Katie Fox is one of the curators of a new exhibition at The National Archives in Kew, West London.
Set to open Friday, January 21st January, ‘The 1920s: Beyond the Roar’ invites visitors to experience what 1920s Britain was really like beyond the ‘Roaring Twenties’ that many of us have heard about!
Visitors will find a diverse collection of documents and stories, from lonely hearts adverts to early Chanel fabrics. They’ll also have the opportunity to step into a recreation of a nightclub – the infamous 43 Club in Soho – with all the grit, glamour and associated sights and sounds.
We caught up with Katie Fox this week, for the latest in our ‘My London’ interview series.
Favourite neighbourhood:
I spend a lot of my time in Kew and Richmond, not just for work but because a lot of my friends live in the area. Some of my favourite nights out have been for cocktails in Richmond – there are so many beautiful hidden spots! Just as we were coming out of lockdown I celebrated my 30th birthday with a picnic in York House Gardens in Twickenham.
Favourite place for brunch:
Bourne & Hollingsworth because it is beautiful and I have had some wonderful long brunches there with friends. Invariably I will always choose eggs and then be incredibly jealous of the massive Full English a friend has ordered!
Best coffee in London:
I really like coffee, and there are some great places in Kew and Richmond, but what I am really into is tea and cake. There is the most fascinating tea shop in Kew called The Original Maids of Honour, which originally opened in 1850 and moved to its current location 10 years later. Their afternoon teas are incredible and I’ve been several times over the years. They are also currently running our restaurant at work which is great, but I am probably eating too many delicious cakes – the apricot Danish is amazing!
Favourite gallery or museum:
I really should say our own gallery space at The National Archives, but that feels weird as I helped put our latest exhibition together! So, then it becomes a more difficult question to answer, and I’m not sure I can choose. However, the next museum I want to go to is The Migration Museum – I haven’t been since they moved to a new location in 2020, and a colleague has said that it is worth going again. Also, I love that they are now based in Lewisham Shopping Centre right in the heart of the community.
Tell us a secret:
I love historical dramas, which is probably not a surprise to anyone that knows me at all. The real secret is that I love the bad and totally inaccurate ones. I know I should care about the facts, and I sort of do, but what I am really interested in, is the story and being transported back in time. If the costumes are covered in glitter, or a bride wears a white wedding dress before the Victorian era, I’m fine with that.
Favourite place to shop:
Covent Garden is great for browsing and there is a good range of shops with all of your big high street chains as well as Blackout II for vintage. I have actually been meaning to go there on the hunt for some 1920s accessories like the ones I have been seeing as part of my exhibition research.
Favourite place to find inspiration:
When curating exhibitions there are loads of ways to gain inspiration; from scoping what we have in the archives to reading books. For me though the best inspiration is going to other exhibitions and seeing how the topic or related themes have been tackled. Whilst working on ‘The 1920s: Beyond the Roar’ we went to the Museum of the Home which was brilliant.
Best London destination for a date:
Hands down it has to be Kew Gardens. I love being outside and beautiful flowers, so it is the place for me! It’s perfect in the summer because you can wander around for hours and take a picnic, but even if the weather isn’t great there are the amazing glasshouses to shelter in.
Favourite park:
There are almost too many to choose from but the one I probably go to the most is St James’ Park just because it is so close to all of the sites. Whenever I am there, I have to head to the lake to see the birds. Swans are very important to most of us at work. If you don’t believe me, find @UkNatArchives on Twitter and you’ll see we post photos of our resident swan couples most days.
Favourite food market:
Borough Market. It dates back to the thirteenth century which we apparently have records of – although they are in Latin so I wouldn’t be able to read them – and has a brilliant range of sustainably sourced food. Also, there’s so much cheese!
Your sanctuary in the city:
When I think of a sanctuary, I immediately think of a spa! I’ve only been to one in London though so I’m probably not a great person to recommend one. I really like taking time for a walk every day (or as many days as I can) and a quick lunchtime walk along the Thames really helps me relax before a busy afternoon examining fabric samples and other types of records.
What inspires you?
That’s an easy one to answer! It would have to be history, and at work we have over 1000 years of it! But, in my job, it can be really easy to become de-sensitised to the records we hold. Curating this 1920s exhibition, I have handled original Chanel fabric samples and the Act of Parliament which gave women the same voting rights as men. Often, it is when I share those records with the public that I remember just how special they are. Seeing the reaction of people as they look at those letters written by famous politicians, or even those by people whose stories would otherwise be lost to history, is what inspires me the most.
This season I’m loving:
Sequins, sparkles and all things flapper inspired is my entire internet search history right now. We are planning 1920s late night event at The National Archives, where dressing up will be strongly encouraged! I’ll be working so I’m feeling the pressure/excuse to find a great outfit! There is also something about a bit of sparkle and glamour in the depths of winter though – it really cheers me up.
