Windows on Wycombe in Lockdown | Digital Community Exhibition

A Digital Community Exhibition – July 2020

Together with the rest of the UK, Wycombe Museum went into lockdown on 23 March due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Museum staff worked from home to begin with, then most were furloughed. Keeping in touch with our volunteers, one of them suggested we do an exhibition of local experiences of lockdown. This became possible with funding from Arts Council England, and we appealed for photos of lockdown through social media.

The images we received divided into sections, reflecting the main themes of lockdown:

1 – Staying Home

2 – Supporting the NHS

3 – Making and Growing

4 – Connecting Remotely

5 – Once a Day Outdoors

6 – Coming Together Safely

7 – Lifting Lockdown

Section 1 – Staying Home

The Government told us to Stay Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives. During full lockdown, between 23 March and 11 May, we were all only allowed to leave home for limited reasons: shopping for essentials, seeking medical assistance, helping a vulnerable person and once a day for exercise. The photographs in this section show some of the activities that became home-based, including school and work. It also shows some views of very quiet roads in Wycombe district.

By Stuart Hall, taken in Hazlemere "Sunrise in Hazlemere. With the death, suffering and all other terrible things going on. The world shows us what a beautiful place it still is."

By Michael New, taken in Marlow Lockdown traffic on Marlow Bridge

By Lorraine Newbey, taken in Stokenchurch "I will remember lockdown for many reasons, but in particular for the memories of my family that it gave me. I was able to watch my son grow and see his very first steps! As a teacher, I would have normally missed out on this, but virtual teaching allowed me to experience this moment of joy."

By Julie Vartiainen, taken in High Wycombe Home working during lockdown

By Julie Vartiainen, taken in High Wycombe Exercising with Joe Wickes

By Keith Spencer, taken on the Rye, High Wycombe "It’s not a picture I’ve taken - as an over-70 I’m not supposed to go out just to take photos. The Rye on Saturday morning is usually filled with over 300 people doing Parkrun, not empty with no-one in sight. Parkrun is not a race but you do get a T-shirt depending on how many runs you've done - red for 50 runs, black for 100 and green for 250. I reached 200 last October and set myself the target, this year, of being the first in my family to reach 250. I got to 220 when lock-down hit. Clearly Parkrun cannot operate with any form of social distancing so I can’t help wondering if I will ever, now, get to wear the green T-shirt."

By John Norris, The Snapologist (Marlow Camera Club) The road into Stokenchurch devoid of all traffic

'Quiet Skies' by Deirdre White, taken in High Wycombe "One of the things everyone has mentioned is being able hear the birdsong so clearly during lockdown."

By Christopher Young, taken in Stokenchurch "I put 10 books out for people to just take as libraries were shut and it ballooned into this! Everybody says, 'What a great idea,' but it was never intended. It now takes me 15 minutes to put the books out each morning, weather permitting, and 15 minutes to bring them back in."

By Catherine Grigg, taken in Downley "Even real teachers don’t normally teach Year 8 and Year 4 at the same time! Thank goodness children are so resilient. This photo was taken on the last day of the summer term, after four full months of home schooling. It's been a steep learning curve for us all."