What’s your link with Crossbank and Summervale? Tell us and become part of our digital history project
15/02/2022
Did you have a paper round in Crossbank House and Summervale House? Maybe one of the blocks was your first home? Or did you play netball on the roof at nearby Richmond Academy back in the day?
We’ve started our development to build more than 80 new affordable homes in the area, but we don’t want to forget the history and people that have made this such a vibrant place to live, work and play. So, whatever your memory about life in the area, we want to hear it! Get involved in the RaFTT West St neighbourhood digital history project at our event on 1 March at Barker Street Community Centre.
Together with Oldham Council, Oldham Coliseum, community group OL1 and community researchers, Geeks for Social Change, we’re creating a digital archive of life of the neighbourhood around West Street and Vale Drive.
Attend our next project event and:
- Record your memories of the area in our digital photo booth
- Show us things that are important to you and remind you of days gone by in this part of Coldhurst. It could be an old school report, nostalgic photos and more
- See the changing face of the neighbourhood, from before the tower blocks were built up to the present day.
The RaFTT (The Rise and Fall of Two Towers) project has received Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and National Lottery funding, distributed by the Heritage Fund UK as part of their Digital Skills for Heritage initiative.
The cash boost will train local people to become community historians and tell your stories of life in the neighbourhood. These will be recorded for posterity on a dedicated website to be developed as part of the project.
Daniel Isherwood, FCHO Project and Partnership Officer says: “This project is all about bringing people together to build a unique picture of what life was like in the tower blocks and surrounding streets and developing the digital skills of local people and Oldham residents. There will be something for everyone who wants to get involved.
“The area has been home to hundreds of people over the years. We want to hear about your history and preserve it for future generations in Oldham and residents moving into the new build homes, soon to get underway at the West Vale development.”
Event details
Date: Tuesday 1 March
Time: 3pm-6pm
Venue: Barker St Community Centre, Oldham OL1 2XH
For more information about the event or the RaFTT project, please email our Stronger Communities team.
