This Saturday (14 January), Sewerby Hall opens a new exhibition. A look at social, cultural, political and technological landmarks of the final decade of the twentieth century is explored in Cool Britannia: Britain in the 1990s.
As Britain recovered from Thatcher’s turbulence in 1990, it welcomed a new prime minister – the affable John Major, who was mocked for his dullness and love of peas.
Despite the economic gloom, war, and royal scandals, the first decade of the 1990s saw the emergence of the internet and the creation of the ‘information superhighway’. Cool Britannia dominated the cultural world for the first time since the swinging sixties. Bart Simpson told us to eat our shorts, and children abandoned Care Bears in favour of Tamagotchis…
As a result of Tony Blair’s landslide victory in 1997, Britain under Tony Blair was born. As the decade came to an end, the nation mourned the death of the People’s Princess and welcomed a new millennium with optimism.
Janice Smith, the curator at Sewerby Hall, said: “The exhibition reminds us of what a rollercoaster of a decade the 1990s really was! There is something in the exhibition for everyone.
“It’ll transport many back to the popular culture of the era, with TV shows like The Big Breakfast, the Fast Show, and Men Behaving Badly, or films like Trainspotting and The Full Monty. Posters and music magazine covers remind us of the epic battle between Blur and Oasis, and the arrival of the Spice Girls.
“It’s also a great exhibition for younger ones, as many of the things that they enjoy today began in the 90s. Films and TV shows like Harry Potter, the Teletubbies and Pokémon are still as popular as ever, as are technology developments like the Internet and PlayStation. In contrast, younger ones might be intrigued by floppy disks or the quirks of the era like Tamagotchis and Furbies!”
The Exhibition includes the displays:
Decade of Opportunity
Annus Horribilis
Closer to Europe
The Digital Decade
Game On
Blair’s Britain is born
1990s TV
Cool Britannia
The People’s Princess
The New Millennium
Weekends and school holidays are when the House is open. Admission ends at 3 p.m. The standard admission fee applies.
During school holidays and during the winter season, day pass tickets are required for the House and Zoo. Visit www.sewerbyhall.co.uk to check opening times and buy tickets.
