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THE REBUILDING OF YPRES @ THE ARTS SOCIETY KENNET & SWINDON
17 February 2020 @ 10:00 am - 11:59 pm
The Rebuilding of the town of
Ypres
– after its total destruction in the Great War
An illustrated lecture by Christopher Chanter
Monday 17th February at the Ellendune Centre, Wroughton
Coffee will be served from 10am – the meeting will begin at 11am.
Guests are always very welcome.
By 1918, the Flanders mediaeval city of Ypres was in ruins.
Out of 10,000 buildings, only two remained more or less intact.
The great Cloth Hall representing the ancient wealth of the city
was a hollow shell reduced to half its height.
St. Martin’s Cathedral also had just its reduced walls and a shattered interior.
The lecturer will show old photographs from before the First World War,
of the devastation,
of the city’s reconstruction, which took 40 years,
and finally images of fully restored city.
The lecturer’s wife has personal memorabilia from her family,
and a couple of fascinating photographs which should
add poignancy to this tragic tale.
