Millennium Exhibition

To celebrate the Millennium, Mere Museum designed four wall-mounted panels and a base panel to illustrate the important events and developments in Mere between 1900 and 1999. The project was financed by grants from the National Lottery "Awards for All" Fund, The County Museums Service, The Friends of Mere Museum and Mere Historical Society. The panels are on permanent display in an alcove near the Museum's showcases and attract a lot of interest from visitors.

1900 - 1924

Mere has changed in many ways during the 20th century. The motor car, telephone, radio, television and computer with improvements in public health and public services have all had a great impact. Mere is no longer an isolated rural community which at the beginning of the century was mostly self-sufficient in food production and in having shops that supplied all needs. Socially it was tight-knit with inter-marriage between local families and much prejudiced feeling between “church and chapel”. Two world wars made an enormous difference. Many families lost their menfolk. Other servicemen returned with a wider knowledge of the world outside Mere. These photographs describe some of the facilities, buildings and organizations which have changed or disappeared in the last 100 years.

Castle Street	Mere Fire Brigade	Mere Red Cross Hospital

1925 - 1949

The recession in the late 20’s and 30’s and the 2nd World War are events that caused great changes in the country and in Mere itself. These photographs deal with shopping, the expansion of the major local industry and the dramatic increase in local authority housing.

The Square	Brush making	Pre-fab houses

1950 - 1974

The struggle for economic recovery after World War 2 was a major concern for the nation in this period. The development of the National Health Service, welfare reforms and changes in farming and education also had a great effect on local people. An important problem in Mere was how to cope with one of the worst traffic problems in the country.

The Queen's visit to Hill Brush Factory	Duchy Manor School	The old Tudor House	The old brewery

1975 - 1999

At the end of the 20th century Mere has a population not much greater than in 1900. There are fewer “Mere born” and more “outsiders” who are accepted into and making a valuable contribution to the community. Mere has recently been chosen as an area for development, so well-designed housing estates are now being built. Mere has a justified reputation for supporting good causes and for the strength of good feeling between the local churches. There is a wider selection of work in and within reach of Mere and less poverty. It is still surrounded by beautiful country and is a good place in which to live.

Mere by-pass	Mere surgery	Mere's churches