Most of the prison-of-war
work, on display here, consists of objects of carved bone and
ivory, including model ships (many of the prisoners were sailors),
guillotines, needle-work boxes and playing cards; and articles of
straw marquetry. It is the largest and finest collection of such
items in the world.
We have held the Norman Cross collection of
prisoner of war craftwork for many years. Some of the delicate
items have deteriorated over time and are now showing signs of
decay.
In 2002 we launched the Norman Cross
Conservation Project to care for the items in most need of
conservation. The project was only possible through generous grants
awarded by the Pilgrim Trust and the Garfield Weston Foundation,
with generous contributions from the Museum Society and the Friends
of Peterborough Museum.
Many of Peterborough’s most popular cultural and sporting
facilities are part of Vivacity, an independent,
not-for-profit organisation with charitable status.
Find out more about
the trust on the Vivacity website.