Robert Westall: a Writer and His World Exhibition at Weaver Hall Museum, Cheshire

In 2013, Tom Hughes of Weaver Hall Museum in Cheshire got in touch with Seven Stories about a possible loan of work by Robert Westall. The exhibition explore's Westall's connections with the area local to the museum, and on show are a number of items from the Seven Stories collection never before displayed.

Robert Westall, as well as being a fantastically well loved children's author, was also incredibly active in his local community, working as a head teacher for a number of years, writing a column for the local paper, as well as being instrumental in the saving of historic parts of Northwich. Weaver Hall Museum is one of the buildings Westall helped save, and it is only apt that he is recognised in this special exhibition.

This is an article about saving Weaver Hall, written and illustrated by Robert Westall, c. 1967 and saved in an educational book on town planning he was working on. It was part of a campaign to save the Hall from being demolished.

Tom, curator of the exhibition, is incredibly knowledgeable about Robert Westall, and added some fascinating local details to parts of the collection. Although Westall is known for many of his books set in the North East, he lived much of his life in Cheshire.

Self portrait by Robert Westall. Although not known for illustrating children's books, the Seven Stories Collection shows the impressive graphic posters he made for school plays, personal sketches and illustrations for articles in the local newspaper.

The exhibition has been on display since 12th April, and is on display until Sunday 14th September at Weaver Hall Museum in Cheshire. Click here for more details about visiting the museum.

Watch this space for more details of Seven Stories loans, we are currently working with the Granary Gallery in Berwick on a display linked to the new Berwick Book Festival. Works have been chosen from the Seven Stories Collection to display alongside illustrators from the area, including Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom, Helen Stephens, Gerry Turley, and Cara Lockhart Smith.