Did you know that a Women’s Land Army exhibition occupies the first floor of our museum?
The ‘Feed the Nation’ exhibition at Murton Park honours the contributions of the Women’s Land Army (WLA) members and celebrates the essential roles played by countless women who helped produce food for the nation during World War II.
Esther Graham, the curator, stated,
“As an island nation, we needed to produce our own food during the conflict.”
Ms. Graham explained that these women worked on farms across the country to replace the men who had gone to fight. Many women in the WLA came from urban backgrounds, so this work represented a significant lifestyle change.
Dorothy Taylor, from Doncaster, was just 16 when she received her assignment to a farm in Hertfordshire during the later years of the war. She recalled,
“I have very fond memories; I landed on a very nice farm.” Initially, she didn’t fully understand the importance of her role. “I just knew it got food on the table,” she shared.
According to the Women’s Food and Farming Union, by 1943, the WLA had 80,000 women, who contributed to 70% of Britain’s food production. The WLA remained active until 1950, five years after the war ended, having been originally established in 1917 during World War I.
This exhibition showcases materials donated to the museum by former WLA members in 1989 and features their personal stories and reflections.
