Guide to The Cloth House
Welcome to our Cloth House. The house was made by over 100 people from all parts of the Harborough community. This is what they decided a home should include:
The Front Door
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Surrounding the front door are flowers, including a large sunflower, loved by British children and a national emblem of Ukraine. |  |
Gypsies and Travellers cook outside when they are on the road. This tripod and campfire is a traditional way of cooking and the water urn a traditional way to collect water for drinking, cooking and washing. |
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Gypsies and Travellers traditionally live in caravans and wagons. The wheels allow them to go anywhere, home travels with them. |  |
This handbag is full of lace that Gypsies and Traveller women traditionally sell door to door. This bag is full and ready for a lady sell. |
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Shoes by the door, with a shoehorn. In Ukraine shoes are left outside the door of apartments. |  |
Children’s toys feature here too; a teddy is in the window, a Pokémon ball is outside and someone is walking their pet cat. |
Living Room
The living room is where we relax and enjoy our hobbies.
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The TV. In this home has a cat on TV. |  |
Pets and animals were important to all the community groups who participated. Here are some of our pets, and lovely cushions for them to sit on. |
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This room has a bookshelf, there are books, music and films on our shelf. |  |
Everything from The Shining to the Bible! |
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There is also a guitar beside the shelf. |  |
There is a view of the garden through the window, with a car in the garage, a fox on the lawn, a traditional Ukrainian shirt on the washing line and a cross and fish emblem, representing the Christian beliefs of the Gypsy and Traveller community. |
Dining Room
The dining room isn’t just for eating, in our home it is a place for games, a TV and pets too.
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The dining room table has several plates of food, as well as some flowers and a PlayStation 5. |  |
Another TV is in the dining room, this one is showing a nature programme. |
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Through the dining room window the Ukrainian community made a view of the Crimean sea. Crimea, currently under Russian occupation, holds a special place in the heart of Ukrainians. It is a popular holiday destination and many Ukrainians have happy memories of holidays by the sea. |  |
The dining room chairs aren’t just for people in our house, one little girl decided to put some pigs on this one! |
Kitchen
The kitchen is often the busiest room in the house and ours is no exception!
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Ice cream was very popular with lots of the children who participated. |  |
The kitchen cupboard has decorative plates as well as food. |
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No kitchen is complete without a kettle for a cuppa. |  |
We’re busy cooking soup and a pancake. |
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Kitchen utensils are a must. |  |
The kitchen window, with a cactus, tap and friendly frog. |
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One little girl decided to hang her family portrait in the kitchen. |
Graffiti Wall
Inside the Cloth House is a graffiti wall. At the workshops participants were invited to express themselves freely. People drew things that represented their community, Harborough and themselves, including the different languages they speak at home.
