Creative Connections 2021 - Walking Through Waterways History

Walking Through Waterways History

Alarum Productions have been commissioned by Creative Black Country to run a project to engage and connect local people during lockdown.

Alarum specialises in telling true life stories of the UK canals and bringing history to life, through performances, publications and recordings. Leading the project is Co-Director, writer and musician Heather Wastie, who was involved with her family in campaigning for the restoration of canals in the Black Country from the 1960s onwards.

She is joined by vocalist, harpist, theatre maker and sound designer Sam Frankie Fox, who is based in Smethwick.

Audio trail

The aim of Walking Through Waterways History, is to involve the local community in gathering material for an audio trail celebrating the Dudley No 2 Canal between Windmill End Junction and Hawne Basin, an area once lined with industry, including the once huge Stewarts & Lloyds where over 2000 people worked. As well as meeting up online with local groups, Alarum is keen to hear from anyone familiar with the area with suggestions as to what could be included in the recording.

Stewarts & Lloyds and Gosty Hill Tunnel

In 2019/20, Alarum ran a project in the Black Country called I Dig Canals, making oral history recordings with women involved in campaigning and restoration in the 1960s and 70s. These original stories include references to towing old Stewarts & Lloyds boats through Gosty Hill Tunnel; the poor condition of Hawne Basin and how local councillors were taken on boat trips to be entertained and educated about the vital work of preserving the canals.

New memories will be added to these snippets, together with a soundscape to bring the area to life. The finished product will then be available for people to listen to whilst walking along the canal or as a way of transporting anyone from anywhere in the world to this unique Black Country landscape, rich in history.

Your memories - how to get involved

Do you have stories of living and working in the area around this section of canal?

Please get in touch with your memories by emailing yourmemories@alarumproductions.org.uk. For more, see Alarum Theatre on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and their website www.alarumtheatre.co.uk.