Current Exhibitions
Landscapes to Surrealism
2 December to 15 February 2025
This exhibition by local artist Ray Perez uses strong colours and a variety of techniques. This includes water colour, gouache, oil, acrylic and coloured pencil to portray a wide variety of subjects from local landscapes to abstract and surrealism.
Ray Perez trained as a graphic designer and has travelled widely, using the photographs he has taken to develop his artwork.
The Narrow Escape out of Hell
5 November to 21 December 2024
The story of prisoners of war (POWs) in World War II with particular reference to those held in local camps and hostels.
There were 12 base camps in Cheshire during the war with numerous hostels housing low security, ‘non-officer rank’ men obliged to fight but who found themselves working in agriculture, forestry and War Department work. Camps and hostels located at Tarporley, Weston and Sandbach all feature as well as the high security camp at Crewe Hall outlining the lives of some of the POWs. The wide range of professions and trades represented by the POWs was notable and some examples of their work is displayed.
A talk entitled ‘The Narrow Escape from Hell’ scheduled for Saturday 14 December is now sold out but the talk will be re-run on Wednesday 12 February, 7pm-8pm. Tickets can be purchased here.
A research booklet ‘POW Camp 74 and Satellites’ can also be purchased by following the link here.
Previous Exhibitions in 2024
Cheshire Life 90th anniversary exhibition
Cheshire Life is the longest-running and most commercially successful regional magazine in the UK. Launched in May 1934, it is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a series of exhibitions around the county, in collaboration with English lecturers Dr Matt Davies and Dr Naomi Walker from the University of Chester, Cheshire Life expert Dr Andrew Hobbs from the University of Central Lancashire, and Cheshire Archives and Local Studies. The Nantwich Museum exhibition runs 24 September to 2 November and consists of high-resolution images (with commentary) from historical copies of Cheshire Life that showcase some of the ways the county has been depicted in words and pictures since the birth of the magazine. Content includes adverts, Cheshire events, visually striking front covers and photomontages. The exhibition also includes a selection of images of specific interest to Nantwich residents.
Dr Matt Davies says: “Cheshire Life is a historically important resource which has contributed to the forging of a county identity, and the exhibition aims to showcase how it has evolved from being the official journal of the Cheshire Publicity and Industrial Development Council on its launch, to the successful glossy, positive lifestyle magazine it is today. We’ve all taken great delight in sifting through back copies of the magazine to choose a small representative selection to put on display, and are very grateful to Cheshire Life editor, Joanne Goodwin, for her input into the project”.
Cheshire Life editor Joanne Goodwin says: “We are delighted that Cheshire Life is on tour in our anniversary year and are indebted to the University of Chester for its work on this project, celebrating our 90 years. Each and every community in the county is important to us and I hope the exhibition will show new readers, and old, how Cheshire Life has been and is a constant supporter of the county and its people.”
Our High Street, its history, buildings and people
09 July to 21 September 2024
Nantwich Museum’s 2024 Summer exhibition looks at the High Street in Nantwich.
Nantwich Museum has announced the opening of its exhibition ‘Our High Street, its history, buildings and people’. The exhibition tells the story of the High Street from its earliest development in the 12th century as an access road from the ford across the river, around the Norman castle to the saltworks, its rebuilding after the Great Fire in the Tudor era, times when it bustled with traffic to today’s Square and its virtual pedestrianisation. The exhibition has been made possible through generous sponsorship by a number of town centre businesses: Chatwins, the Crown Hotel, David James Jewellers, Nantwich Bookshop & Coffee Lounge and Webb House. Prepared by the museum’s Research Group and curated by Brian Cole, the exhibition runs until Saturday 21 September.
Particular attention is given to the timber-framed architecture, including the story of Queen’s Aid House and how the buildings have changed with time. Some have been modified, others replaced, whilst some have collapsed. The centre of the meat trade in the town was located at the Shambles on the site of today’s town Square, whilst other High Street trades through time included milliners, drapers, saddlers and bicycle shops. The Square was created towards the end of the 19th century and is now the site of the war memorial commemorating two world wars. Consideration is given to the various modes of transport associated with the street through the centuries.
The exhibition also focuses on the less savoury aspects of High Street life, including crime, riot, and dissipation. Accompanying this section, “Our ‘Orrible High Street”, are trails, quizzes and other activities – intended for children but in which anyone can take part.
The exhibition is lavishly illustrated with paintings, drawings, photographs, and a video recalling bygone ages.
We will also have a series of talks, about the High Street, to accompany the exhibition. See here for more details.
The Seasons by Connected Threads
2 May 2024 – 6 July 2024
‘The Seasons’, an exhibition by local textile art group Connected Threads is running until Saturday 6 July.
Connected Threads are a lively, friendly group with a love of stitch their aim is to promote stitch as a way to relax, make friends and improve wellbeing.
Ada – Our Crewe Factory Girl
‘Ada – Our Crewe Factory Girl’, an exhibition detailing the life of Crewe and Nantwich’s Ada Nield Chew, suffragist and campaigner for the rights of working women has opened at Nantwich Museum to run until Saturday 6 July. Organised by the Statue for Ada campaign group, supported by Motherwell Cheshire, the exhibition aims to raise awareness of Ada Nield Chew’s work and the current campaign to fundraise for a statue of Ada to be positioned in Crewe.
The exhibition tells the story of Ada, who came to the fore in this area in 1894 when she embarked on some correspondence with the local newspaper exposing the exploitative conditions under which she and the other women worked in their clothing factory in Crewe. Her life was devoted to suffrage activity, concerned less towards gaining the vote as seeking a larger freedom for women.
The Rotary Club of Nantwich Art and Handwriting Competition
We are once again delighted to host this annual exhibition. 2024 has seen eight local primary schools submit over 400 entries in a competition celebrating creativity and honing handwriting skills.
The competition is organised by the Rotary Club of Nantwich which plays an active role in local community activities. If you wish to consider joining please visit their website here for further details.
Nude not Rude
19 March 2024 – 4 May 2024
This group of local artists has over 300 members who all share a love of drawing the human figure. This exhibition aims to put life drawing into a contemporary context while changing people’s perceptions of what drawing a nude model is all about.
Nantwich Life Drawing Group was set up in January 2022, with bi-monthly life drawing sessions held at the Peggy Killick Suite at Nantwich Civic Hall. For more information see: facebook.com/nantwichlifedrawinggroup
Nantwich Camera Club Photographic Exhibition
20 February 2024 – 27 April 2024
The Camera Club was formed in 1981 to promote the hobby of photography and provide an opportunity for members to develop their skills in a social environment and enjoy the art of photography. The club is affiliated to The Lancashire and Cheshire Photographic Union and The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain, and its work regularly features in area and national competitions. A wide range of club activities includes lectures, demonstrations, practical events and competitions.
The first club exhibition was held at Nantwich Library in 1983 and the first exhibition at the museum in 2002.
Get Involved
We welcome applications from people and groups wanting to stage exhibitions. Contact us on enquiries@nantwichmuseum.org.uk or telephone 01270 627104 for more information or an application form.
Online Exhibitions
Past online exhibitions can be viewed by clicking the links below:
Online Nantwich History Exhibitions
*Please note that the Millennium Gallery is a multi-functional room that is sometimes used for talks and school visits. If you are come specifically to visit a temporary exhibition, please check with us beforehand that the gallery will be available on your visit.