Museum & Theatre Open Days
10am-5pm on Saturdays:
20 October (theatre open from 11.30am)
3 November, 9 February, 16 March
Exhibitions
Tuesday 19 June – Sunday 28 October | Watts Gallery
James Henry Pullen: Inmate – Inventor – Genius explores the life and imagination of James Henry Pullen (1835 – 1916), examining the creative escapism of an outsider artist who during his own lifetime attracted royal attention. Dubbed by Victorian journalists as ‘the genius of Earlswood Asylum’ Pullen saw his fantastical works escape the confines of the asylums, where he was incarcerated continuously for nearly 70 years, to travel to international exhibitions.
Bringing together newly restored works – and drawing on new research – this exhibition will shine a light on Pullen’s life and work to offer a new perspective on an artist of wit and inventiveness who has been largely forgotten. It will also examine the broader context in which Pullen was working – the world of nineteenth-century science, technology and psychiatry.
Opening Tuesday 19 June @WattsGallery, James Henry Pullen: Inmate – Inventor – Genius, the first exhibition to explore the life and imagination of artist and model-maker, James Henry Pullen (1835 – 1916): https://t.co/xagkmGI47P pic.twitter.com/GAIAvwz0y6
— Watts Gallery (@WattsGallery) June 17, 2018
See reviews: The Guardian The Victorian Web The Spectator
Without Walls
Disability and Innovation in Building Design
This exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London includes two photographs from the Langdon Down Museum.
Other images in the exhibition include original architectural drawings of the main building and boathouse by Rowland Plumbe.
Exhibition at the V&A on now until 21 October 2018. Rooms 128a & 127.
An exhibition about Normansfield’s history from 1868 to the present day organised by the Friends of Hampton Wick Library.
Bennet Close, Hampton Wick, KT1 4AT
Next events
Talk and walk: The Landscape of Normansfield
11.00am – 12.30pm Saturday 20 October 2018
A 1½ hour talk and walk around the grounds to see the landscape of Normansfield including the wide variety of trees, many planted when Dr John Langdon Down came first came here in 1868. He planted extensively to create a rich landscape at his new institution for those with learning disabilities. His view being that the outside environment of trees, shrubs, paths and seating was essential in offering residents the benefit of healthy walks and fresh air. The site includes long avenues of trees planted in the Victorian period.
Free talk and walk. Booking not required. Donations welcome.
See Talks and Tours
European Historic Theatres Day & Normansfield Theatre
7pm to 8.30pm Thursday 25 October 2018
A talk about Normansfield Theatre and the European Route of Historic Theatres and Perspectiv – the Association of Historic Theatres in Europe.
The talk will be followed by a tour around the theatre including a viewing of the historic scenery collection.
Using our interactive touch screen you can view the catalogue of 150 items of scenery in storage that include beautiful backcloths, side flats, top borders and props. The visit will also show a short film about a recent project to re-photograph the scenery collection.
Free talk and tour. Booking not required. Donations welcome.
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Research
Research project: The Staff who worked at Normansfield, 1868 – 1997
Research conducted by members of the University of the Third Age (U3A) from September 2017 to April 2018.
This project researched a series of life stories of staff who worked at Normansfield. Staff duties were very wide-ranging and included chaplains, governesses, medical/care staff, farm workers, maintenance staff and teachers.
Employment at Normansfield or do you have the attributes to be employed at Normansfield?
Frances Mary Palling, Governess
Early Chaplains at Normansfield
William Henry Briggs: Engineer, Furnace Stoker and Stationary Engineer
Normansfield Theatre and the staff
Memories of Normansfield, Summer 1977
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The Normansfield Bills
An article by local historian Ken Howe
Social Media
© 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