Blackdowns oral history website launched
12 March 2012
A WEBSITE documenting everyday lives of people around the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty has been launched.
Harvestories records the stories of 85 residents, the landscape, culture and crafts of the hills.
It includes interviews with an artist, undertaker, cider maker, hedge layer, boat builder, forester and war veteran tp act as an oral archive for future generations.
The site – which can be accessed by clicking on the Harvestories link on this story – contains a Google satellite map and there are plans to add more interviews with locals.
The project was devised and run by oral historian consultant Judy Simmonds over 2½ years.
She said: “It all began with a remark in a pub – someone said, ‘I know two old boys with stories to tell, someone should listen before it’s too late’.
“And here we are more than two years on with 120 personal stories.
“These are recordings of seemingly ordinary men and women who have extraordinary tales to tell, hidden from history and who live in a stunning landscape and who can now share their stories with the rest of the world through this unique new website.”
The project has been managed by the Blackdown Hills AONB and grant-aided through its Sustainable Development Fund.
It has also been funded by Making it Local, a locally managed grants scheme in the Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONB areas, incorporating funding from the EU, Defra and Leader.
By Phil Hill
Sunday 26th February 2012
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