63/18/2

The Diversity of British Farming,

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

Festival of Britain wallhanging, key panel. By Michael O’Connell in Much Hadham Hertfordshire. Countryside Pavillion May–September 1951.
This is the second (in two parts) 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, in two parts, acts as a key to the other hangings. The first shows a panel of symbols laid out in squares depicting various crops and animals, while the second provides a key to the letters used in the main hangings to identify the crops.

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 – ‘This Key is in two parts: // PART I: panel of symbols laid out in squares depicting various crops, animals etc. shown on the main panels of the hangings. // Dimensions: // PART II: Key of the letters used on the main panels to identify various crops shown on the farm panels: // A Arable roots etc // PG Permanent Grass // L Ley // LL Long Ley // SL Short Ley // W Wheat // O Oats // B Barley // P Potatoes // H Hay // F Flax // LN Linseed // PB Peas and Beans // K Kale // RG Rough grazing // G Temporary grass // Dimensions:’, 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