Families to find out about history
MADE in Smethwick is a season of free, family-friendly events and activities taking place across Smethwick and the wider area.
Starting in May, the events will explore and celebrate the richness of Smethwick’s industrial heritage. There’ll be something for all generations – from guided walks and trips to local historic landmarks, to photography lessons and craft workshops.
“Made in Smethwick is a chance for us all to discover new stories about our town and the surrounding area – our canals, railways, factories, buildings and, most importantly, our people” said John Montague, Director at Chance Heritage Trust.
The first events begin on May 8 and will run through the summer. Families will be able to unleash their creativity in a series of ‘make your own’ workshops, learning how to recreate old recipes, using famous engineering ideas from the town’s history to create something new, or testing their detective skills to solve ‘history cold cases’ relating to the region’s industrial past.
Adults and teens will also be able to join guided walks and visit historic places, museums, and some of the region’s most iconic industrial buildings. The programme also includes talks, classes, and workshops on a range of topics, from how to research your family history, to photographing historic buildings. Local residents will also be able to come together to share memories of what it was like to live, work, and grow up in the town across different generations, and even take part in a community-wide effort to map where things that were made in Smethwick ended up around the world. From the late 18th century onwards, Smethwick and the surrounding area was at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, which shaped the town’s streets, neighbourhoods, and communities that we live in today. “Despite closing 40 years ago, the Chance glassworks still continues to retain a place in the minds and the hearts of the people of Smethwick; both of those who had a direct association
Industrial heritrage is so important and we’re really excited to bring a lively series of events for all to enjoy Narinder Singh Rai
with the firm and those who benefited from the decades of community enhancement. The extensive programme of events and activities over the Spring and Summer will be an exciting opportunity for local people to hear the story but also to tell their own tales. This is heritage in action,” said Henry Chance, Director and Vice Chairman, Chance Heritage Trust.
Made in Smethwick is part of a wider mission by Chance Heritage Trust to raise the cultural profile of disused former industrial sites, like Chance Brothers Glassworks, and give them a new lease of life within the community by bringing them back into use.
As well as reconnecting communities with these disused spaces and creating opportunities for people to discover the history of their neighbourhood, Made in Smethwick hopes to encourage people to share memories, forge new connections, and shape proposals for their future.
It is being supported by the Community Renewal Fund, and is being delivered in partnership by Chance Heritage Trust and Digventures, with contributors from The Living Memory Project, University of Birmingham, the Jessop Consultancy, and many local cultural groups and social organisations, including charities, faith-based organisations, volunteer groups, and heritagebased bodies.
“Industrial heritage is so important to this area, and we’re really excited to be bringing such a lively series of events for people of all generations to discover and enjoy” concludes Narinder Singh Rai, Community Organiser and Chance Heritage Trust Volunteer.
To see what’s on over the programme, visit www. chanceht.org/events