Poster exhibition sheds light on 19th Century Frome

A fascinating exhibition of Frome posters produced between 1798 and 1909 will open at the Frome Heritage Museum on 3rd April.

These posters, most of them originals, provide a wonderful insight into the lives of Frome residents during that turbulent period; their concerns, dreams, ambitions and fears.

To complement the exhibition, trustee Barry Edwards has produced a booklet of commentaries that will enable visitors to enter more easily into the stories that lie behind these posters.

Pride of place will go to a huge advert for the 1866 Art and Industrial Exhibition in Frome which showcased all the artistic, mechanical and design initiatives that were needed locally as Frome transformed itself from a town heavily reliant on the wool and cloth trade, into an industrial centre focussing on metalwork and printing.

As Barry observes, “There will be 20 posters on display and each one tells a story, whether of the work-house, law and order, elections, holidays and many more. The booklet, which can be borrowed or bought by visitors, guides us through these stories and encourages us to ponder the lives of our Victorian ancestors and reflect on whether these lives were better or worse than our own.”

The exhibition can be viewed throughout April and May in the lower gallery of the museum. Admission is free, though donations are always welcome.