Out Of The Woods
Jon Bauckham reveals how one project is researching the rural and domestic industries of the central Chilterns
With breathtaking views, sprawling woodlands and chocolate-box villages, the Chilterns is one of England’s rural treasures. Yet this green and pleasant land remains under threat from multiple quarters – not least the HS2 rail project, and ever-growing housing developments. With such important heritage at risk, a number of projects have emerged that encourage residents to connect with the local history.
Of these initiatives, one of the most fruitful has been the Woodlanders’ Lives and Landscapes project, which is part of Chalk, Cherries and Chairs, a wider conservation and heritage programme financed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund ( chilternsaonb.org/ projects/CCC.html).
Led by Dr Helena Chance, associate professor in design studies at Buckinghamshire New University, the project is researching the lives of rural craftspeople over the past 150 years – specifically those who lived within the central Chilterns in Buckinghamshire.
As well as carrying out genealogical research, the 30-strong volunteer team, supported by Helena’s students, have been busy creating videos, devising walking tours, and penning articles to ensure that their findings are preserved.
“We’ve already exceeded our expectations in terms of the amount of work our volunteers have been producing,” Helena says. “They particularly like writing up their discoveries, which means that our blog has become very successful.”
One of the bygone crafts the volunteers have been studying is chairmaking – an industry that is long associated with Buckinghamshire. However, instead of researching High Wycombe’s famous chair manufacturers, the volunteers have been exploring the lives of craftspeople known as ‘bodgers’, who made chair legs.
Many bodgers worked deep in the woods, felling trees and turning the chair legs on-site. Others worked in village workshops set up by publicans.
“We’re working with Stuart King, a local historian who is creating a pub tour that will incorporate some of the pubs connected with the trade,” explains Helena. “As well as inviting people to complete the tour with us in person, we’re going to produce a leaflet so they can do it in their own time.”
The project is also focusing on lacemaking and straw-plaiting, and volunteers have made new discoveries about those who did tambour-beading – sewing beads and sequins onto textiles for the fashion industry. “The women in Holmer Green did the beading on the costumes used in the BBC programme Come Dancing, and possibly gowns for royalty too!” Once the project ends in 2024, the material will be donated to the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies. However, the impact is already being felt by many community groups, which Helena finds rewarding.
“We’re helping to connect lots of other history projects across the Chilterns,” says Helena. “Most villages have a local group, and we’ve been able to work with them on their research and how they organise their archives. There’s a really lovely symbiosis going on – it’s great to be a part of it.”
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