From June to December this year at museums across Wiltshire you will be able to see a photographic display of some of the county’s marvellous museum objects.

Thanks to a grant from Renaissance South West the Wiltshire Council Museums Advisory Service has been able to work with photography students from New College, Swindon to photograph collections at nine museums across the county. Please 'read more' to see exhibiton venues, dates and more examples of the photography.

Jurassic ammonite from Cricklade Museum
                           

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In 1849 a crowd of 30,000 people gathered outside the imposing gates of Devizes prison to watch the public execution of Rebecca Smith of Bratton for poisoning her baby. Rebecca spent the night before in the prison chapel with her open coffin for company. After her execution her body is taken for burial in unhallowed grounds within the prison wall.

 
Devizes Prison Gate, 1889

Students from Wiltshire College have been investigating crime and punishment in the county as the basis for their creative writing. You can find out more by reading the prison diaries, letters appealing innocence, court room scripts and newspaper accounts that they have written. Their work will be appearing here soon and will be on display in the public search room at the History Centre in December.

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