Skip to content
Skip to content

Exhibition: Ightham at War

The Ightham at War: Prisoners With Parallel Fates exhibition tells the extraordinary stories of two men at war —one a captured British soldier, the other a downed German pilot— both connected by Ightham Mote.

  • Booking not needed
  • Free event (admission applies)

This exhibition, curated to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, highlights the personal stories of Sir James Colyer-Fergusson, who earnt a distinguished war record before returning to, and eventually inheriting, Ightham Mote, and Helmut Ortner, the survivor of the crash of a Messerschmitt airplane on the Ightham Mote estate on 15 August 1940. Surviving fragments of the aircraft are on display as part of the exhibition, on loan from the Imperial War Museum.

Through personal photographs, letters, and wartime memories the exhibition brings to life the stories of those who lived, fought and found refuge at Ightham Mote during World War II.

Times

Prices

Event ticket prices

This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue.

Check admission prices

The basics

Suitability

Children welcome

Meeting point

This exhibition runs throughout the house with a special display in the Coach House.

Upcoming events

Saving Ightham: celebrating 40 years of Ightham Mote's legacy 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Charles Henry Robinson gifting Ightham Mote to the National Trust.

Event summary

on
9 Oct to 2 Nov 2025
at
10:00 to 16:30
+ 24 other dates or times

Sargent’s Palette in Bloom 

Discover how Ightham Mote inspired internationally renowned artist John Singer Sargent.

Event summary

on
9 Oct to 2 Nov 2025
at
11:00 to 16:00
+ 24 other dates or times

Ana Maria Pacheco: A Modern Bestiary 

Ana Maria Pacheco, returns to Ightham Mote with A Modern Bestiary — an exhibition of screenprints that explore the intersections of myth and morality in modern life.

Event summary

on
9 Oct to 2 Nov 2025
at
11:00 to 17:00
+ 24 other dates or times

We’re Going on a Ghost Hunt Halloween Adventure 

We're Going on a Ghost Hunt ™ this Halloween at Ightham Mote

Event summary

on
11 Oct to 2 Nov 2025
at
10:00 to 17:00
+ 22 other dates or times