In Memoriam is a tribute to the men who were hanged under laws that criminalised same-sex acts during the lifetime of William John Bankes, the former owner of Kingston Lacy.
The installation occupied the entrance hall to Kingston Lacy and comprised 51 ropes hanging from a 4m-high wooden structure. Each rope represented a different man, with knots tied at different heights to indicate their age. The last two close-hanging ropes represent John Smith and John Pratt, the last two men to be hanged in the UK for same sex acts.
A soundscape made up of recordings of house staff and volunteers featured the names of the men commemorated in the space.
This powerful installation was the result of rigorous primary research and was found to be a challenging, moving and memorable visitor experience.
In Memoriam was part of ‘EXILE’ at Kingston Lacy, itself part of the National Trust’s Prejudice and Pride programme, in collaboration with the University of Leicester and Stonewall UK. This sought to research, celebrate and challenge representations of LGBTQ+ lives at National Trust properties.
This project was delivered working as part of Leicester University's Research Centre for Museums and Galleries (RCMG).
