Drawing room

It's May 1945, and the family are welcoming guests to afternoon tea.

They are about to sit down to listen to the BBC news on the wireless, whilst taking afternoon tea. Wartime food rationing would make the homemade scones, jam and cake on offer a very special treat.

Costumes on display

Shortages of fabrics during the war forced the introduction of the Utility Scheme in June 1941. All garments, even handkerchiefs, had to carry the CC41 symbol, indicating that they conformed to the regulated fabric amounts. This extended to all household textiles including tea towels, as well as to furniture and other household items. The scheme continued until 1949. The hostess wears a printed rayon dress that bears the Utility label.

'Make Do and Mend' was one of the many war time slogans designed to encourage the public to recycle old, out-of-date clothes. Some of the outfits on display show how people did this during the war. For example, the black and white striped suit worn by the older woman was originally made in a double-breasted style, but adapted to a single-breasted style later on.

Furniture and paintings

The room is furnished with 19th century sofa and chairs, a tea service in English porcelain about 1900, a display of nineteenth century ceramics, a gramophone dating from the 1920s and a portrait of Queen Victoria.