NEWS RELEASES
Winter Time Blues!
21st October 2004
On the second day of winter Horsham Museum is opening an exhibition that celebrates winter called Winter Time Blues in marked contrast to that popular song 'Summer Time Blues'. This exhibition, however, is not all misery, drab or dull with a damp, wintry feel about it. More than anything else this exhibition shows how we humans have turned a period when most sane animals such as squirrels hibernate, into an opportunity to show nature that we are not always downhearted at this time of year! It might be dark outside, but the woman who bought the vibrant emerald green hooded cape in 1930s did not let the season get her down. An early survival on a rare public showing is richly embroidered silver and gold threaded nightcap that a Tudor gentleman, lying in bed some 450 years ago, would have donned to keep out the winter chill. Houses might have been draughty but wrapping up warm ensured life carried on, so on display there is also an early example of a pair of 'long johns', and many a winter was cheered by the homemade woollen jumper that either fitted like a glove, (and we have many examples of gloves on display), or a baggy vest, (which for the sake of decency we have not displayed!) some made from patterns such as we have on show from the 50s and 60s, as well as some knitting needles.
For all those who hate winter there is at least one cheering thought! You do get to choose a different wardrobe! Without winter there would be no fur lined boots, no gloves, no thick scarves, coats, hats and for millennia, there would have been no furs. Today the wearing of real fur is morally questioned by many, but that is a recent view that has come about over the past twenty years or so. Before that time the luxury item was a mink coat or stole. It was one item more than any other for countless women that brightened up those winter time blues – winter was an excuse to wear luxurious clothing.
However, the exhibition is not all about clothing. Also on display are items relating to fires from 18th century fire fans, used to prevent the face burning when sitting next to a roaring log fire, Wealden iron firedogs, tins of mints to warm the inner self, a 19th century brazier for roasting chestnuts, a thermos flask for piping hot soup and electric fires to warm ourselves by. And should those 'winter time blues' really set in, there is always a box of chocolates, a glass of something and a good book to curl up with.
WINTER TIME BLUES is an exhibition that shows how inventive we humans are at cheering ourselves up at a time when everything seems so dull and drab. It is a celebration of winter and all the paraphernalia that the season brings. The exhibition runs from 25th October until 27th November.
For further information please contact:
Jeremy Knight, Curator & Heritage Officer
Horsham Museum, 9 Causeway
Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1HE
Tel: (01403) 254959
Fax: (01403) 217581
Email: museum@horsham.gov.uk
Opening times:
Mon to Sat (ex. bank hols) 10.00am -5.00pm
Admission Free