Chain Bridge Forge is asking residents across South Holland to share their memories of farming and food production as the charity develops plans for a new online ‘virtual classroom’.
The project is intended to preserve traditional agricultural and food-production knowledge, following the approach already used by the forge to protect historic blacksmithing techniques and practices.
Display planned for the old sail loft
Geoff Taylor, who is behind Chain Bridge Forge and its sister site South Holland Heritage, said the organisation was considering putting a display in the old sail loft. The proposal forms part of a bid to purchase the building next to the Forge.
If that purchase does not proceed, the charity wants to create the virtual classroom online instead. The aim is to record knowledge from the area’s agricultural and food-production communities and make it available digitally.
Taylor said the idea followed a review of how the organisation serves the local community. He said agriculture and food were areas South Holland was expected to be strong in, but that the existing coverage was limited.
“As part of this work we have looked at how we serve the community and discovered that the agriculture and food was poorly severed,”
he said.
Residents asked to share stories and photographs
The charity is particularly interested in personal recollections of food production in South Holland, along with photographs that could help illustrate the area’s farming history.
“We want the community to contribute to our knowledge of food production through South Holland.”
Taylor said he had spoken to Nicholas Watts of Vine House Farm, who provided him with a history of AH Worth and Co written by Peter Shepherd. He also asked whether others had memories or images that could be added to the project.
“I wonder if there are any more people interested in telling us their memories and hopefully loads of photos.”
People with information can contact Geoff Taylor on 07960 587724 or by email at [email protected].
Heritage work also includes railway history
The appeal follows an earlier request from Taylor for memories and information about the Midlands and Great Northern Joint Railway.
South Holland Heritage has created an interactive map showing the route of the M&GN track through South Holland. The organisation has also produced similar work relating to the Port of Spalding, with information and exhibitions available online at heritagesouthholland.co.uk.
The group is also seeking to engage an Artist in Residence through funding from the Arts Council, with further details expected in due course.
