Our research demonstrates that the story of the English Civil Wars is incomplete if it does not attend to gender. We collaborated with the National Civil War Centre on three projects to extend its representation of women.

The World Turned Upside Down (exhibition, 2019-23)

• We helped the Centre to address a problem identified with its previously male dominated exhibitions, advising on the most effective ways to present women-centred objects, including a scold’s bridle (pictured, below).

Empowering museum staff and volunteers

• Working alongside the museum’s Learning and Participation team, we identified ways to better interpret woman-centred artefacts to help staff and volunteers to confidently tell stories about women’s history.
• The museum made changes to the display of a birthing chair (pictured, below), and staff reported feeling more confident about explaining sensitive issues that are highlighted when talking to the public about women’s reproductive health.

Changing public understanding of women’s history

• We helped the Centre to increase and diversify its audiences via new events - and were able to reach thousands online through our films and presentations.
• Our activities included a creative writing event – a first for the Centre – that prompted a Newark writers' group to produce and publish work arising from the workshop.