Object of the Fortnight-09/10/2014- Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp Collages

This week blog looks at the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp. There are many items in the museum’s collection which cover this event.  However, today’s blog will discuss the beautiful collection of collages depicting the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp.  

History of the Peace Camp 

The peace camp was established to protest the nuclear weapons at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire. It was established in September 1981 after a Welsh group called ‘Women for Life on Earth’, went to Greenham to protest against the decision of the British government to allow cruise missiles to be based there. One of the most famous events for the camp occurred in April 1983. Almost 70,000 protesters formed a 14 mile human chain from Greenham to Aldermaston. Then in December 1983 around 50,000 women encircled the base. This led to sections of the fence being cut and hundreds were arrested. The museum has a display in the main gallery which explains the story of Greenham Common, including a piece of the original fence. The Camp only closed in 2000 to make way for the Commemorative and Historic Site on the land that housed the original Women’s Peace Camp at Yellow Gate Greenham Common between the years 1981 – 2000. 

The Collages 

The museum has a collection of collages representing the events of Greenham Common. Each one of them features a different time during the Peace Camp and were created by Daphne Morgan. Three of these colourful collages are currently on display in the museums main gallery along with other items relating to the peace camp so come visit the museum to view them! The first one shows the peace camp in October 1981, a month after it was established. In the collage you can see that many tents and signs have already being put up by the women. 

The second one then moves on to September 1982 and shows protestors being evicted by the police. 

Finally the third one shows a snowy scene from December 1983, three years into the peace camp and shows a group of women sat around a camp fire.

By Charlotte Hall

Charlotte joined The Peace Museum in May 2014 as a collections intern and is now working as a museum assistant. Charlotte has been leading a location audit of the collections and has helped install and research objects in the newly developed WW1 gallery. Charlotte is studying a Masters in Museum and Art Gallery Studies at the University of Manchester.