Down’s Syndrome Association is awarded a Heritage Lottery Grant
We are delighted to announce that we have received a Heritage Lottery Fund, Your Heritage grant totalling £45,900 towards a 12 month project to deliver a permanent exhibition and programme of associated activities based around the work of James Henry Pullen called “Pullen: Ships of Reality and the Imagination”. The exhibition will be held in the exhibition space at the Langdon Down Centre in Teddington.
This exhibition will feature the artifacts made by James Henry Pullen (1835-1916), a resident of the Royal Earlswood Asylum near Redhill and believed to have had the condition of savant syndrome. Known as the Genius of Earlswood Asylum, Pullen created a series of ships including a model of Brunel’s paddle steamer the SS Great Eastern completed in 1872 and regarded by many as his greatest achievement. Another ship, the Princess Alexandra, is a 40-gun man of war completed in 1862.
Pullen’s life is a significant one in the history of learning disability and this exhibition will allow his story to reach a wider public while putting on permanent display these important historical artifacts.
The grant will enable the following:
- install two of Pullen’s largest ships in display cases;
- develop volunteering opportunities;
- production of a short video about Pullen;
- host a series of lectures about Pullen and learning disability;
- host activities including drama and art events;
- develop an education programme focussing on the life of Pullen.
The Down’s Syndrome Association is creating the Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability and is currently working towards accredited museum status. The collections will be permanently open to the public from 28 January 2012. The exhibition Pullen: Ships of Reality and the Imagination will formally open to the public and launch its activities programme in the Summer of 2012.
Carol Boys, Chief Executive of the Down’s Syndrome Association says:
“The DSA is elated to have received this significant grant funding from the HLF which will enable us to involve the local community in learning about the fantastic achievements of James Henry Pullen. I invite you to come and visit our exhibition when it officially opens later this Summer”.
Sue Bowers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund London said:
“This project not only enables a wide range of people to learn more about the extraordinary abilities of Henry James Pullen, but they will also gain a deeper understanding of learning disabilities both in the past and in society today. Volunteers drawn from a local disability organisation will also have the chance to learn new life skills as they take part.”
For further information please contact Ian Jones-Healey from the DSA on 0208 614 5100 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
