With no formal archive or tangible interpretation, the heritage of Chinatown was in danger of being lost, forgotten, misremembered and misunderstood.

London-based charity China Exchange captured memories and stories from people of East and Southeast Asian heritage who experienced and shaped Chinatown from the 1960s to more recent times.

The project team worked with volunteers and local partners to gather the stories along with images and personal items. The hard work resulted in an 11 week-long free exhibition, which was accompanied by a series of public events and talks about Chinatown’s heritage.

I have been in the UK since 1971, but never really got to know the background and history of Chinatown. Now I can pass that knowledge on to our next generation.

Exhibition visitor

Forty volunteers played a key role in this project. They developed new skills, receiving training in oral history recording, transcribing and guiding exhibition tours. These volunteers recorded 26 oral history interviews in audio and video format, which were grouped into themes in the exhibition.

Over 3,300 people visited the exhibition. One visitor commented: “It is reassuring that my history and the history of the Chinese diaspora in London is so well presented. It makes me feel more concrete in my existence, and proud of my cultural heritage!”

The oral histories, along with images of the donated items, are stored in Westminster Archives, providing access to the heritage stories for future generations.