A NEW contemporary film and sound installation will open next week in Evesham as part of a creative lighting trail in the town centre.

The Hut of Silence will open from 9am to 4.30pm every day from October 18 to November 28 at All Saints Church and is part of the community engagement programme for Wychavon District Council’s Enlighten Project.

The new installation has been designed and created by David and Jacqui Grange from Creative Solutions and commemorates Evesham’s sacrifices in the First World War, drawing upon the memories and reflections of local people.

During the war, the churches in Evesham fundraised for ‘Huts of Silence’ which were installed at barracks both at home and abroad as ‘refuges from the turmoil and interruption of the camp’.

As part of the preparations, Creative Solutions interviewed local groups such as Evesham dementia café and the British Legion about their memories of family in the war. They also met Prince Henry's School students who helped design the ‘hut’, as well as local historian Peter Stewart who shared his local knowledge on the subject.

There will be four ‘live edit’ sessions where the public can contribute their thoughts and memories of family or Evesham in the First World War or other conflicts.

These will be uploaded to the exhibition so that it changes over its time period. These will run from noon to 2pm on November 1, 12 and 22 at the bandstand in Abbey Park and from 5.30pm to 7.30pm on November 17 at All Saints Church.