Mysterious World War Attic Graffiti solved & Armistice Day Anniversary Event!
7.30pm, Old Cyder House Conference Room, Edward Jenner Museum, Berkeley
The Attic Rooms in Dr Jenner’s House, Berkeley, have a colourful history - much of which remains unknown. The rooms are known to be the former Servants’ Quarters of Dr Jenner’s House, rumoured to have at least one ghostly inhabitant! We also know that the Attic Rooms were occupied by soldiers during the Second World War. For several years, staff at Dr Jenner’s House have been baffled by graffiti that details snippets of names, rank and regimental emblems left by these soldiers on the doors of the attic. Attempts to find out who they were and which regiment they belonged to have brought little success, until now...
We have learned that soldiers from the Monmouth Militia were stationed in Dr Jenner’s House to work the Anti-Aircraft Batteries in the area. We now also know that along with the Monmouth Militia a number of Scottish soldiers were also resident in Dr Jenner’s House, leaving their national emblem of a Thistle etched in another room. These young men were not old enough at the time to fight so instead were drafted in to assist with the Aircraft Batteries until they reached 18 and considered old enough to be shipped to the front. Tim Davies of Copper Phoenix who chanced across this information said “Although still within living memory, this important part of local history and The Chantry had been lost. Hopefully now we’ll find out more about those who stayed in the house!”
Furthermore, last year a visiting school party took a tour of Dr Jenner’s gardens. A young pupil excitedly showed staff the muddy remains of a badge that she had found on one of the paths. After a clean-up and upon further inspection, staff found it to be initialled ‘RMC’. It was a First World War cap badge from the Royal Medical Corps. We can only begin to imagine who the owner was...It appears that Dr Jenner’s House has important links to both the first and second World Wars.
With these remarkable revelations in mind we are even more excited to welcome Stroud based theatre company ‘Spaniel in the Works’ to perform their play, Tommy Atkins and The Canary Girl on Friday 11th November. The play marks the anniversary of Armistice Day and takes the audience even further back in time to the First World War.
Based on original archive research and written testimony, the powerful, emotional drama focuses on a fictional Gloucestershire family and how the First World War changed lives at home as well as at the front, in particular looking at the lives of female workers – the Canary Girls - at the munitions factory in Quedgeley, Gloucester.
Writer/director John Bassett said, “A lot of plays looking at the First World War focus only on the soldiers, ‘Tommy Atkins and The Canary Girl’ was written to explore the changes that happened on the home front as well, including food shortages, zeppelin raids, VAD hospitals and in particular the women working in munitions.”
Tickets are available in advance from Dr Jenner’s House. Priced at £8 Adult, £6 Conc’s/Residents of Berkeley & £5 children (suitable for children age 12 and over) there will be a cash bar serving soft drinks and glasses of wine on the night.
In addition we will be offering two exclusive evening guided tours of the Attic Rooms of Dr Jenner’s House before the performance. Tours will be at 6pm and 6.30pm. Minimum donation of £2 for adults £1 for children. Maximum 10 per tour. Please book in advance to be sure of a space.
Contact Dr Jenner’s House to book Tommy Atkins & The Canary Girl tickets and to book spaces on our Attic Tours – Tel: 01453 810631 or email below.
www.jennermuseum.com
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