Writing Our History and Digging Our Past
University of Nottingham
1 February – 31 December 2013
The community projects fall in to three broad categories. We recognise that some projects overlap (in terms of focus) and an important aspect of the supporting activities will be in helping projects to identify and explore the connections between them.
Oral History and Collecting Memories projects
1) Remembering Wartime Thoresby (Notts): Thoresby Volunteers will learn more about wartime Thoresby from archival records held locally and in The National Archives (Kew). The childhood memories of local residents will be captured on video and paintings from wartime digitised for a celebratory exhibition in Thoresby Gallery and web-dissemination.
2) Raleigh Project - A Workers' History of an Iconic Nottingham Factory. This project, inspired by the success of a community engagement event completed as part of CC1, will gather the memories and visual material of ex-employees of the Raleigh bicycles factory to form an on-line living history archive. The project is utilising student volunteers and the Retired Raleigh Workers Group.
3) The Candy Girl: a group of 12 writers will collaborate with the Pomegranate Youth Theatre to collect the experiences of former workers at the Trebor sweet factory in Chesterfield (Derbys) which closed in 2005. This will be staged as a performance at the Pomegranate Theatre and on the former factory site as part of Chesterfield Community Arts Festival.
4) The Living Village: the project will examine how the village of Cottesmore (Leics) has changed over the last century, concentrating on local industry and the experience of families. Local memories will be collated through oral history and presented in a range of formats (exhibition, publication, DVD and web).
5) St. Matthews to Walter Evans: this project will explore the changes in the way state education was offered in Darley Abbey (Derbys). Working with teachers and pupils of the two schools, a 'living history project ', related to the National Curriculum, will be produced and an exhibition mounted at Walter Evans school.
6) Changing Spaces, Trading Places: this project explores the legacy of forced and economic migration in the city of Leicester and Leicestershire. It will look at industry, commerce, settlement, domestic life, trade and the relationships between India, Africa and the UK. Outputs include publication, web material and display boards.
7) All Our Corbies: this project will examine the social history of Corby (Northants), with a strong emphasis on uncovering it history and development using the reminiscences of local residents and documents and photographs relating to the area.
Archive based parish/village/society histories
8) A History of Killamarsh: the project will produce a history of Killamarsh (Derbys) suitable for publication electronically and in hard copy. It will work to the guidelines provided by the Victoria County History for Derbyshire in the revised handbook which was funded under the Challenge Fund connected with CC1.
9) For Truth's Sake - The History of Leicester Secular Society and Its Hall: the story of the Leicester Secular Society through the 19th and 20th centuries, will be told through timelines which highlight key figures, issues and ideas. The Society archives will be expanded by collecting oral histories, photographs and other records.
Heritage and understanding the Built, Buried and Natural Environment
10) Barrow-upon-Trent discovers its past: this is a community-based project focused upon the core buildings (Church and school) and community of Barrow-upon-Trent (Derbys). The aim will be to rediscover the identity of the parish through exploration of the buildings and exploration of its archival heritage. Planned outputs encompass publications, a DVD, a school performance and a website.
11) Derwent Valley Mills Volunteer Heritage Guides in the Digital Age: this project will bring together heritage volunteers working within 15 miles of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site (DVMWHS) to develop their skills, knowledge and expertise. They will share their knowledge about other parts of the DVMWHS and learn about ‘state of the art’ digital technology to allow them to identify opportunities for new interpretations of the site.
12) Burgage Earthworks Project: Southwell Community Archaeology Group (SCAG) will investigate Southwell Burgage Green (Notts), a piece of open grassland in the heart of the town. SCAG members will undertake detailed archival research and site surveys which will inform archaeological excavations carried out with professional guidance. Findings will be shared using social networking, digital outputs and an end of project event.
13) Flowers, Forests and Folklore. 12 adults with learning disabilities will explore the cultural heritage of Southwell (Notts) supported by appropriately qualified, specialist support workers. They will share what they have learned with the local community through a range of outputs. Connections were established with the SCAG project, at the November workshop, with a view to including this group in digging test pits and exploring finds from the Burgage.
14) Bonsall History Trails and Leaflets: the project will arrange visits, community events and public meetings at which residents will identify features of special heritage interest (including evidence of framework knitting, lead mining, geological features) in Bonsall (Derbys) with the intention of developing historical walking trails.
15) Friends of Corhampton Church: The Story of the Saxons in the Meon Valley (Hants): the project will explore, promote and celebrate the Saxon heritage of the area in advance of the 950th anniversary of the Norman Conquest in 2016. It will work with local schools and the community to uncover more about the landscape and built environment of the area and promote its rich archaeological heritage.
