Hexham Hope and Resilience: 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme Exhibition

Hexham Abbey Conservation Volunteers will open a major new exhibition marking the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme and sharing the First World War stories of local families.

Hexham Hope & Resilience: 110th Anniversary of the Battle of the Somme will launch at the Abbey on July 1 with an initial display in The Big Story, before expanding into a full exhibition on show from July 20 to September 27. What began as an appeal for local people to share family letters, diaries, medals, photographs and memories has uncovered a remarkable collection of stories, most never previously shared publicly. After the exhibition, much of the material will become part of a permanent digital archive, preserving it for future generations.

Visitors will also be encouraged to explore wartime connections within the Abbey, including the Northumberland Fusiliers’ colours, the Font and the Sanctuary Standard Candles – a  place that became an important source of comfort for families grieving loved ones with no grave to visit.  Displays will include medals, wartime artefacts and unusual objects, while volunteers are also creating a readable version of the 4th Battalion war diary for visitors to explore.

The exhibition reaches beyond the battlefield to tell stories from the home front, including the experiences of Belgian refugees, local Voluntary Aid hospitals and women’s wartime work. It also reveals unexpected discoveries, including the Abbey’s struggle to pay anti-Zeppelin insurance.