TravellerSpace were delighted to be able to hand over our first batch of Gypsy and Traveller oral history recordings to the Cornwall County Records Office this February.
Officially handing over our Gypsy and Traveller Heritage recordings
on Friday 24th February 2017.
Mark Curnow, Callum Richards, Vanessa Boase (TravellerSpace), Charley Richards, Shania Davis, Chloe Phillips (CRO)
Mark Curnow, Callum Richards, Vanessa Boase (TravellerSpace), Charley Richards, Shania Davis, Chloe Phillips (CRO)
Thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, a group of young Gypsies and Travellers in Cornwall have had the opportunity to find out
more about their family history and the wider history of their communities. The young people have interviewed older generations to find out how they lived and how their lives have changed.
The recordings cover a wide range of topics, including trotting races, cooking on
the open fire, the importance of religion, and the challenges of facing
prejudice.
A group of pupils from Pool School accompanied TravellerSpace to the Cornwall County Records Office to pass on the first ten recordings, so that the recollections can be accessed by all for generations to come.
We were made very welcome by Chloe Phillips who showed us around, before we deposited the recordings. Chloe also showed us how to do quill writing
and seal making. We took with us
photographs representing topics covered in the interviews.
We are very proud of how well the
young people have engaged with this project. The students asked great
questions, and we have been able to record some absolute fantastic stories.
"It will help other people understand better about Gypsies and Travellers. People are kinder when they know a little about us" - Project participant Kelly Price
If you would like to be involved in this project - as
a participant or volunteer - please get in touch.
