Welcome to furzedown voices
An oral history / reminiscence project in the London Borough of Wandsworth
In
August 2008 the Furzedown Community Network was
awarded a small grant from the Lottery Grants for Local Communities
Awards for All Fund to launch an oral history/reminiscence project in
the area.
Why
start this project in Furzedown?
Many
people in Furzedown enjoy the strong sense of community in the area.
Oral history accounts can explore and challenge that perception, asking
questions about people’s experiences of living in this area of London.
Most of the area was built approximately one hundred years ago,
providing a solid foundation for investigating the past through the
experiences of people who have lived in the area. Oral history accounts
provide an opportunity for people to lay down memories for their
families and the wider community. At their very best, oral history
accounts can provide a sense of belonging by connecting people to
others.
The project will, initially, focus on several themes, although anyone with an interest in oral history can use the resources of the project to develop their own ideas…
-
Growing up in Furzedown.
Focusing on residents of all ages who have childhood memories of living in Furzedown, this theme will explore memories of childhood, games, play, school, festivals, fairs, life indoors and outdoors in the area.
-
What does Furzedown mean to the people who live in it?
Exploring migration and settlement, this theme will ask questions about the meaning of place, the idea of ‘home’ and the perception of ‘community.’ Why do people come to live in the area? Why do they stay? How do they feel about living in the area? What social networks do they have? Are these linked more to ethnicity, religion, class, and family than to physical area and location? How has the area changed? Who are the oldest / newest settlers in the area?
-
Furzedown Faces
Who are the people, locally, who are recognizable for their work, voluntary work or other contribution to the life of this community? This strand of the project will interview some of the familiar faces of the area, providing portraits of their lives and achievements.
-
The history of local institutions and organizations,
- Such as the Family Centre, the Furzedown Project, the churches and other faith groups.
Anyone interested in exploring a more general history of the area could consult the works of Graham Gower, who has written extensively on the subject. See this link for more...