Middlewood Locks Fest 2025 commission – unlocking oral histories with children

Image Credit: MBBC Society; Canal at River Irwell, 1901

Following on from the amazing creation with Year 5 pupils last year,  “Don’t Disrupt the Animals”, this year we turned our attention to the humans who worked and lived on the canals last century, as told by 4 people whose lives revolved around the canal.

Fellow sound artist Anne-Louise Kershaw digitised the oral histories from cassette tape last year. I cleaned up and re-mastered snippets for the children to be inspired by. We talked about the history of the canal, played spot the difference comparing pictures old and new and then they scripted and recorded their impressions of the oral history accounts. They wanted upbeat music and appropriate sound effects like the water and the horse. I think their empathy and curiosity shines through!