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 Other people’s memoirs are
like photographs; through them a world we never knew comes
to life. And like pictures,
memoirs frame certain subjects and fixes them in time,
thus shaping and configuring our understanding of the
past. But dates, places and even pictures are only the
skeleton of the family history — the stories are what give
it its character.
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Preserving
local stories means honouring individual lives,
experiences and relationships. Not the big events that
make it into the history books, but the kind of homes
people lived in, how streets were planned, how doctors
treated illnesses, how people travelled, what they wore,
how food was
 prepared (especially before electric stoves
and microwaves!), the games people played, family and
religious customs, jobs... And even if you can't really
recall dates and places of big events, by noting some of
these little things, it helps to provide a historical
reference to stories remembered by others.
Taunton Memoirs is an on going project and it's
objective is to record the stories and memories of residents
in the Taunton & District area. Our members and the
general public have been called upon to submit their stories
and if possible with photographs or even memorabilia that we
can photograph so we can collate a timeline of life in
Taunton.
 The
educational properties of this civic society project can also
help local children, historic societies and researchers, in
learning more about cultural changes but this time they will
see more colour of our communities past.
What was it like to live here in the 70's recession? I wonder
what Priorswood and Galmington looked like before those houses
went up in the late sixties early seventies? How many miles
did one have to cycle to meet their girlfriend or go to work?
What was it like working in the wool industry or the shops in
the 1920's? By painting a character landscape through the real
experiences of people we will be able to piece together our
Tauntonian heritage. And you never know, there could be some
fascinating stories out there that would may good enough for
television or academic research.
It doesn't matter if your memory is from only last week or 80
years ago we would love to hear your stories: here are some
themes that may help:
- places, buildings or streets that have changed
- areas that have buildings and streets now but something else
in your memory
- buildings that you recall visiting
- jobs, going to work, long-gone shops
- fairs, fetes, markets, jubilee's, street parties
- childhood ramblings, school events
- romantic places, places you went to on dates, wedding
memories
- cycling as a child, delivering, paper rounds, Saturday
jobs
- teenage hangouts, local school outings, car trips
- local businesses, libraries, pubs, swimming pools, clubs
and village hall events
- famous visitors, weird local experiences, vintage
cars,
- allotments, blackberry picking, scrumping, summer days,
winter nights
If family members have trouble putting
such memories down on paper, why not "interview" them. This contributes
to your family archive, to be passed down the generations.
To get involved just send in your memoirs or photo's. For
more information please use 'contacts' page found at the top
of this one.
Finally, we hope that the project will result in a publication
which, in turn, will contribute to our cultural heritage. |
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Please browse the
menu on the left to read some of our present memoirs. We would
also like to take the opportunity to thank Taunton Times for
their support in publishing some of the communities memoirs
from this project. |
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