Our exhibition, 100 Objects Spanning 100 Years, was originally intended for Manchester, London, and Rochdale Pioneer Museum. It’s become a touring exhibition at Birmingham and Glasgow. Today we are heading to Newcastle before moving on to Brighton. As we travel, our collection grows. We are constantly gathering new stories, objects and recorded interviews for our digital and physical archives.
The exhibition has also reconnected people, at the Exhibitions themselves and between them. Recently, a member shared a wonderful discovery:
“My cousin showed me an article about a chance meeting between a man named Jim and a Sheffield Woodcraft group on the Isle of Arran in 1976. That was us—The Trailbreakers! Here is a photo of my mum and dad with Jim at that very camp.” Wendy Mayes
Left to right, Ken Mayes (Mondamin), Tom, Kath Mayes (Alpine) and Jim Stewart in 1976 – thanks Wendy Mayes
That chance encounter famously led to the resurgence of Woodcraft Folk in Scotland. Jim Barr joined us at the Mitchell Library exhibition in Glasgow, along with many others who brought “new” history with them: song lists from old gigs, handmade zines, and historic banners.
These contributions have sparked an exciting conversation about creating a dedicated “Scottish Woodcraft” Collection. While we can conserve items in London, for best access we believe the best place for a Scottish Woodcraft Collection is in Scotland.
Unearthing Stories in Birmingham
In Birmingham, a presentation to local Co-operative members led to the “unearthing” the story of our stunning handmade banners. Rainbow flags were also offered which have been added to the exhibition.
The momentum hasn’t stopped; we are now developing a Birmingham online collection and scheduling interviews with local members to capture the stories we haven’t yet heard.
George Holyoake Banner at Rochdale Pioneer Museum from the Birmingham Co-operative, hand-painted by local Woodcraft Folk members. Thanks John Boyle
A Sneak Peek at Our Digital Archive
We are busy collating the 100 Objects stories into a permanent digital home. We’re working to make it easier to navigate but you can explore as it is here:
Even after the physical tour ends, the work continues. Our volunteers are committed to ongoing photography and interviewing to ensure our archive remains a living representation of Woodcraft Folk. From preserving vintage films at Cudham to implementing a modern digital cataloguing system, we are making sure our archives stay relevant. We want it to represent where we’ve been, who we are now, and where we’re going.
Have you & how you can you help
Technically the ‘100 Objects Spanning 100 Years’ project ends soon, and we’re planning a ‘thank you’ event and screening of some fabulous film footage now digitised at Cudham – contact me to find out more (marcus.belben@woodcraft .org.uk) And if you have an object, a photograph, or a memory from your time with Woodcraft Folk we want to hear from you!
