War exhibition will spin a yarn in Chorley

Having travelled to Ireland, the UK, France, the USA, and back, a critically-acclaimed WWII exhibition is now back with a brand-new edition - and is set to spin a yarn in Lancashire.

‘Britain at War’ is a powerful 80-metre installation which explores the social history of the Second World War.

The realities of ordinary people who lived, endured, and adapted through wartime hardship are reflected in a series of minifigure and life-sized displays - which just so happen to be made entirely out of wool.

‘Britain at War’ is the second project made by community group The Longest Yarn, which is based in Carentan-les-Marais in France.

What began as a creative way to commemorate D-Day’s 80th anniversary quickly spiralled into a worldwide volunteer effort to “communicate history across generations and national boundaries”, according to the group.

Their first project, simply titled ‘D-Day’, was seen by thousands of people on a worldwide tour last year, and captures the 80 days that followed the Battle of Normandy from the storming of the beaches to the liberation of Paris.

Now, the second edition will feature an 80-panel study of British life during the Second World War from the original declaration to VE Day in 1945.

Past events have also included discussions with the volunteers who took part in making the exhibition, both about the process of making their pieces and their own family histories of the Second World War.

It is currently on tour in the UK, and have announced their next confirmed stop in Chorley in November.

‘Britain at War’ will troop into Astley Hall on November 14 until December 2, and will be open for ticketed, timed entries between Wednesdays and Sundays.

Tickets are expected to be around £5. More information and updates will be available on the Astley Hall website.