Northamptonshire's 100 Objects Exhibition Draws Thousands, Sparks County Pride!

The 'A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects' exhibition at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery attracted thousands of visitors and was considered a huge success. The exhibition ran from September 20 to February 8 and showcased a wide variety of objects that told the story of Northamptonshire's past. Some of the most popular items included the original Kettering Town football shirt, which was important because it inspired the idea of shirt sponsorship in football around the world. Other highlights were a Dr Martens boot, graffiti art by an anonymous artist, a Formula 1 car, and a Saints rugby top.

The exhibition was organized by West Northamptonshire Council, which owns the museum. According to the council, 46,085 people visited the exhibition, which was a 22 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The exhibition featured a mix of items from the museum's own collection and objects loaned from individuals and famous institutions like the British Museum, the V&A, the National Records of Scotland, and Lamport Hall. More than 40 partners contributed to the exhibition, making it a true community effort.

Visitors were very positive about the exhibition. The museum received over 3,000 written comments, and many people visited more than once. Schools and organizations arranged group visits, and some even expressed interest in working with the museum in the future. Guest curators said that the exhibition made more people interested in visiting their own sites, which shows that the exhibition had a big cultural and economic impact. After the exhibition ended, the borrowed items were returned, and the museum pieces were moved to other galleries. The council and museum staff were proud of the exhibition's success and the way it brought people together to celebrate Northamptonshire's history.