Festival of Britain

In 1947 King George VI's Government decided that the centenary of the Great Exhibition of 1851 should be marked by national displays in the Arts, Architecture, Science, Technology and Industrial Design, so that this country and the world could pause to review British contributions to world civilisation in the arts of peace.

The Festival was a major showcase of architecture and design, there were 'live architecture' exhibitions in the new towns of Harlow a show flat at Lansbury and a chance to see the furniture that would replace wartime utility. It was how interiors could look as opposed to the hotchpotch of furniture that filled most houses in the post-war period.

In the 1970s the library of the Sheffield School of Art acquired a box of Festival items that had originated in the library of the Daily Mirror. These included press releases, letters and some official guides. With the rise of interest in design history and an emphasis on popular culture within University courses, the library began to purchase a wide range of Festival literature.

After a while it began to be known that we were interested in the Festival and people sought us out to offer material for sale or donations, leading to the acquisition of catalogues, posters, and commemorative ephemera such as postcards, teapots, toys, glassware, medals, a teapot and even the famous nylon knickers! The Festival of Britain collection now comprises about 2000 items.

For the catalogue of the exhibition see attached PDF.