Crossley Hall Primary School on Thornton Road, Bradford, has received a HLF Sharing Heritage grant to facilitate Dig For Victory, an exciting local history project in west Bradford. The grant will help the school to investigate the experiences of people who lived locally during the Second World War.

[quote=Nigel Griffin, teacher at Crossley Hall Primary School]"Our area has a rich heritage and the children are fascinated by the Second World War period."[/quote]

Children at the school will study the Home Front using amongst other things contemporary photographs and newspaper cuttings. Their understanding will be further enhanced by the construction of a replica Anderson Shelter, and also a Drama Park, in which they will be able to role-play. Local volunteer groups will be involved in this construction, and local schools will be given the opportunity to use these cross-curricular facilities. The grant is also securing for the community the collection of contemporary artefacts collected by Frank Leonard of Thornton. This includes a baby gas mask and an Air Raid Warden’s helmet. The children will create a Dig For Victory garden in the school grounds.

Having completed their research, the children will interview members of Thornton Antiquarian Society and residents at three local nursing homes. Together with staff they will turn transcripts of these interviews into an exhibition which will go on public display, and a booklet which will be placed in local schools and libraries.

Commenting on the award, Neil Griffin, a teacher at the school, said: “We are very excited about this project and can’t wait to get started. Our area has a rich heritage and the children are fascinated by the Second World War period. We always find that the younger and older generations have a special bond, and it will be great to be involved with a project that brings benefits to different parts of the community.”

Further information

Neil Griffin, teacher at Crossley Hall Primary School, via email: neil.griffin@crossleyhall.com