Platt Hall Inbetween: Re-imagining the Gallery
Platt Hall has stood on the corner of Platt Lane and Wilmslow Road for 250 years. In that time it has been many things – a home, a work camp, an art school, a police station – and now it’s going through another renaissance. With the help of a £400,000 grant from Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Platt Hall Inbetween explores the past and the future to imagine new possibilities for this landmark building, working with local residents and communities to transform it into a vital and creative space at the heart of its neighbourhood.
At the moment, visitors can experience a reawakening of antique dolls and the opening of toy house doors. Multi-storey doll houses, miniature furniture, handmade doll accessories the size of small Czech beads, paper fashionistas with interchangeable outfits, toy ladies, workers and peasants, vintage mannequins and a collection of costumes… A fascinating sight! By looking at these collectibles, you can even trace the history of English society in the 19th and 20th centuries. Do your children know about the pedlars profession? What do they think was sold from these portable boxes? Do they know how a child’s room used to be furnished? Or what an early 19th century writing desk looked like? Not at all like a modern desk from IKEA! Discover this wonderful world of elegant decorative art.
Believe me, even your bored teenage son will have something to look at, especially in the run-up to Halloween. Yes, some of the exhibits look quite creepy: deformed cracked wax faces, decayed dresses, gothic furniture… And the fact that this is located in the building of a restored 18th century mansion, where the restoration work is not yet fully completed, adds an extra layer of mysticism.
The staff carefully preserve not only the exhibits, but also the interesting origin stories of the collection. Feel free to ask when you meet them and they will tell you all about it.
For now, the Hall is only open to the public on designated dates. Information about regular Open Days, guided tours and a list of events can be found on the website. There you can also read about the centenary history of the gallery and see all the photographs of its collection.
Whilst the weather is still warm, you can also volunteer to help with the Platt Hall Garden Project. At Platt Fields, a friendly gardener will welcome you to the park, encourage conversation and help you tinker with the plants. It is absolutely not necessary to have any experience as a gardener. All tools and gloves are provided. And you shouldn’t leave without indulging in a cup of coffee or tea with a delicious biscuit.
Above all the re-imagined Platt Hall strives to bring to the local community, adults and children alike, new acquaintances, interesting conversations, friendship and, of course, a source of creativity.
