The Leicester Blitz - Exhibition Sneak Peek
Published: 18 December 2020
Due to Covid related restrictions the opening of our new exhibition at Newarke Houses 'The Leicester Blitz – the German Air Raid on Leicester, 19-20 Nov. 1940' has been delayed.
Here, you can take a look at some of the exhibition content while we are closed. We look forward to welcoming you into our Museum sites as soon as possible in 2021.
The Leicester Blitz - exhibition introduction
German bombers attacked Leicester eight times during World War II, killing 120 people. Of these, 108 died on the night of 19-20 November 1940, known as 'Leicester Blitz Night'. This exhibition commemorates those who died and the men and women whose work in Civil Defence, saved so many more people.
Explore the two exhibition galleries in this 360° film, use your finger or mouse to look around while the film plays:
There are a wide selection of objects on display including a slab from a concrete bomb shelter that is covered in school children's graffiti. See the gallery for a selection of highlights.
The Leicester Blitz Exhibition Highlights
The exhibition is at Newarke Houses, home to the collections of The Leicester Regiment.
These objects were used by Air Raid Precaution Wardens and Police Messengers.
A hand cranked air raid siren used by Leicester Police.
An exmple of a small 1kg incendiary bomb that was dropped on Leicester in large numbers.
A concrete slab from the air raid shelter at St Mary's Field Infant and Nursery School in the Narborough Road area of Leicester.
Pencil graffiti drawn by children on the slab shows houses being bombed.
St John's Ambulance Association nurse's uniform; worn by Lorna Peckham who trained at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
In the second gallery there is a number of wartime paintings by Kenneth Holmes on display.
Kenneth Holmes (1902 - 1994) was born in Skipton and studied at the Royal College of Art.
Kenneth was Principle of Leicester College of Art from 1934 - 1956 and many of these artworks are from the Museums Collection.
We look forward to you being able to visit Newarke Houses to see the exhibition. Please keep an eye on our social media channels for news of reopening.
Community Memories
In the meantime you can discover stories and photographs sent in to us by members of the public about The Leicester Blitz.