Museum & Theatre Opening Times
Saturdays 10am to 5pm:
29 July, 26 August, 21 October, 18 November.
Sunday 17 September 12 to 4pm for Open House London.
Normansfield's trees
We have an ongoing research project investigating the landscape of trees created by Dr John Langdon Down.
The landscape at Normansfield was an important part of the therapeutic, training and educational environment offered by Dr John Langdon Down and his wife Mary. They created a rich landscape of trees and shrubs with paths that took residents and staff on walks around Normansfield, bordered as it is by Kingston Road, Holmesdale Road, Broom Road and Normansfield Avenue. Seating was installed and to walk the whole 42 acre site would be around one and a half miles. It is said that Langdon Down planted every native species of British tree. There are however, many examples of foreign species.
Richmond Adult Community College
Outreach Learners with Learning Difficulties or Disabilities (LLDD) Art class at Normansfield Theatre
Olwen Geen from Richmond Adult Community College (RACC) teaches art to a group of nine students with learning disabilities and difficulties at the Langdon Down Museum.
The class is held in the museum and the students find inspiration from the amazing objects around them. They have been working on a project about the Victorian theatre and its scenery at Normansfield. The outcome of the project is a body of work in mixed medias.
Students have been creating collages and paintings of the actual structure of the theatre and the different landscape scenery backcloths. These include woodland, a rocky cove and a river scene. Olwen says it has been a privilege to teach them and watch their work develop.
One student, Anna, who works part time in the Down’s Syndrome Association office, said she loved being on the course and seeing her friends. All their work is displayed here.
Aktion T4
The memorial at Tiergartenstraße 4, Berlin. Aktion T4 was the Nazi euthanasia programme that resulted in the murder of over 200,000 people with learning and physical disabilities. The offices were based in a villa, now demolished, at Tiergartenstraße 4 in Berlin.
See links for further information.
Scenery Makers Model
The 19th century scenery makers model now fitted with copies of original Normansfield theatre scenery
Museum & theatre next open: 10am-5pm Saturday 29 July
Great Names in the Social History of Learning Disability
Saturday 29 July | 11am – 12.00pm
A talk about some of the great names in the social history of learning disability, from the early 19th Century to the present day. Those who brought improvements to the education, training, care and rights of those with learning disabilities. Cost: Free. Booking not required.
See Talks and Tours
Download a copy of our talks and tours leaflet here. Museum Talks And Tours Leaflet 2017
You can download our children’s trail here or pick up a free copy in the museum
Open University Social History of Learning Disability (SHLD) Conference 2017
Doing research on the social history of learning disability: Learning Lessons
Date: Thursday 20th and Friday 21st July 2017
For details see here.
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Down's Syndrome Association
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© The Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability and the Langdon Down Centre are owned and
managed by the Down’s Syndrome Association. Registered Charity no 1061474