Home Front

See a faithful representation of the austerity of life in the average home of the time. There are fascinating personal stories about the experiences of child evacuees and life with rationing and the threat of gas attacks.

Displays include rationing, evacuation, the Blitz, war-time washday and "make do & mend". The 'Wash Day' display contains a 1937 fridge, oil stove and a hands-on school desk with books. Also on display are ration books, gas masks, identity cards, a siren, an incendiary bomb, helmets and photographs to explain about air-raids, black-out, rationing, evacuation etc. Handling sessions are usually provided.

This display is of great relevance to the History elements of the National Curriculum.

Learning objectives for Home Front

Students will be able to describe how people spent their leisure time during WWII.

Students will be able to list some of the items available to every person during rationing.

Students will be able to compare and contrast their lives with those of a similar aged young person during the War.