FERNHURST SOCIETY ORAL HISTORY GROUP ARCHIVES

Description

This small group is undertaking taped interviews of villagers in Fernhurst Parish. So far over 50 interviews have been made on cassette. The original recordings are archived in the West Sussex Record Office. Copies of each recording on cassette, on audio CD, and as mp3 files on CD-ROM, are lodged in the Fernhurst Archives.

We have just been awarded a grant by the Local Heritage Initiative to produce a book, website, and exhibition capturing memories of Fernhurst over the past 100 years. Much of the £21,780 funding will go towards subsidising the cost of the book. The aim of the project is to develop a picture of how everyday life in the village has changed over the last 100 or so years, with particular emphasis on the period 1920-1980. The project is based on interviews with long-time residents of Fernhurst. Ultimately it is hoped that we will have some 70-80 completed interviews.

From this mass of memories and information, we will be drawing out material to show different aspects of life in Fernhurst - e.g. schooling, shopping, transport, employment (industry/agriculture), village organisations, sport, religion, housing and health. The material will be archived in both the Fernhurst archives and at the West Sussex Records Office, for use by future local historians.

The project is planned to be completed by Spring 2007. So far nearly half the interviews have been done and most of them transcribed. That part of the work should be completed by spring 2005.

With the help of Fernhurst School, we plan to add more information on this website as the project nears completion.

Many volunteers are involved in making this project a reality. Anybody who would like to help should contact either the project leader Anthony Davies or John Clark, via the Society’s email.

The Local Heritage Initiative was developed by the Countryside Agency and is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Nationwide Building Society.

Website

http://www.fernhurst.society.btinternet.co.uk/oralhistory.html

Keywords

Social Studies

Access

Limited opening hours

Facilities

The Archives in the village hall are open on Tuesday afternoons, 2.30-5.00 p.m.

Moving Image, Audio and Related Documentation Holdings

Sound

75 hours audiocassettes, with typed transcripts.

Catalogues

Printed catalogue

handlist

Digitised catalogue

all recordings digitised to audio CD

Online delivery

none

Main Contact

Name

Christine Maynard

Job title

Archive Director

Email

fernhurst.society@btopenworld.com

Address

c/o The Fernhurst Society
Fernhurst
GU27 3JF

Alternate Contact

Email

fernhurst.society@btopenworld.com