Old Clydach - historians help gather a community's memories

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As part of the Connected Communities Project, led by Professor Huw Bowen and the Research Institute for Arts and Humanities (RIAH), a local community event was held on May 1st to celebrate the ‘Memories of Old Clydach’ project.

The project is a collaboration between Clydach Heritage Centre, the Connected Communities team at Swansea University and local heritage partners, and is tapping into the local memories of Clydach during World War 2 and during the 1950s, particularly looking at the ways technology has changed.

‌The community celebration on May 1st brought together the Swansea University team, including postgraduate student volunteers and the Clydach Heritage Centre volunteers. 

The aim was to celebrate the project’s success and outputs in the form of a 1950s style fete, with viewings of the project output: a DVD based upon project research in the form of a pack for local school children.
 
The project has researched life and community memory in Clydach, conducted by volunteers and Swansea University postgraduate students, and has held several events where oral histories and items have been gathered from the local community.

At the event, which was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project research was displayed alongside the film, and further memories were gathered from local people to add to the project's development and continued research.

The school packs and project research will be deposited with local heritage project partners, including archives and libraries.

Huw Bowen at Old Clydach eventPicture:  Professor Huw Bowen talks to the community about the project, including local school children who will use the school packs, an output of the project.  Picture:  Sean O' Sullivan