Performers recreate Temple Newsam’s history of healing

Performers will take history-lovers back to First World War Leeds when Temple Newsam was a house of healing for injured soldiers.

This weekend’s unique living history project will see students from the School of Performance and Cultural Industries at the University of Leeds become the nurses and patients from Lady Dorothy Wood's Auxiliary Hospital.

Drawing on new research, the performance, entitled Within This House, aims to celebrate the lives and stories of the dedicated volunteer nurses who cared for injured servicemen when the house was used as a convalescent hospital from 1915 to 1917.

Wearing authentic costumes, students will give visitors a chance to meet historical characters and immerse themselves in the lives of both staff and soldiers in the house and gardens.

Convalescent hospitals were used in the last stage of the recovery process for a wounded soldier who was recovering from an illness or medical treatment.

Lucy Moore, Leeds Museums and Galleries project co-ordinator, said: “This was an enthralling chapter in the story of Temple Newsam Leeds as a whole, when the house became a place where soldiers who’d experienced the unimaginable traumas of life on the front lines could find some vital respite, comfort and care.

“The volunteer nurses who cared for them also became respected figures and made a highly-valued contribution to the war effort. But more importantly they demonstrated remarkable dedication and compassion as they gave vital physical and emotional support and friendship to wounded soldiers.”

Temple Newsam House was one of many convalescent hospitals open in Leeds during the First World War, with others including Gledhow Hall and Lotherton Hall.

Dr Scott Palmer, excellence and innovation fellow at the University of Leeds School of Performance and Cultural Industries said: "This represents an excellent opportunity for students to develop skills in working with material from historical resources, to investigate key issues in performing in museum and heritage contexts and to explore the range of skills needed when working in close proximity with audiences."

Performances of Within This House will run throughout the afternoon of Saturday, May 5 from 12-4pm.

Visitors can also enjoy an accompanying digital experience by downloading the University of Leeds My Tours App onto your mobile before you arrive.

Once you have the Leeds My Tours App on your phone then select the tour ‘Within This House’ and download.

This project is a collaboration between Leeds Museums and Galleries, the School of Performance & Cultural Industries with support from the Leeds Institute of Teaching Excellence and the Cultural Institute at the University of Leeds.

The performance is free with normal admission to the house.

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Stuart Robinson

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 378 9182 (please note my new number)

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk

For media enquiries, please contact:

Stuart Robinson

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 378 9182 (please note my new number)

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk