PROJECTS FROM THE 1980s and 1990s
Gladstone Pottery Museum, Stoke on Trent, UK 2001
Recreating horrid slums! This one was truly disgusting! Lots of fun, while telling the story of public health, or lack thereof…
Isle of Man Heritage Centre, Peel, IOM, UK 1997
Major recreations of life in Peel 100 years ago, including a multi-scaled diorama of the harbour and fishing fleet, kipper smokehouses, themed theatres and a seed merchant’s store and ships’ chandlery – with thousands of props on open display, that took a week for two of us to fix in place!
Thackray Medical Museum, Leeds, UK 1997
More appalling slums (Victorian public health was on the National Curriculum)! Three slum courtyards from 1842 Leeds, with characters. Still the most popular part of the museum, over 20 years after its construction. I was proud of a complaint letter from a senior hospital consultant: ‘vile and nauseating displays’! In 2020 it is being refurbished with very few changes to the slum yards, while the museum will undergo much renewal.
Caves of Nottingham, UK 1999
A warren of caves cut in the soft stone beneath Nottingham were used as workshops, tanneries, stores and shelters. We redressed and interpreted them for exploring visitors.
The National Law Museum, Nottingham, UK 1995 and 1998
Interpretation and dressing of the ancient gaols, chapel, laundries and other spaces.
Volcanoland, Singapore 1994
A giant visitor attraction; a flight of imaginative fancy; a journey to the centre of the earth, with a Mayan tomb, secret passages, the palace of the Fire King, spraying lava, swaying rope bridges, underground lakes, multi-projections, mine shafts complete with simulated lift, skeletons – you name it, it was there. A fun release from academia! It had design integrity however!
Tales of Robin Hood, Nottingham, UK 1989
The second ‘ride’ through history. Based on the top academic research, the ‘Tales’ told a linear story of Britain’s best known national hero. Built on site over a period of 8 months or more, as a director, I was involved in every part of the creation and building from funding and concept to operation. The Tales later extended to an upper storey to more fully tell the story of Robin Hood, also a cafe, archery butts and more exhibits.
The Lace Hall, Nottingham, UK 1987
The story of famous Nottingham machine-made lace was told in a remodelled redundant church, with recreated dwellings, working machines and other displays. The Lace Hall was later moved to another location, requiring a complete new design.
Jorvik Viking Centre, York, UK 1984
Where it all started! I was Senior Set Designer, recreating the Viking streets of York. This included a ‘ride’ for the first time in a British museum. It was an entirely new concept of interpretation, that became a world-changing leader and remains famous to this day. Although the original (and best, IMO) Jorvik has been replaced twice over the years, its fame lives on.
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