East Midlands Oral History Archive

Urban life

We have many collections that touch on urban themes, so the following collections are those that are specifically about urban neighbourhoods or issues:

Changing Leicester

This oral history collection consists of 44 interviews created through a partnership between Leicester City Council and the Leicestershire Archaeological & Historical Society and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Interviews depict notable physical changes to Leicester’s infrastructure and local attitudes towards the city's material heritage.

Nottingham: Queen of the Midlands

This collection comprises five soundscapes of the city of Nottingham recorded by Benjamin Felstead as part of his Masters creative portfolio. Soundscapes feature recordings from Nottingham Market Square, train station, Lace Market Square, and a Nottingham Forest football match.

Promenade Heritage

This oral history collection comprises 16 interviews with current and former residents of the Promenade, Robin Hood Terrace and Campbell Grove, Nottingham, conducted between June and August 2021 by Chris Matthews and Laura Summers. They focus on the lives and remembrances of residents who lived in these locations and include personal stories ranging from childhood war time memories, growing up in the 1950s, the painting of the Promenade houses, recollections of the impact of the reconstruction of St Ann’s in the 1970s, and the regeneration of Sneinton Market.

Westfield Community Centre

  • EMOHA73

This oral history collection comprises 18 interviews with people from the Hinckley area. The interviews document the lives and experiences of people from the Hinckley, Burbage and Barwell areas. Memories and events are recalled from the beginning of the 20th century up to and including World War Two. Of particular note is material describing the many different aspects of working in the hosiery industry.

Leicester's Cultural Quarter

These three collections look at people, places and events linked to Leicester's Cultural Quarter.

Affective Digital Histories

Leicester Cultural Quarter Heritage Project

Changing Industries in Leicester Cultural Quarter

Leicester's neighbourhoods

Belgrave Memories

Highfields Remembered Collection

Saffron Lane Health Collection

Saffron Past and Present Collection

Walnut Street Collection

(We Are) South Highfields Project

Online audio and exhibitions from EMOHA

The Leicester Oral History Archive's compilation series features memories of suburbs such as Aylestone, Belgrave, Highfields and the West End, as well as many other urban subjects.

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