May is National Local History Month and The Village Hub in Stoke Village is raising awareness of local history by encouraging the community of Stoke, Morice Town and Ford to find out more about where they live.
With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Village Hub is running a two-year project called ‘Blockhouse Folk: Past, Present & Future.’ One project is their Photography Census where local residents Josh Greet and Haidee Dampney are embarking on an epic mission to photograph and interview local people who live or work in Stoke, Morice Town and Ford.
During 2024, The Village Hub is creating an archive of pictures and words about people who live or work in Stoke, Morice Town and Ford, to be looked back on for years to come. They will be making an exhibition of the photographs in Stoke Village in September 2024, and a special newspaper with all of the photos to share with everyone who takes part.
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Josh Greet is used to taking images of football stars like Ian Wright or English Lioness Millie Bright in his work as a professional photographer for brands like Adidas, Arsenal, Sky Sports or H&M, but now he’s turning his talents to his neighbours in Stoke Village.
Josh has teamed up with Haidee Dampney, who works with groups across Plymouth providing wellbeing activities for all, and down-to-earth mindful yoga teaching for adults, young people, children and families. The pair will be popping up to take photos and interview people at community events, door-to-door visits in the area, or by appointment. So far, they have met, photographed and interviewed a range of people from different businesses around Stoke Village, some of The Village Hub regulars, and local residents. Josh and Haidee are asking people ‘What would you like someone in 100 years’ time to know about your daily life?’ and getting some very philosophical answers!
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Diane from The Village Hub said:
“People have been so keen to be involved. It’s great to see all these photos coming in and knowing that our local community is being celebrated in this way. Everyone looks great in these shots!”
They are still looking for more people to take part – so anyone who lives or works in Stoke, Morice Town and Ford, and would like to have your portrait taken, please get in touch with The Village Hub. Anyone interested can sign up to take part or find out more at:
https://blockhousefolk.thevillagehub.org.uk/
As well as the photography census The Village Hub is running a series of history events to connect the community of Stoke and Morice Town to their surroundings. This includes: Local Mysteries Walk: Midsummer Meander on Sunday June 9 from 2pm to 4pm
Local Stoke residents Crab & Bee (Phil Smith & Helen Billinghurst) will lead a guided walk with a difference around Blockhouse Park. More than just a military fortification, Crab & Bee will show people how the park can be a place to connect to many other worlds.
With its 360 degrees views, people will explore the past history and potential for this location as a fire beacon, a viewpoint to other special places, a vantage point for viewing sunsets, swifts, crows and bats, and a potential site for ark-building when the sea levels rise. In addition The Village Hub has also set up a new Local Histories & Mysteries group, that meets the first Thursday of the month.
The aim of this group is to delve a little deeper into something that local residents might see and are puzzled by.
The Village Hub need help solving other mysteries so head to tinyurl.com/BlockhouseFolk to find out more or join them for the first Thursday of the month in The Village Hub. To book on to events please go to www.tinyurl.com/TVH-events
