Industrial Folkways (IF) is informed by, and to some degree continues, work carried out through the pilot community archaeology project, ‘Living in the Past’ (‘LIPCAP’ / ‘LIP’), which surveyed mainly occupied industrial housing in the Midlands, to explore historic environments of domestic life, and material traces of everyday experience.

I started LIP over a decade ago, having found that the time and energy spent on presenting and publishing work academically (which might be seen by few, and consequently be of little use) might be more effectively applied in public history.

Project Leader: Background

This project is run by archaeologist and historian Dr Kirsten (‘Kit’) Leach – that’s me: Hi!

The joy of sharing archaeological and historical discoveries with the general public had at the turn of the millennium led me to teach in Adult and Continuing Education. However, while I enjoyed much of this work, and was gratified to see my students progress in various ways, I was frustrated by the narrow reach of this work.

After years in this sector, I turned to more informal approaches to community archaeology and public history through which I might work with a wider cross-section of society (which is why I chose to to focus on industrial housing, of which there are many in the region).

Numerous discussions, with occupants, when surveying private homes; through the project website; at various project community events; and with visitors at heritage events and attractions held and run by other groups and organisations; provided opportunities to ask targeted questions of the public about their interests regarding the histories of housing and domestic life; community buildings and spaces; and the wider landscape. And there appeared to be sufficient interest to continue community work in this field, beyond the pilot.

But after a few years, I had to put LIP on hold, due to various factors – including circumstances limiting capacity for fieldwork, fundraising, and volunteer training and support; and Covid. After the hiatus, it became clear that resuming LIP in the format previously adopted would now be untenable; so I wound-up the project in autumn last year.

I had continued my studies into ritual and belief while working on LIP, so when I suspended the project I leant more into this research, focusing on post-medieval popular practices and ‘superstitions’. My previous research had looked in detail at the significance of the past in times of social, cultural, economic, and political transformation, especially looking at (re)interpretations and ‘re-use’ of earlier sites, monuments, buildings, artefacts, and folklore, legends and myth. Informed and inspired by the 18th- and 19th-century industrial buildings and environments I’d encountered through LIP, I became particularly interested in continuity and change of folk traditions during this time.

In examining Derbyshire – a county within which a number of sites played critical roles in kick-starting the Industrial Revolution – I found myself increasingly considering how individuals, families and communities transitioned from a predominantly rural, agricultural, seasonal economy, to one of intensified urbanisation, industrialisation, and commercialisation.

There was (and is) still much work to do in order to better understand ; and in exploring how studying associated material cultures and environments, alongside other sources, might enhance understanding, and knowledge in this field of study. But I still felt (and feel) the importance of interacting with the public, and where possible, involving communities in data collection and interpretation, when studying the environments, experiences, and emotions of ‘ordinary’ people in the past.

Many projects have successfully worked with communities, and carried out public history, in exciting ways. However, I don’t (and am unlikely to) have access to the support required for comparable initiatives. I therefore began thinking how I might, with my limited resources, best use my own experience and skills in developing an engaging project. I also wanted to work again on something that might have some value beyond purely advancing historical knowledge – with the potential to benefit society today (even if only in a small way).

I had begun trialling a project (‘PSP’) with this aim in mind some time ago – in partnership with a specialist mental-health therapist – incorporating research I was conducting at the time (studying historic environments and material culture of interpersonal violence). This went as far as it could, given the inaccessibility (due to cuts and costs) of psychological support for vulnerable team members (re-)traumatised through working with disturbing subject-matter. PSP work might be resumed in some form – possibly as part of IF; but to mitigate risk of harm, this would have to be working with groups or organisations with the facilities to provide adequate care, if and when needed.

This has led me to looking for groups and organisations with whom I might partner in developing community work, some of which hold the potential to be of value, both with regard to, and beyond, extending knowledge and understanding of the past, and local historic environments.

Experimenting further with integrating art, crafts and storytelling in archaeological practice should provide greater scope with regard to establishing partnerships, as well as extending community participation and resources, activities and events. And I’ll be contacting various community and special interest groups; heritage sites, groups, and organisations; charities; businesses; and commercial groups; to gauge potential interest over the next few months.

In the meantime, I’d welcome enquiries from groups and organisation interested in developing partnerships; and individuals, families / households, and local communities who might wish to participate. Details on the form and approach of project work will be provided on the About page, and Study Areas page, and Participation page (all under construction).

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