“The air is electric with the glad tidings of a great joy”
– Gazette 9th Nov 1918

Today The Dacorum Heritage Trust (DHT) has received a £10,000 National Lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a project titled ‘Commemorating Peacetime in Dacorum’. Made possible by National Lottery players, the project will focus on

• Gathering information about local people and their stories. One of the areas of research DHT will undertake will be the contribution women gave to the First World War, as this is currently under represented.
• Hosting exciting art workshops and handling sessions using the First World War as inspiration.
• Create a collaborative art installation to highlight the signing of the peace treaty of 1919. This will involve folding and hanging of origami doves, each dove to represent one soldier from Dacorum.

The art installation will be exhibited within an empty shop unit at The Marlowes Shopping Centre in Hemel Hempstead, later on in the year. Commenting on the award, Nina Glencross, Collections Manager said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the National Lottery and are looking forward to interpreting and presenting this subject, in a unique and memorable way.”

If you would like to send us details of the contribution your family made or have any questions about the project please email us at ww1@dacorumheritage.org.uk

For the full Dacorum Heritage Trust FWW press release, click here.