63/18/8

The Diversity of British Farming – Root crops: The Fens,

Michael O'Connell (Maker), Venice Havinden (Maker)

This is the eighth in a series of large wall hangings on ‘The Diversity of British Farming’. The wall hangings were designed, painted and dyed by Michael O’Connell and his assistant Venice Havinden in Much Hadham Hertfordshire. They were displayed in the Country Pavilion of the Festival of Britain on the South Bank in London, May–September 1951. The Festival or Britain commemorated the centenary of the 1851 Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace and sought to revitalise the economy, strengthen Britain’s political and economic position in the world and lift the national mood after years of post-war austerity. This panel, entitled 'Root crops: The Fens', shows regular fields separated by dykes and ditches, a windmill, and Lincoln and Ely cathedrals, with background of windmill symbols.

1 wall hanging: fabric

MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: … // Accession number: 63/18/1–10 // Classification: … // Negative number: … // Acquisition method: … // Acquired from: … // Date: … // Store: … // Condition: … // Recorder: JMB // Date: 14.1.94 // Description: Large hangings made, painted & dyed by Michael O’Connell depicting the Diversity of British Farming. // These hangings formed part of the display in the Agricultural and Country Pavilion at the 1951 Festival of Britain. // Colours are vibrant – green background with orange bands and black shapes. // Dimensions: Various but mostly 12 ft x 24 ft. // Associated information: See attached sheets for detailed information. // For other accessions from Festival of Britain see Acc. Files 52/65–52/91, 79/64, 52/384 // Festival of Britain Catalogue Number G101 // Signature/sign – bottom RH corner of Kent picture “Moll” // COL. NEG. NOS. 60/16058–60/16094 // References: Catalogue for South Bank Exhibition 1951 RUL. Stack 606.40942 p.22. // Atomic to the Nation. Edited by Barnham and Hillier RUL 606.40942 p.106', MERL ‘Handwritten catalogue’ form – ‘The two parts of this hanging have been stitched together again. // Total Dimensions: Width: 23ft (702cm) // Length: 12ft 6ins (381cm) // Design shows regular fields with drains between. A windmill at the top of the central drain. A pumping station with a chimney. Brick built houses on the roads between the drains. Another mill at bottom left and Ely (RH) and Lincoln (LH) cathedrals at top corners. Black and white cattle on the pasture. The crops shown are potatoes, onions and cereals. There is a lorry loaded with potato sacks and a tractor. // The background symbol is a small windmill. A very good depiction of the Fenlands. // TEXT: The Fens are lands reclaimed from the sea and swamp where houses stood on concrete rafts around the Isle of Ely. A place of flat geometric fields drained by straight dykes and ditches, with a light clean soil ideal for the growing of roots.’, MERL Miscellaneous note, undated – ‘These hangings were displayed on the balcony section of the Country pavilion at the Festival of Britain and were design to show the diversity of British farming which was the main theme of the pavilion’s exhibitions. // The hangings were designed, painted and dyed by Michael O’Connell, assisted by Venice Havinden, at his home in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. Details of the technique he used are not known at present although an article in “Picture Post” on 6 January 1951 suggests that he used “an ancient Asiatic dye technique”. The hangings are made up of separate strips of heavy, course woven, fabric which have been dyed a dull green and stitched together. The detail has than been painted/printed on top of this.’, Festival of Britain Catalogue, 1951 – ‘The Diversity of British Farming // G101 Wallhanging painted and dyed by Michael O’Connell, The Chase, Much Hadham, Herts. Assistant, Venice Havinden. // (a) Upland stock-farming : Scotland and Wales. // (b) Grass and meat : Rutlandshire. // (c) Grass and milk : Cheshire. // (d) The family farm : Northern Ireland. // (e) The grain belt : Yorkshire. // (f) Root crops: The Fens. // (g) Fruit and hops: Kent.’

Much Hadham, Much Hadham

Painted, Dyed