"My Haggerston"
We are now recruiting volunteers for "My Haggerston" an in-depth community history project based in the Haggerston ward of Hackney, and will involve local volunteers, businesses, community partners and members of Discover Hackney to tell the rich history of Haggerston over the last 200 years up to the present day.
The four key aspects of Haggerston’s history that we've chosen to explore in the "My Haggerston" project are:
• Haggerston’s listed buildings and the history of their use: There are over 100 listed buildings within the ward. We want to create a comprehensive photographic and research archive of all these listed buildings, including an investigation into their changes of use over time and the people that have used them.
• The history of migration in Haggerston: Working with residents from a range of backgrounds we will work uncover the stories of migrants to Haggerston, and how new communities have contributed to the development area’s heritage, particularly in relation to identity, faith, jobs, economy and education.
• The history of Haggerston’s homes and celebrations: We will research past local celebrations of events including the London 1948 Olympics and Jubilees, religious and cultural festivities and birthdays. Research will include collecting oral histories, for example of street parties, as well as photographs, diaries and ephemera.
• The history of leisure and culture in Haggerston: Starting with Hoxton Hall which was built in 1863 as a Music Hall, and has been Haggerston’s cultural and entertainment hub for 148 years; we'll also research other leisure and cultural pursuits and venues in the ward - like Haggerston Park, boating on the canal, or Whiston Road swimming pool.
The "My Haggerston" volunteers will research all these elements.working alongside the Discover Hackney partners: carrying out research at Hackney Archives and elsewhere; interviewing local people; and working with young people, family learning groups, local schools, and community groups to learn about the history of Haggerston. Every volunteer will receive an induction into the project and then take part in a comprehensive training programme to gain research and interview skills, and knowledge about each Discover Hackney partner organisation - so that they can make use of the partnership’s combined expertise when working on each strand of the project.
By the end of the project we'll have an amazing collection of written information, recorded interviews, photographs, film and memorabilia. All of which will be shared with the wider community via events, an exhhibition, walks, talks, learning resources and our website. The young people who participate will create public performances and dramatised tours.
After the project finishes all the material we produce will be conserved at Hackney Archives for future generations
So why not download a volunteer application and let us know how you'd like to get involved? We need passionate people to help us with research, talking to local residents and running exhibition and events.
Image some rights reserved by Nico Hogg.