Joseph Banks: Made in Lincolnshire exhibition for Heritage Open days
A Heritage Open Days exhibition launch exploring Sir Joseph Banks’ early life, with Georgian-inspired family activities.
Visitors are invited to discover the early life of Lincolnshire-born explorer Sir Joseph Banks at a free exhibition launch at Navigation House, Sleaford, from September 12 - 14 for the national Heritage Open Days festival.
The launch of Joseph Banks: Made in Lincolnshire exhibition explores the childhood years that helped shape Banks’ lifelong curiosity, from roaming the Revesby Estate with his sister Sophia to collecting flowers, butterflies and moths on the edge of the undrained Lincolnshire Fens.
Visitors will be able to follow a new family trail, sample Georgian-inspired treats and drinks, and try silhouette drawing, a popular Georgian pastime. Paul Scott, from the Sir Joseph Banks Society in Horncastle, describes the Fens of Banks’ childhood as “the aviary of England”, and that it was “rich with ponds, lakes, lagoons and birdlife” before the landscape was transformed by drainage and agricultural change.
Navigation House is a very fitting place to launch the exhibition because of Banks’ direct connection with the Sleaford Navigation. It was from a position of great influence that Banks was able to assist the passage of the Act of Enablement for the Sleaford Navigation through Parliament in 1792. Despite spending a great deal of time at his London house in Soho Square, Banks retained his interest and involvement in Lincolnshire and saw the Sleaford Navigation and the neighbouring Horncastle Canal as vital improvements to the economic future of the area. He worked hard to promote the benefits of both ventures, and as such was invited to choose the mottoes and design the respective crests. The crest designed by Banks can still be seen today above the grand front door of Navigation House.
Harriott Righini-Brand, the exhibition curator and supporter of Navigation House, said: “This exhibition is a personal collection of thoughts, art and objects about the early years of Sir Joseph Banks at Revesby and the ‘making’ of the man that he became.”
Through art, objects and storytelling, the exhibition looks beyond Banks’ later fame to reveal the young boy growing up at Revesby, exploring the countryside around him and beginning the habits of observation and collecting that would stay with him for life.
The special exhibition launch event will take place on Saturday, September 12, with Georgian activities available until Monday, September 14 as part of the national Heritage Open Days festival. The exhibition is located on the ground floor and is accessible to wheelchair users. No booking required, however staff reserve the right to manage access and entry if required due to limited space.
Navigation House is open weekly from Friday to Monday, 10am-2pm.
Additionally, at another of North Kesteven’s specialist heritage museums – Cranwell Aviation Heritage Museum – the Heritage Open Days’ theme of ‘Everyday Histories’ is being brought to life with a special pop-up exhibition.
Running over two weekends from September 11 to 20 (Fridays to Mondays, 10am to 3pm), the exhibition reveals how generations of RAF cadets have lived, learned and trained at RAF Cranwell, from its origins as a Royal Naval Air Service base to the present day.
Through personal stories of training, study, sport, friendship and discipline, visitors can discover how daily life at Cranwell has evolved over the past century. The exhibition highlights the shared values, skills and sense of purpose that have connected young people preparing for service in the RAF across generations; offering a unique insight into the everyday experiences that have shaped one of the UK’s most significant aviation training establishments.
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture; every year, thousands of volunteers and supporters organise events that allow us to discover hidden places and try out new experiences. There are a wide range of Heritage Open Days events going on around the county giving everyone free access to experiences and events including many sites that usually charge for admission. For details and opening times, visit www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Visitors can wander through the house, stroll the gardens, and discover the Orchard Gallery, all at no cost. Throughout the weekend, visitors can enjoy makers stalls featuring local food and handcrafted goods, alongside a packed programme of entertainment. Saturday will see performances from the Skegness and East Coast Steampunk group, including cane duelling and the colourful Order of the Parasols, while Sunday features live music from The Full Fathom Five Tea Shanty Band at 12.30pm and vintage jazz duo Nowhere Fast at 1.30pm.