roads of dried lentils followed.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/SS%20Crafting%20a%20Village%203.png" alt="Crafting a Village at Honeywood Museum - two miniature houses appearing to be made from brick and plaster" width="625" height="417" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What can people expect from the exhibition?</h2>
People can have lots of fun identifying what various parts of the village are&nbsp;made of. Everyone can enjoy imagining the history and inhabitants of the village; or thinking of ideas and templates for making cottages.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_6854%20(1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/5.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - Crafting a Village exhibition - quilt of several multicoloured houses" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_6853.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/6.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - Crafting a Village exhibition - quilt of the view through a window onto a nature scene" width="200" height="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_6865.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/7.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - Crafting a Village exhibition - artwork of a cottage exterior at night" width="200" height="200" /></a>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Exhibits like this have been made possible thanks to support by the Mayor of London's Culture Seeds fund.
&nbsp;
Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/honeywood-museum">Honeywood Museum</a> and about other <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at&nbsp;Honeywood Museum,&nbsp;Whitehall Historic House and also in Sutton's Libraries.
&nbsp;
Follow&nbsp;Sutton Heritage&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>

Exhibition Spotlight: Crafting a Village

Exhibition Spotlight: Crafting a Village

exhibition-spotlight-whitehall-in-words

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Exhibition Spotlight: Whitehall in Words</h1>
&nbsp;
Whitehall in Words&nbsp;is the result of collaborative work between Sutton Council's&nbsp;Cultural Services and the inspiring women of Sutton Women&rsquo;s Network Creative Writers group. This exhibition features original poetry, prose, artworks and personal photographs bringing together life experiences within and beyond the borough, and Whitehall Historic House.
&nbsp;
In this blog we talk to Sutton Women's Network about who they are and what inspired their 'Whitehall in Words' Exhibition&nbsp;at Whitehall Historic House.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://visit-whitehall-historic-house.eventbrite.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">See Whitehall in Words</a> every Thursday to Saturday 10am - 5pm, until 11 September 2021.
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Who are Sutton Women's Network?</h2>
We are a group of welcoming, supportive, diverse Sutton women exploring creativity, networking, and having fun as we experiment with all forms of writing. Diverse women from all backgrounds and ages represent a rich cultural mix that makes the group dynamic, bringing understanding and knowledge from various parts of the globe - Kenya, India, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, to name a few. Several members have lived in Sutton all their lives and are able to provide fascinating details about Sutton&rsquo;s history.
&nbsp;
The group evolved from an International Women&rsquo;s day event organised by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.suttoncvs.org.uk/">Community Action Sutton</a>. Many of us had long-held desires to write our life stories, and the group was established to support this and other creative and professional aims.
&nbsp;
Each one of us has been able to share experiences through our writing and have found many similarities in our lives as residents of the London Borough of Sutton. We have grown in confidence as writers under the guidance of author, Jacqueline Crooks. We kept meeting digitally throughout the Covid-19 lockdowns, when the group provided an important supportive and sustaining connection.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_7066%20625px%20x%20417px.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - Whitehall in Words Exhibition - A white room inside Whitehall Historic House containing some exhibits" width="625" height="417" />&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What inspired the&nbsp;Whitehall in Words&nbsp;exhibition?</h2>
 The exhibition is part of the wider NLHF project&nbsp;&lsquo;<a href="https://whitehallmuseum.wordpress.com/the-project/">Know our Place: Saving and Sharing Whitehall&rsquo;</a>. We met with Sutton Council&rsquo;s Cultural Services team following one of our live reading events last October; we wanted to write about our lives in Sutton, and in particular how we each connect to Whitehall - one of the borough&rsquo;s oldest buildings. The resulting exhibition explores the connection between past and present through writings and art, amplifying the voices of ordinary women who have lived extraordinary lives. What was most important to us was creating a cohesive body of work that represents Sutton&rsquo;s diversity, and how we can connect through creatively thinking about spaces such as Whitehall.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_3788.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - Whitehall in Words Exhibition - a glass case containing an illustration of Whitehall Historic House" width="625" height="417" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">What can people expect from the exhibition?</h2>
Whitehall is a Tudor building and as you step over the threshold you are immediately transported back to Shakespearean times. The winding wooden staircase takes you up to the first floor where you&rsquo;ll find the exhibition.
&nbsp;
On the walls and in display cases are works of art, pieces of writing and poetry, rich with imagery that enable you to imagine the lives of the writers. This exhibition takes you around the world, onto the parklands of Sutton and into Whitehall itself. It is writing as a journey and exploration, as the writers connect their long-ago pasts, comparing and contrasting childhood homes from places like a white house in Burnt Savannah, Jamaica, made from local trees. The exhibition maps the rich cultural heritage of women from Sutton on the walls of historic Whitehall.
&nbsp;
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/op5QHFqKw30" width="560" height="314" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Have you got any exhibition highlights?&nbsp;</h2>
Barbara Watts&rsquo; poem is a highlight of the exhibition. Barbara, who sadly passed away, was one of the original members of the group and played a key role in promoting the group to other women. Her poem imagines Whitehall as a character speaking from the past. A house embodying Sutton&rsquo;s past in delicate and fine detail.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/IMG_7051.png" alt="Sutton Council's Cultural Services - Whitehall in Words Exhibition - a wall-mounted poem entitled Whitehall and a photo of Barbara Watts" width="625" height="417" />&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Accessibility has been a key feature of the wider Whitehall project, including the addition of a new lift. As pointed out by Councillor Nali Patel, a member of the group, this has had a great impact on the exhibition, which is fully accessible.
&nbsp;
Finally, there is a children&rsquo;s activity that stimulates young minds and provides an opportunity to display their own artwork.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Exhibits like this have been made possible thanks to the support of the&nbsp;National Lottery Hertiage Fund (<a href="https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NLHF</a>). Find out more about <a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/digital-content/sutton-heritage/whitehall-historic-house">Whitehall Historic House</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;about other <a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/sutton-cultural-services-17503239983" target="_blank" rel="noopener">exhibitions and events</a> taking place at Whitehall Historic House, Honeywood Museum&nbsp;&amp; also in Sutton's Libraries.
&nbsp;
Follow&nbsp;Sutton Heritage&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sutton-Heritage-539082262812204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/suttonheritage/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/SuttonHeritage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a>

Exhibition Spotlight: Whitehall in Words

Exhibition Spotlight: Whitehall in Words

the-ninth-child-review

<h1 style="text-align: left;">The Ninth Child - Book Review</h1>
by Sutton Council's Cultural Services staff
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Header%20-%20The%20Ninth%20Child.png" alt="Book Review: The Ninth Child - Sally Magnusson" width="600" height="400" />
&nbsp;
Title:&nbsp;The Ninth Child
Author:&nbsp;Sally Magnusson
Available to borrow&nbsp;via My Library App&nbsp;(<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.solus.LLC&amp;hl=en_GB">Google Play</a>&nbsp;/&nbsp;<a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/my-library-app/id1475794558">Apple iOS</a>)
&nbsp;
Several members of the team within Sutton Council's Cultural Services read The&nbsp;Ninth Child&nbsp;by&nbsp;Sally Magnusson. The group had a positive response, finding it engaging and enjoyable. The title's deft use of different genres was a particular highlight, inspiring them to share their views as written below.
&nbsp;
I found The Ninth Child to be an engaging fusion of history and folklore. I really enjoyed reading this book and it&rsquo;s vivid writing transported me to the Scottish landscape. A gothic tale that gripped and enthralled till the end.&nbsp;-Susan
&nbsp;
It took me a long time to get into this story with the supernatural element confusing me, but by the second half of the book I was hooked and totally invested in the characters and really enjoyed the suspense.&nbsp;-Drifa
&nbsp;
Magical, historical, original - it took me on a mysterious journey and the tension built all the way through. I liked the protagonist&rsquo;s feisty, independent character (Isabel). It took a while to get used to the different narratives and dialects, but I enjoyed the challenge. A unique tale, woven around historical facts.&nbsp;-Nicola
&nbsp;
Not something I would normally read - I found this challenging but very enjoyable. I liked the different perspectives that the author was able to write from as well as the magical elements.&nbsp;-Dhana
&nbsp;
I really enjoyed the book. Will definitely recommend it to my dad and sister who are both avid readers as well.&nbsp;-Mark
 Completely different to anything that I've ever read before but I couldn&rsquo;t put this book down until I was done. Isabel was such a strong and compelling character especially for the time period; the setting was described beautifully and I was fully engaged throughout.&nbsp;-Katie
&nbsp;
I thoroughly enjoyed The Ninth Child by Sally Magnusson. It was a brilliant combination of history, fiction and folklore. I must admit I did enjoy dipping into the lives of Victoria and Albert.&nbsp;-Susannah
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
'The&nbsp;Ninth Child' can be read for free with your Sutton Library card details&nbsp;through&nbsp;'My Library App'.&nbsp;Download 'My Library App' in the relevant app store:
&nbsp;
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.solus.LLC&amp;hl=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Google%20Play%20Store%20edited.png" alt="Google Play Store" width="140" height="48" /></a><a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/my-library-app/id1475794558" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/App%20Store%20Logo%20edited.png" alt="Apple Store" width="140" height="48" /></a>
&nbsp;
Not a member of Sutton Libraries?&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/user/register" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for FREE membership</a>.

'The Ninth Child' by Sally Magnusson

The Ninth Child - Review

three-great-films-you-might-not-know-were-book-adaptations-opinion-piece

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Three Great Films You Might Not Know Were Book Adaptations - Opinion Piece</h1>
&nbsp;
During the coronavirus pandemic, consumption of film via home streaming predictably boomed, being the only available option for much of the lockdown. Despite this, some studios have been reluctant to risk releasing their new big tentpole films in what they view as a relatively untested market, demonstrating the over cautious and reactive nature that has permeated the film industry for decades.
&nbsp;
Due in part to this relative dearth of big name releases, a tendency to fall back on old favourites and desire to re-explore familiar ground, during the pandemic home audiences tended to look back in time for their home viewing choices. As a result, adaptations are more popular than ever.
&nbsp;
With this in mind, here are three classic films that you may not know are book adaptations, to give you some home streaming inspiration. For each entry we have also supplied a perfect book recommendation as a companion to each film. All books can be accessed absolutely free via the Libby App. All you need is your library card.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Screenshot_20210412-123751.png" alt="Drive" width="211" height="331" />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Drive (2011)</h2>
Nicholas Winding Refn&rsquo;s brutal, neon drenched neo-noir garnered acclaim and controversy in equal measure when it was released in 2011. However, less well known is the source&nbsp;<a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/591181/drive">novel of the same name</a>, by James Sallis. Published in 2005, the book drew favourable comparisons to classic works of noir fiction. The book's nonlinear structure and downbeat tone set it apart from usual Hollywood fodder.
<a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/591181/drive">https://www.overdrive.com/media/591181/drive</a>
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Screenshot_20210412-125741.png" alt="The Wicker Man" width="204" height="282" />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Wicker Man (1973)</h2>
Loosely adapted from David Pinner&rsquo;s 1967 novel,&nbsp;Ritual, The Wicker Man&nbsp;endured a legendarily troubled production to become regarded as one of the greatest British films ever made and an influential classic of the horror genre. So troubled was the production that journalist Allan Brown describes it as a &ldquo;textbook example of how things should never be done&rdquo;, in his 2012 book about the making of the film,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/990714/inside-the-wicker-man">Inside the Wicker Man</a>.
<a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/990714/inside-the-wicker-man">https://www.overdrive.com/media/990714/inside-the-wicker-man</a>
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Screenshot_20210412-125824.png" alt="The Third Man" width="196" height="269" />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">The Third Man (1949)</h2>
Carol Reed&rsquo;s iconic 1949 noir masterpiece starring Joseph Cotten and Orson Welles was originally intended only as a motion picture. In preparation for writing the script however, Graham Greene worked his initial idea into a novella which was released following the film's success. Re-released in 2012 as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/2240821/the-third-man">digital edition</a>&nbsp;featuring insights into the film's production and clips from the film itself that sit alongside the text of the novel, this version is the perfect companion both to those new to the film, and those revisiting a classic.
<a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/2240821/the-third-man">https://www.overdrive.com/media/2240821/the-third-man</a>

Home streaming inspiration with a perfect book recommendation

Three Great Films You Might Not Know Were Book Adaptations - Opinion Piece

the-lido-review

<h1 style="text-align: left;">The Lido - Book Review</h1>
by Sutton Council's Cultural Services staff
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Sutton%20Cultural%20Services%20-%20Header%20-%20The%20Lido.png" alt="Book Review: The Lido - Libby Page" width="600" height="400" />
&nbsp;
Title:&nbsp;The Lido
Author:&nbsp;Libby Page
Available in Print version&nbsp;through My Library App&nbsp;(<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.solus.LLC&amp;hl=en_GB">Google Play</a>&nbsp;/&nbsp;<a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/my-library-app/id1475794558">Apple iOS</a>)
&nbsp;
Several members of the team within Sutton Cultural Services read The Lido by Libby Page. The group were inspired to share their views, as written below.
&nbsp;
I really liked the book. It was good to read a different genre, as I usually read historical fiction and crime fiction. But it was nice to read a general fiction book for a change. -Mark
&nbsp;
I found the Lido a very uplifting read. I recognized Kate's feeling of loneliness in a big city and it was wonderful to learn how the friendship developed between her and Rosemary; there was such a strong connection between different generations. The Lido itself is really one of the main characters and it made me long to get back to swimming. The community spirit that the threat of its closure inspired was heartwarming.&nbsp;-Drifa
&nbsp;
I found the book to portray a multi-generational friendship perfectly by highlighting the loneliness they both felt. It really captured the community spirit behind The Lido, and what it meant to the local area and people.&nbsp;-Katie
 I enjoyed the dynamic of the two lead characters and what they brought to each other&rsquo;s generation. I found it both moving and uplifting in equal measure and the setting made it unusual and interesting.&nbsp;-Susan
&nbsp;
Found this an enjoyable heart warming read. I thought the friendship of the two main characters was very sweet and I also liked how Brixton, it's community and the lido played a central part in the story.&nbsp;-Dhana
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
'The Lido' can be read for free with your Sutton Library card details&nbsp;through&nbsp;'My Library App'.&nbsp;Download 'My Library App' in the relevant app store:
&nbsp;
<a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.solus.LLC&amp;hl=en_GB" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Google%20Play%20Store%20edited.png" alt="Google Play Store" width="140" height="48" /></a><a href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/my-library-app/id1475794558" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/App%20Store%20Logo%20edited.png" alt="Apple Store" width="140" height="48" /></a>
&nbsp;
Not a member of Sutton Libraries?&nbsp;<a href="https://libraries.sutton.gov.uk/user/register" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for FREE membership</a>.

'The Lido' by Libby Page

The Lido - Review

jack-nicholsons-greatest-performances-opinion-piece

<h1 style="text-align: left;">Jack Nicholson&rsquo;s Greatest Performances - Opinion Piece</h1>
&nbsp;
Widely regarded as one of the greatest American actors of all time, Jack Nicolson&rsquo;s over 60 year career has seen him become one of only a handful of actors to be awarded 3 Academy Awards. We honour the screen legend by looking at two of his greatest roles, and recommending the books to go with them, both of which are available absolutely free via the Libby App. All you need is your library card.
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Screenshot_20210412-130010.png" alt="One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" width="252" height="374" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)</h2>
&nbsp;
Milo&scaron; Forman&rsquo;s classic drama became only the second film to bag all 5 major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress &amp; Best Screenplay) upon its release in 1975, including Nicholson&rsquo;s first award for his portrayal of Randle McMurphy, a rabble rousing patient at a psychiatric hospital. At once uplifting and tragic, the film is noted for a number of outstanding performances aside from Nicholson&rsquo;s. Most notable is Louise Fletcher&rsquo;s portrayal of the sadistic nurse Ratched, a character so iconic she was the subject of a Netflix series focusing on her origins in 2020.
&nbsp;
Just like the film, Ken Kasey&rsquo;s 1962&nbsp;<a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/773132/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest">novel of the same name</a>&nbsp;focusses on McMurphy having himself transferred to a psychiatric institution to avoid a custodial sentence following a conviction. The plot is very similar to that in the film. The book is narrated by &lsquo;Chief&rsquo; Bromden, the gentle giant Native American who presents as a deaf-mute and conspires with McMurphy to escape the unit.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/773132/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get your copy on Libby, by Overdrive here.</a>
&nbsp;
<img style="height: auto;" src="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/custom/web/content/Screenshot_20210412-130056.png" alt="Ten Days That Shook the World" width="247" height="385" />
&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: left;">Reds (1981)</h2>
&nbsp;
Warren Beatty&rsquo;s epic labour of love chronicling the life of radical journalist John Reed, who documented the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in his 1919 book&nbsp;<a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/189406/ten-days-that-shook-the-world">Ten Days That Shook the World</a>. The film was co-written, directed and produced by Beatty. Nicholson stars as playwright Eugene O&rsquo;Neill who, along with Reed and socialite Louise Bryant (played by Diane Keaton), are part of a group of radical artists and activists based in Greenwich Village, New York City. They soon become embroiled in a complicated love triangle, complicated further by Reed and Bryant becoming involved in the Bolshevik Revolution and the early days of the Soviet state. Nicholson&rsquo;s performance marries magnetic charm with an underlying menace and earned him another Oscar nomination.
&nbsp;
John Reed&rsquo;s real life account of the Russian Revolution was both celebrated and condemned upon its release in 1919, and while Reed&rsquo;s self declared partisanship means it is far from an objective account of events, Reed was a journalist, not a historian, and his intimate access to some of the major figures of the Revolution and the trust placed in him by them, makes this an invaluable look at one of the most seismic events in human history.
 <a href="https://www.overdrive.com/media/189406/ten-days-that-shook-the-world" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Get your copy on Libby, by Overdrive here.</a>

Looking at some of his greatest roles and recommending the books to go with them.

Jack Nicholson’s Greatest Performances - Opinion Piece

sutton-spotlight-blog

<h1>Sutton Spotlight Blog</h1>
&nbsp;
The Sutton Spotlight Blog began in 2020. Since it's inception Staff from Sutton Council's Cultural Services, and several guest reviewers, have written dozens of articles reviewing their favourite books, digital resources, and events/exhibition reviews. Click the&nbsp;links below to read an article, and find out from staff and volunteers what makes their Library or Heritage House special.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=BOOK+REVIEW%3A+T1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" target="_blank" style="text-align: center;" rel="noopener">The Taking of Annie Thorne</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=BOOK+REVIEW%3A+H0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue" target="_blank" style="text-align: center;" rel="noopener">How the World Thinks</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=BOOK+REVIEW%3A+I0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">In Case You Missed It</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=BOOK+REVIEW%3A+T0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">The Hate U Give</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+16%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">I See You</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+15%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Listening to the Animals</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+14%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">White Fragility</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=TOP+10+CHILDRE0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Top 10 Children's Books</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+13%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Girl, Woman, Other</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EMANGA+REVIEW%3A0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Legend of the Piko Piko Middle School Students</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EMANGA+REVIEW%3A0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Pet Sematary</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EMANGA+REVIEW%3A0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">The President is Missing</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+8%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue&amp;dt=list" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">At Home in Whitehall</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+8%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue&amp;dt=list" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Oh My Goodness</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+7%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">The Lost Gardens of Heligan</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=CHICK+LIT+AUTH0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C2%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Great Expectations</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=CHICK+LIT+AUTH0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C2%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Favourite Female Authors</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=THIS+IS+GOING+0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C2%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">The Man Who Planted Trees</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=THE+SUN+DOES+S0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C2%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">The Sun Does Shine</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+5%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Dumplin'</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=TO+KILL+A+MOCK1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">To Kill A Mockingbird</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+4%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Walden</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+3%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Wilding</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+2%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">The Shepherd's Life</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">At the Edge of the Orchard</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">This is Going to Hurt</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=FILM+REVIEW%3A+R0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Rocket Man</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EBOOK+REVIEW%3A+0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Aftermath</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EAUDIO+BOOK+RE1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Page</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=ONLINE+RESOURC3%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">eResource of the Month: RB Digital</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EAUDIO+BOOK+RE0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Reasons to Stay Alive</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=EVENT+REVIEW%3A+0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Event Review: Lunar New Year 2020</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=HONEYWOOD+MUSE2%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Sutton Spotlight: Honeywood Museum</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=SUTTON+SPOTLIG1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Sutton Spotlight: Wallington Library</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=SUTTON+SPOTLIG1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7Ctrue" style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; text-align: center;">Sutton Spotlight: Whitehall Historic House</a>
<a href="https://llc.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/sutton/?rm=SUTTON+ARCHIVE0%7C%7C%7C1%7C%7C%7C0%7C%7C%7Ctrue" target="_blank" style="text-align: center;" rel="noopener">Sutton Archive Exhibition Featured in Major Film</a>

Book and event reviews from staff and guests

Sutton Spotlight Blog

central-library-top-floor-is-open

Following heavy rainfall occurring on Wednesday 24 August and Thursday 25 August, the top floor of Sutton Central Library was closed due to ceiling damage. The archive operated its usual hours.
&nbsp;
After assessing the situation for a safe reopening, the top floor and 2A of Sutton Central Library have been re-opened to the public on Friday 2 September. We ask library visitors to please adhere to all signage and notices, including those around the area which is temporarily cordoned off to customers. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Sutton Council's Cultural Services [BETA] The Blog