The 1980s were a time of great social disquiet in Britain. Miners were striking against the closure of Coal pits, and the Cold War with Russia had played into people’s fears, precipitating an international growth in nuclear weapons.

There was public outcry when in 1981 the British government gave permission for US nuclear missiles to be installed at RAF Greenham. In response, a group of (mainly) women led a peaceful protest by walking all the way from Cardiff to the Common. The 120 mile march took them ten days, and on arrival many decided to stay. They were joined by others, and the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp was born.

COMMON PEOPLE is an exhibition of photographs taken during a few short weeks in January 1985. Despite harsh winter conditions, and daily evictions by police and bailiffs, women still continued to protest. These pictures show how domestic life continued around the campfire. The exhibition is accompanied by Campfire’s Burning an original essay by Dr Rebecca Johnson describing her five years as a protestor at Greenham.

Wendy Carrig documented the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp while studying for her photography degree, and went on to establish a successful career as a photographer working across fashion and portraiture. She is a founding member of f22–Women Photographers at the Association of Photographers, challenging gender disparity within the photographic industry.