In 2019 the parish council launched an exciting new project: East Boldre Oral History (EBOH) gathered and collated memories and social history from residents of the parish of East Boldre, who were born and brought up in the village. This research explores how the village has changed, from its origin as a squatter’s settlement to the present day.
Project aims:
- Record memories and tales of an East Boldre as it was.
- Install a sense of community and pride – giving a voice to the families who have lived there for generations who feel marginalised by fast changing community.
- Capture memories before they are lost.
- Re-install a sense of community that once existed.
- Help people who move/stay in East Boldre recognise its history and character.
- Encourage people to share time together to talk about heritage.
- Celebrate Gypsy Traveller and Commoning heritage.
EBOH has recorded and transcribed memories from residents to create interpretation linking the village together forming a community thread.
Soundbites of these recordings are now available to listen to on SoundCloud
The stories can now be heard through listening stations which have been installed in the village. The Turfcutters Arms houses a listening station where you can hear stories about East Boldre Characters and childhood memories (this is accessible during pub opening hours) Three further listening stations are installed in East Boldre Village Hall and School Fields Trust Hall (these are accessible by appointment) The Village Hall also houses a collection of portraits of the contributors to the project, with photographs of them ‘then and now’. Oral history interpretation is also sited in the adopted BT kiosk at Hatchet Pond village - this includes a QR codes which link to a sound cloud where audio recordings are available. All material gathered during the project is archived at the New Forest Heritage Centre in Lyndhurst.
The project was an initiative of East Boldre Parish Council and received funding from a variety of sources including NFDC, HCC, NFNPA and The Beaufort Foundation as well as the parish council. The stories we have recorded are amazing and very humbling – from Freda, who first saw a car when she was 13 (it was driven by lord Montagu – King George was the passenger!) to Sylvia and Jan who who grew up in the Turfcutters Arms and stood on the bar to sing for 6pence!
We worked with local schools to help children understand the village history. We ran workshops at South Baddesley, William Gilpin and Beaulieu School; taking contributors to the schools to discuss their memories.