Woking's Story: exploring local lives

Heritage display for 'Woking's Story' exhibit, a collection of vintage postcards and books
Heritage display for 'Woking's Story' exhibit The Lightbox

All Our Stories

Date awarded
Location
Canalside
Local Authority
Woking
Applicant
WOKING MUSEUM AND ARTS AND CRAFTS CENTRE
Award Given
£6200
Volunteers explored six centuries of history through the lives of local personalities, sharing their discoveries through the ‘Woking’s Story’ display at The Lightbox.

The Lightbox museum and gallery was set up for the people of Woking, providing access to community heritage collections. For this project, a group of heritage volunteers were trained by The Lightbox’s staff and qualified archivists, enabling them to research artefacts that revealed the fascinating stories of the town’s history.

The volunteers visited the Surrey History Centre, the National Archives at Kew and the British Library to trace information on local personalities. They made oral history recordings of contemporary local heroes such as Paul Weller. They also worked with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and local people to discover more about Muslim soldiers and Woking’s Muslim Burial Ground.

The volunteers produced 13 curated displays for the ‘Woking’s Story’ exhibition. They were also able to share their learning through talks and workshops with schools and local history societies. 

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