Talking Heads Exhibition

James Ogden who beautified the town centre by creating Broadfield Park Slopes

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

New exhibition Talking Heads is set to open on Saturday 24 May 2014 showcasing objects from the Rochdale borough’s museum and art gallery collection. It reveals some of the extraordinary stories of individuals and families who have supported Rochdale borough throughout the years.

The free exhibition at Touchstones Rochdale, features faces from the past as well as the present. From celebrities such as Gracie Fields to philanthropists like Thomas Watson. Each portrait will tell visitors about themselves and what they have done for the town. Talking Heads shows how family fortunes have helped to shape the town and celebrates how certain individuals have left their mark by their unique achievements.

Meet the Heape family who helped to create Rochdale Art Gallery and Museum, generously gifting paintings and Egyptian artefacts to set up the collections. Charles Heape, an avid collector from the age of 10, was personal friends with the famous pioneering Egyptologist Sir William Mathew Flinders Petrie. His support meant that over 1,600 items from Petrie’s excavations were received by the museum, many of which are over 5,000 years old. His uncle, Robert Taylor Heape, gave over 100 paintings to the Art Gallery.

Karen Heatley, Resource Officer, said: "It is important for Rochdale to celebrate the people who have helped shape its history and given so much to its residents. Their legacy remains today."

On display after extensive conservation is the marble bust of Margaret Watson; whose tragic young death inspired her father Thomas Watson to build Rochdale Infirmary.

Also featured is his granddaughter Mary Lois who helped set up a school in Rochdale after working as a missionary in China for over five years.

Come face to face with the straight-talking James Ogden who beautified the town centre by creating Broadfield Park Slopes. This very private man had a passion for art and gave a fund which still enables the Art Gallery to purchase pictures today. Learn about the grand procession which celebrated Clement Royds appointment to High Sheriff of Lancashire. Led by county constabulary, four marshals and a band, the procession was followed by 150 carriages and 400 horsemen. A huge arch was built in the town centre, fireworks were lit in the evening and a balloon was sent up in The Butts.  

Personal objects relating these individuals can be seen within the display cases. Items include, amongst others, Gracie Field’s stage shoes, Tim Bobbin’s walking stick and Stuart Bithall’s 2012 Olympic sailing shirt. Rarely seen documents and paintings by Tim Bobbin provide a unique insight into this hard drinking creative individual and the legacy of his comic writing.

Family visitors can become a Talking Head themselves as they explore a huge interactive frame created by artist Alison Cooper with help from members of the public. Portrait detectives are needed to hunt down clues amongst the objects and paintings and under 5s activities provide entertainment for the smallest visitor.

The exhibition in the Heritage Gallery reveals more than 100 personal objects, sound recordings, photographs, artworks and letters. On display elsewhere at Touchstones Rochdale are Tim Bobbin’s hat and Gracie Field’s This is Your Life book.