Wisbech and Fenland Museum Showcases ‘Oddness’ in New Exhibition

An exhibition celebrating “oddness” features various items, including a dyke jumping pole and shoes crafted from bread. The Wisbech and Fenland Museum, located in Cambridgeshire, presents a distinct curiosity for each of its 189 years of operation. Titled “The Odder The Better,” the exhibition intends to illustrate how public fascination has evolved through the years. Robert Bell, the museum’s curator, commented, “The variety is staggering – you could say all human life is here.” Local collectors established the museum in 1835 to facilitate discussions about their collected items. Mr. Bell stated that past curators endeavored to amass a diverse range of pieces, but contemporary visitors are encouraged to “make up their own minds” regarding the exhibited objects. He added, “This is a reflection of what we have collected over those 190-odd years.” He further noted, “It also reflects how tastes have changed and how we are moving over to collecting different types of things.” The exhibition includes a brick fragment, reportedly sourced from a wall where the Duke of Wellington created an opening in preparation for the Battle of Waterloo. Additionally, a pair of shoes fashioned from bread, made by a prisoner of war at the Friday Bridge camp during World War Two, is on display. Mr. Bell recounted, “He gave them to a local child.” He emphasized, “It’s the little stories behind the object which makes them more interesting.” Certain exhibits, such as a dyke jumping pole, were donated more recently. Describing its use, he explained, “It has a foot at the end, you plant it in the middle of the dyke and you would swing yourself to the other side. ” He elaborated, “In the Fens you have a lot of dykes blocking your way, so one way of moving quickly across the Fens is to jump the dykes. There used to be competitions in Parson Drove in the 1980s.” Additional artifacts were unearthed during the dredging of waterways in the Fens, which Mr. Bell referred to as the “fruits of the river.” He remarked, “It’s surprising what does come from out of the earth […] once you start digging, it’s amazing what could turn up.”