Silent Witness: The 1940 Weekend

Venue: The Old School, The Green, Long Melford CO10 9DX

Journey back to the tense summer of 1940 at The Old School, Long Melford. In association with Heritage Open Days, Long Melford Heritage Centre brings the reality of the Home Front to life in a multi-faceted exhibition which explores the atmosphere of uncertainty following Dunkirk, when Britain faced the very real threat of invasion.

Witness a full-scale replica pillbox illumination as atmospheric soundscapes recreate the whine and rumble of fighter aircraft overhead. View historic WWII vehicles, meet the 10th Battalion Suffolk Home Guard living history group and step inside a recreation of Captain Mainwaring’s HQ, capturing both the humour and patriotism of the era.

A key highlight will be the work of Suffolk photographer Mick Cant. Cant’s evocative and haunting images provide a powerful contemporary perspective capturing the drama of pillboxes in the local landscape, resisting the ravages of time. Built hastily during the summer of 1940, as the Battle of Britain raged in the skies, pillboxes reflect a time of immense national vulnerability. Come and learn all about them, why they were built and what they stood for in the summer of 1940.

Families can enjoy hands-on activities before relaxing in the ‘NAAFI’ tearoom—the vital social hub that boosted wartime community spirit.

This immersive, multi- sensory exhibition experience serves as a powerful tribute to resilience, connecting modern audiences with the everyday histories that shaped the Stour Valley during Britain’s most challenging hour.

Please visit the Long Melford Heritage Centre website to find out more