History of Shifnal told through artwork
A town's long history has been brought to life in a series of panels made for children.
Youngsters in Shifnal will be able to learn all about their town’s past in the six panels that have been put up in the entrance hall of the Old Fire Station.
Joan Wilson, a local artist, was commissioned by Shifnal History Group to create the illustrations, which have been put at eye-level for children so that they can attract the most attention. Panels include recreations of the 14th century market, the Roman walls and the great fire in the late 16th century.
The scenes all depict children and have been designed to be seen from a child’s perspective.
Each panel has a short description and encourages the children to look inside the exhibition to find items relating to the times depicted.
Members of Shifnal’s history group said that it hopes it would prove to be a useful tool for young people in the area. It is the latest in a number of exhibits at the fire station on Shrewsbury Road.
Jenny Johnson, one of the members of the history group, said: “People have been coming in and having a look at the panels
“I’m about to contact the schools now to let them know about it.”
She added: “Shifnal has a long history and while we have lots of artefacts and pictures from the 19th and 20th century, and a few bits in the cabinets from Roman times and the axe head, there is not a lot of its longer history, that’s the idea behind it. Joan worked on the panels over a few months, when she could, and it is all meant to be from a child’s perspective and there are children in all of the pictures.
“The writing reflects the child in each picture.
“I did the words and I tried to find a name appropriate for the time period.
“I struggled a bit with the Roman one but I had help from the local Latin group, they had a textbook they were working on and I found one from there.”
