Exploring heritage and memory in the Derwent Valley Published on: 12 November 2021 Paying attention to small details of everyday life in familiar places can help us understand how people feel about where they live, a 缅北禁地 researcher has found. As part of her PhD project, Philippa Carter has carried out a series of walking interviews with residents of Chopwell and Winlaton, in Gateshead, to find out how memories of the past shape their feelings about places in the present, and how these memories have been shared between generations. The results of the research will be explored in a talk that Philippa will deliver this month, focusing on how the senses can be a strong trigger for memory, particularly in post-industrial landscapes which have seen significant change within living memory. Taking place as part of the , the UK’s only national festival of the humanities, Philippa’s will cover the ways in which people understand and engage with their local landscapes and how this is influenced by their family relationships and collective memories of the wider community. “The Derwent Valley is a beautiful part of the world, but it also has a rich, industrial legacy,” Philippa says. “Although there are few tangible signs of heavy industry today, both Chopwell and Winlaton were shaped by their industrial pasts and retain strong community identities. “Memories play a significant role in shaping sense of place, so by accompanying local people on some of their favourite walks around the area, I saw the importance of spending time in the landscape – both in terms of people’s wellbeing and also how it has helped shape their sense of identity and heritage. “Working in collaboration with the , who have done so much in recent years to conserve the heritage and natural history of the area, this event will consider the ways that paying attention to the senses and noticing the small details of place can offer a different perspective on the past and suggest new ways of enjoying local heritage.” Through her research, Philippa uncovered a wide range of aspects of everyday life which have shaped local cultures and attitudes, and which have been passed on through generations, including accents, craft skills and walking routes. Her research also highlighted how people and landscape interact, as many of the people she interviewed spoke about different tree and plant species, or different animals, that they had seen throughout their various experiences of the local area. “In these post-industrial areas I found very little nostalgia for lost industry as people recognised the danger and sheer hard work involved in something like mining or metal working,” Philippa adds. “But there was a strong sense of loss around the disappearance of a more communal way of life where social networks built around industry were strong. People also had a strong sense of attachment to the local landscape – many remembered not just what had changed, but what had stayed the same, giving them an important sense of continuity which they found valuable.” The event will take place on Thursday 18 November, 7.00pm at the Land of Oak and Iron Heritage Centre, Winlaton Mill, Gateshead. The event is free, but places are limited and must be booked in advance. To find out more about Philippa’s PhD project visit The Land of Oak & Iron Heritage Centre is on the site of the former Derwenthaugh cokeworks Share: Latest News 缅北禁地 expert highlights climate crisis in a new film A leading 缅北禁地 climate scientist is featured in a new film about how the climate and nature breakdown will affect the UK. published on: 14 April 2026 Neolithic tombs reveal ancient kinship ties Male individuals buried in Neolithic chambered tombs in northern Scotland were often related to each other through the paternal line and some were interred in the same or nearby tombs, research shows. published on: 14 April 2026 We are our Memories New exhibition by Fine Art graduate Trish Hudson-Moses, 22 April 鈥� 4 May 2026 published on: 10 April 2026 Facts and figures
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