Above: The Merzbarn in the 1950s, Themerson Archive Warsaw, photographer unknown
June 1945
Schwitters and Wantee arrive in Ambleside, make a living by selling portraits and local landscapes Read more
April 1947
Schwitters and Harry Pierce meet through a portrait commission Read more
May 1947
Agreement made for Schwitters to use Mr Pierce’s barn to create a new Merzbau Read More
July 1947
Grant offered by Museum of Modern Art, New York Read more
August – November 1947
Schwitters and assistants work on the Merzbarn Read more
December 1947
Schwitters collapses and is taken into hospital Read more
January 1948
Schwitters dies without returning to the Merzbarn. His son Ernst takes photographs in the barn. Read more
February 1948
Mr Pierce takes action, clears the barn and prepares the Merzbarn for exhibition Read more
May 1948 – 1951
Merzbarn exhibition open to the public Read more
1955 – 59
Merzbarn exhibition open to the public again Read more
1960 – 65
The barn mostly used for storage again Read more
March 1965
Mr Pierce signs Deed of Gift to University of Newcastle Read more
May 1965
Richard Hamilton leads students to make a pre-removal survey Read more
July – September 1965
Contractors prepare the Merzbarn to be moved Read more
September 1965
Merzbarn removed from Cylinders to Newcastle University Read more
June 1966
Merzbarn installed in the new Hatton Gallery Read more
1967 – 2002
Merzbarn on public exhibition, in and out of view Read more
1998
Merzbarn attacked by a gallery visitor Read more
2007
Agreement with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums to take over management of the Hatton Gallery Read more
2015 – 2017
Re-design of the Gallery and major conservation project for the Merzbarn Read more
2017
The Hatton re-opens, with the Merzbarn conserved and presented anew Read more
2019
Launch of Merzbarn history website
