Tales from the Boarders

Theatre Resource and Epping Forest District Museum present the intriguing stories of disadvantaged and disabled children sent the Essex countryside from London. 

Aerial photograph of Great Stony School, 1980s

Ongar Cottage Homes in Chipping Ongar, Essex opened in 1908. It was built by the Hackney Board of Guardians for the children in its care and was locally known as 'Hackney Homes'. The school became a residential facility for children with learning disabilities in 1939. Great Stony School, as it became known, eventually closed in 1994.

This exhibition explores the changing attitudes to the education of disabled children and through the voices of pupils and staff we witness its impact on every day life at the school. Visitors are invited to consider the strengths and weaknesses of boarding school education.

 

The interpretations of three artists, Anne Teahan, Damien Robinson and Jon Owen, add another layer to this exhibition. They have been commission to create work based on historic photographs, artefacts and oral history accounts. Their work has resulted in an interactive visual art installation, a set of paper sculptures and an exhibition soundtrack.

 

school inspection on the oval, 1913The exhibition on tour

28 April - 29 June 2007
Theatre Resource, Great Stony, Ongar
For information on access and opening times phone 01277 365 626, or visit the website.

7 July - 27 October 2007
Epping Forest District Museum, Waltham Abbey
For information on access and opening times phone 01992 716 882, or click here.

sports day on the oval, 1970

16 April - 31 May 2008
at Barleylands, Billericay
For information on access and opening times please visit the website or phone 01268 290229.


For more information, or to book the exhibition for your venue, please contact:

Carien Kremer at Epping Forest District Museum by email or phone on 01992 716 882


More...

Detail of photograph of children at Great Stony School.


 

... photographs of pupils, staff and school.

 

 

recording memories of Great Stony School

 

... memories of Great Stony School.