2.2 Tales from the River

March 2022

In March our project lead Imogen Radford ran a drop-in event at Oxborough Village Hall which was kindly hosted by the Oxborough History Group. Members of the public could come and see photos, maps, and artifacts from local archives on a watery theme. We had old photos of the Bedingfeld family canoeing and paddling in the moat at Oxburgh Hall and a skull found in a local river. Visitors also had the opportunity to come and tell their stories using our microphone and recorder set up in a separate room.

Do get in touch if you would like to record your stories or memories of playing in the river in the Brecks.

Previous project updates:

February 2022

November 2021

September 2021

July 2021

To submit your outdoor swimming photos and stories for this project click the link to head over to Imogen Radfords page: https://www.imogensriverswims.co.uk/blog/os-brecks-2/outdoor-swimming-photos-or-stories-to-share/

Our first interview was with Mary, interviewed by volunteer researcher Helaine, and is a delightful story of growing up at Oxburgh Hall and playing in the rivers around the village, catching fish, and having lots of fun.

Here is an extract:

Transcript:

“We didn’t actually swim. We played. We played in the ferry river. We played in what we call the ‘second bridges’ which was down the Foulden road and we played in there because it was a sandy bank and it was clear and you could see the bottom and we paddled, we caught tiddlers and had lots and lots of fun. And lots of the children used to. There used to be a watermill there and where the watermill was, there was a (big) tree cut down and people used to actually jump off the tree trunk into this. It’s a wonder they didn’t break their necks. There was no health & safety by the riverside then.”

This project aims to uncover a wide range of local stories about the Brecks Fen Edge and rivers including oral histories, myths and legends.

It will celebrate how people engaged with the rivers and how they have been used for recreation activities in the past and present.

Young people and adults will be supported to tell their stories, and these will be brought to life through exhibitions, films and story telling.

The project will involve young people and adults in gathering and celebrating stories and folklore about river recreation (especially swimming and other watery activities) in the Brecks’ rivers in the past and present, using research, oral history and gathering a variety of media.

This will all be compiled and presented in a variety of ways, including an exhibition, a film and storytelling.

A legacy of on-line content will be produced and will be formally archived.

The project will link with other projects in the region, including the NLHF supported ‘Suffolk Stories’ Project – part of the new ‘The Hold’ Record Centre in Suffolk. It will also inform and be informed by other BFER projects including Healing Waters and Celebrating River Heritage.

If you’d like to get involved in this project contact us for more information or to be added to the project mailing list: bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk

You can find out more information over on Imogen Radford’s website:

OS Brecks

For resources on conducting research, gathering materials and oral history interviews click below:

Key docs for Tales from the River volunteers