Bradford: Cell Block exhibition at Peace Museum

Some COs at Dyce Camp - image English Heritage

A temporary exhibition from English Heritage revealing the untold stories of the Richmond Castle cell block graffiti, opens at The Peace Museum in Bradford, Yorkshire from Saturday 8th September until Friday 26th October 2018.

The Cell Block exhibition enables visitors to digitally explore the 19th century cell block at Richmond Castle and uncover some of the fascinating stories of the many men and women who left their mark through the thousands of graffiti that covers the walls. The graffiti ranges from delicate portraits to bold political and religious statements; pastoral scenes to regimental numbers. These often intricate drawings and profound statements provide an extraordinary insight into the lives of those who were incarcerated or stationed at Richmond Castle across approximately 100 years, during the 19th and 20th century.

Much of the graffiti was drawn by conscientious objectors who were imprisoned at the castle during the First World War for refusing to participate in the war effort on moral, political or religious grounds. Included among these men were the conscientious objectors known as the Richmond Sixteen who were transported to France in May 1916 and sentenced to death - a sentence later commuted to ten years' hard labour - for refusing to obey military orders.

This interactive and thought provoking exhibition enables visitors to walk through the cells in English Heritage's bespoke digital model, learn about the graffiti's conservation and record their own messages on the graffiti wall.

The Cell Block exhibition forms part of a Heritage Lottery funded project to conserve the graffiti and uncover the hundreds of untold stories behind the inscriptions.

The Peace Museum is hosting a special launch event to celebrate the opening of the exhibition from 11 am - 3 pm on Saturday 8th September at The Peace Museum premises in Piece Hall Yard, Bradford. Entrance is free, all are welcome to attend. Please note the museum is up some 60 steps with no lift.

For more information see: www.peacemuseum.org.uk