New exhibition provides food for thought

‘Eating In’, which opens on Saturday 31 March and runs until 29 July, focuses on cooking and dining in the home and explores how the area’s food habits have evolved over time.

The exhibition looks at where we get our food from - the wild, the allotment, the shop, the supermarket or online - and how this has been altered by time, fashion and technology. Old objects and images from some of Hartlepool’s own shops, such as the Co-operative Society, as well as food manufacturers like Cerebos and Sharwoods will be featured.

It will explore the influence of other cultures on British foods and will even delve into the history of the Parmo, which is now just as common on the menu in restaurants as it is in takeaways.

The touring exhibition, which was commissioned by Leicestershire County Council, will also examine the way food distribution was dominated by the government during the wars in a bid to ensure that a nutritious diet was available to all. It will also look at the very serious issue of how, in the present day, dependence on foodbanks is increasing.

The family-friendly exhibition will also include lots of healthy eating and sensory activities for children to enjoy, even including a section on the history of children’s food, exploring the days when youngsters drank more beer than water!

The Museum of Hartlepool is at Jackson’s Dock in Maritime Avenue. Please click here for the museum’s opening times or call (01429) 860077.