The Dr George Rice Community Garden Project

6 - 31 October 2022

Dr George Rice was an African-American, born in 1848, who had an extraordinary life. He came to Sutton in the 1880s, where he remained and continued to practice medicine for over 40 years, holding many positions including chief public vaccinator for Sutton, Cheam and Carshalton.

To commemorate Dr Rice today, local community group SUTTONfx have led a campaign to develop a community garden in the heart of Sutton. Named in honour of Dr Rice, the small garden is next to St Nicholas Churchyard on Gibson Road. The small display presented in the Family History Centre area of Central Library, will tell the history of Dr Rice and his time in Sutton, whilst also telling the story of the development of the Dr Rice Community Garden.

To compliment this display, Jeff and Jo from SUTTONfx will give a talk as part of the Sutton Historians series, on Friday 28 October, 2-4pm. For more information about the talk and to book, see here. here.

Living Stories: Sutton Women's Network Writers Group

6 - 31 October 2022

This small display presents poetry and creative writing by Sutton Women's Network Writing Group. The display complements an event organised for Saturday 22 October 2022, in collaboration with local community groups A.C.H.ASutton's African Caribbean Heritage Association - and A.S.K.I. The event will showcase live readings of new works by members of Sutton Women's Network Writing Group, and Jacqueline Crooks - the award wining writer who leads the group - will facilitate a short 'flash writing' style workshop. To book tickets for this event, check the eventbrite listing here.

Sutton Women's Network Writers Group meets either via Zoom or at Honeywood Museum in Carshalton. Further details about the group, including how to get involved, can be found on the A.S.K.I. website: https://www.aski.org.uk/

All About Me

11 October - 1 November 2022

This exhibition is presented by the community based charity ASKI, in collaboration with their users. Initially developed in 2018, the exhibition reflects on participants memories of arriving in and around Croydon in the 1960s, up to the present day. The exhibition of portraits and written reflections, showcases participants personal stories, comparing their experiences of arriving as immigrants with their lives today.

Match: Weddings of the past and memories for the future

22 June - 30 December 2022

Level 2A Display Area (outside Local Studies)

As Honeywood and Whitehall open their doors for civil ceremonies, we look back at some of the weddings of the past captured by Sutton's infamous high street photographer, David Knights-Whittome. As well as looking at how wedding fashions have changed over time, the display also explores the importance of civil ceremonies in the historic record.

Upcoming exhibitions & displays:

Remembering The Royal Female Orphanage

Revised dates coming soon*

This exhibition will unearth untold stories from the orphanage which was housed at Carew Manor in Beddington Park for nearly a century, from 1866 – 1939.

Visit to find out about the history of Carew and St Mary’s Church as well as the daily life for girls in an orphanage in the Victorian times and up to the start of the Second World War.

Showcasing never-before-seen archival documents and historic objects with oral history recollections from direct descendants of those who attended, this exhibition will share stories of a forgotten chapter in Carew’s history and bring the girls’ memories to life.

This initiative forms part of the Restoring and Celebrating the Art and Craftsmanship of St Mary’s Church, Beddington, a project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

*UPDATE: Originally scheduled from 7 September - 2 October 2022, the dates for this exhibition at Central Library are to be rescheduled. Apologies for inconvenience, this is due to unforseen building issues in relation to heavy rain fall. The exhibition continues to be on display at Honeywood Museum in Carshalton until the beginning of October.

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