Latest news with #SuffolkArchives
BBC News
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Essex film's untold stories of midwives targeted as witches
A new short film aims to unearth the untold stories of midwives and healers who were targeted as witches in the 16th Renton is the co-writer and director of the new filmed, titled Renton, from East London, shot Gossip on the Essex coast and officially launched the film on International Women's Day (IWD).Ms Renton hopes the film, which will be shown across Essex and Suffolk, will encourage people to look at issues women still face today. "The reason why the film is called Gossip is it's a word that is still very strong in our cultural minds, but the origins of the word were the women who accompanied women through birth," Ms Renton explained"Then the meaning became just a female friend and slowly it came to have these negative connotations of women talk." The project draws from the region's history of witch trials and the struggles faced by women of the Renton felt it was important to launch the film on IWD "not only because the film foregrounds women and their history, but because it speaks to IWD's political history and the idea that we cannot achieve women's liberation without radical change".She also believed understanding women's history was key to understanding issues many still face today. "There are some parallels today; it's not the same at all, but the reason I used a contemporary title was to match that connection in a way, thinking to bodily autonomy, reproductive rights and gendered violence," she added."It's hard for us to imagine what happened then and actually in the making of this film I realised it's closer than we think... there's parts of the world that are not so different."I think our understanding of history, our connection to history, is such an essential part of how we move forward."The film is touring from 28 March to 17 April, with screenings at The Quay Theatre in Sudbury, Suffolk Archives in Ipswich, East Anglian Folklore Centre in Colchester and more. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
New exhibition explores stories of emigration
An exhibition has opened that focuses on the historical stories of people who left a county to emigrate abroad. Departures will be showcased at the Suffolk Archives building in Ipswich, Suffolk, and follows a previous exhibit about immigration stories called Arrivals. The project tells the stories of emigrants from Suffolk, such as colonists arriving on the US east coast, people leaving for the Australian and Californian Gold Rushes and GI brides departing for the US after World War Two. Emily Shepperson, the exhibition and interpretation officer at the Suffolk Archives, said: "A lot of emigration leads back to the [British] Empire, and we've obviously been talking about that a lot recently. "We've had periods in the past where we've been very proud of the Empire, where as now we talk about it much more critically, looking at what did Empire mean for people?" The exhibition - which runs from 14 February to 1 June - includes original letters, on loan from the Massachusetts Historical Society, by the early American colonist John Winthrop, who emigrated from Suffolk to New England in the 17th Century. Also on display are documents signed by Bartholomew Gosnold, who was from Otley Hall, near Ipswich, and emigrated to Virginia where he established a colony in 1607. "[Gosnold] went out over to the east coast of America which, in his words, he 'discovered', but of course, there were already people living there," said Ms Shepperson. "But he named places like Cape Cod after the amount of fish that he saw there and Martha's Vineyard, which he named after his daughter Martha who'd recently passed away." The exhibition also includes an original passenger list for the Titanic - which is on loan from the National Archives - and stories of more recent people who have emigrated from Suffolk to start new lives elsewhere. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Arrivals exhibition shares migration stories Windrush quilts bring community together Messages of unity shared at multicultural festival Suffolk Archives
BBC News
14-02-2025
- BBC News
New exhibition explores stories of people emigrated from Suffolk
An exhibition has opened that focuses on the historical stories of people who left a county to emigrate abroad. Departures will be showcased at the Suffolk Archives building in Ipswich, Suffolk, and follows a previous exhibit about immigration stories called project tells the stories of emigrants from Suffolk, such as colonists arriving on the US east coast, people leaving for the Australian and Californian Gold Rushes and GI brides departing for the US after World War Two. Emily Shepperson, the exhibition and interpretation officer at the Suffolk Archives, said: "A lot of emigration leads back to the [British] Empire, and we've obviously been talking about that a lot recently. "We've had periods in the past where we've been very proud of the Empire, where as now we talk about it much more critically, looking at what did Empire mean for people?" The exhibition - which runs from 14 February to 1 June - includes original letters, on loan from the Massachusetts Historical Society, by the early American colonist John Winthrop, who emigrated from Suffolk to New England in the 17th Century. Also on display are documents signed by Bartholomew Gosnold, who was from Otley Hall, near Ipswich, and emigrated to Virginia where he established a colony in 1607."[Gosnold] went out over to the east coast of America which, in his words, he 'discovered', but of course, there were already people living there," said Ms Shepperson."But he named places like Cape Cod after the amount of fish that he saw there and Martha's Vineyard, which he named after his daughter Martha who'd recently passed away."The exhibition also includes an original passenger list for the Titanic - which is on loan from the National Archives - and stories of more recent people who have emigrated from Suffolk to start new lives elsewhere. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
09-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Felixstowe Martello Tower P history project seeks volunteers
Volunteers are being sought to take part in a coastal fort history will help to conduct and gather research on Felixstowe's Martello Tower P in Suffolk which was built during the early 19th Century Napoleonic Wars as part of Britain's maritime defence project is part of ongoing work by East Suffolk Council and Suffolk Archives to "breathe new life into the structure and elevate its status among the heritage landscape".The aim of the research is to create a historical timeline of the seafront structure covering its 200-year lifespan. Between 1805 and 1812 eight Martello towers - built to house rooftop cannon - on the Felixstowe peninsula as a defence against possible invasion by French forces. Their design was inspired by an ancient watch tower at Mortella Point in Corsica and the towers were named with letters of the alphabet, stretching from East Sussex to 'P' in Martello Park at the southern end of Felixstowe was built with about 750,000 bricks and cost approximately £2,000 to construct. At the end of the Napoleonic Wars, it was occupied by members of the Coastguard Service who kept watch for vessels suspected of smuggling and during World War One the building became a signal station intercepting secret German radio messages. Today the tower's lookout is one of the stations of the National Coastwatch Institution. Research will begin in February and the project is due to be completed in October. Paul Wood, head of economic development and regeneration at East Suffolk Council, said: "This is a brilliant opportunity for those invested in the rich history of Martello Tower P to be involved in this unique research project."It is a much-loved prominent landmark on the Felixstowe seafront and we are looking forward to working with Suffolk County Council in delivering this incredible project."Philip Faircloth-Mutton, county council cabinet member for environment, communities and equality, said: "I'm pleased to see this great project that will help highlight the history of Martello Tower P. "We are excited to be working alongside East Suffolk Council to bring this fascinating landmark's story to life."No experience is required for the volunteering roles, as recruits will be provided with training and support, and applications via the Suffolk Archives website close 14 February. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
