A war time effort at Killerton

A new exhibition has opened which features details of Broadclyst Primary School’s show stopping performance of 'Keep Calm and Carry On’ at Killerton House in June.

The entertaining promenade performance was developed by the schoolchildren in conjunction with Killerton staff and volunteers and gave the audience a rare chance to see World War II history brought to life in an innovative way.  The performances were recorded on video and are now presented alongside displays of photographs, costumes and objects from the play.

The storyline, based on Killerton’s evacuee school in the days following the Exeter Blitz, was researched and written by the children with the help of teachers and staff at Killerton. The longstanding partnership between Broadclyst primary school and Killerton has allowed local school children to use their local environment to engage with and discover their past. This year’s performance was a result of last year’s successful rendition of ‘The Killerton Speech’ which told the story of Lloyd George’s visit to Killerton in 1925.

Eileen Dillon, the National Trust learning officer for Killerton Estate, when speaking about the project, said: “This exhibition really captures the atmosphere of June’s performance and helps show the pupil’s hard work, enthusiasm and dedication. It gives visitors a chance to see both performances and the process of how we put this historical drama together.”

The exhibition is open every day, 11am-5pm, until Thursday 12 September.