7 – Lifting Lockdown

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 7 – Lifting Lockdown

Lockdown restrictions began to be lifted in stages from 11 May. Gradually, we were able to meet with other households. Some school year groups returned in early June, and pubs and hairdressers opened from 4 July. Wycombe Museum remains closed for the rest of summer 2020 as social distancing is not possible in our historic building, but our gardens are open on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays throughout the summer.

The Arts Council England funding has also enabled us to open a pop-up display in Eden shopping centre for summer 2020.

By Wycombe Museum, taken in High Wycombe Wycombe Museum Learning Room with social distancing markers

By Hannah Ellams, taken in High Wycombe "The Museum closed on Tuesday 17 March. This picture of the garden was taken on 1 July, when staff came to prepare for reopening."

By June Forbes, taken in High Wycombe "The New Normal for my customers as of 4th July."

By June Forbes, taken in High Wycombe "In my salon, July 2020. When I showed my sister this photo, she thought at first that I'd gone back to working in the NHS!"

By Jo Dimmock, taken in Stokenchurch "Light at the end of the lockdown tunnel."

By Jo Clarke, taken in Downley "Lockdown was sufficiently lifted by June to be able to do the teen and tween yoga class outdoors at the community apple orchard near Downley Common."

By Tammy, taken in High Wycombe "He's back and curious. Precious moments with my grandson, June 2020, photographed by Angel."