LOCAL CREATIVE TALENT is helping to digitally record people’s recollections for the oral history ‘Ghosts of Hylton Castle’ community project.
The 14th Century landmark is being restored as part of a cultural heritage partnership between Sunderland City Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund, with the community at the heart of the project (www.hyltoncastle.org.uk).
This includes gathering local people’s memories of growing up near Hylton Castle, some already collected and stored in a time capsule buried in the grounds, and others now being collected to share with future generations through oral history.
The latest recording sessions for ‘Ghosts of Hylton Castle’ will take place on Saturday 16 June at the nearby Bunny Hill Centre between 10.30am and 2pm.
What makes this latest session even more special is that local company Foresight eLearning (www.getsomeforesight.com) have volunteered their services to add a new digital edge to the recording sessions.
Lee Daymond and Barry Braley who were both brought up near the castle, set up the new digital technology company to provide local business with support to develop online digital content for their websites and social media channels through their animation, motion graphics and video production skills.
Both will be on hand on Saturday (16 June) to film all those who want to be recorded on camera, and use the footage to create some fantastic new online content for the Hylton Castle website and the ‘Ghosts of Hylton Castle’ project itself.
Sunderland City Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture, Councillor John Kelly said: “We want people to come along and share their memories with the Hylton Castle project team to help us create a permanent record of their recollections.
“Generations of people have grown up with the castle and the dene in their lives, and the Ghosts of Hylton Castle oral history project is collecting their stories and interviews. They will become part of the castle’s future through their use in exhibitions, images and film when it re-opens to become a new education and visitor centre at the heart of community life again.”
Lee Daymond from Foresight eLearning added: “Myself and Barry were both brought up near the castle, and wanted to help support the restoration project for this much loved local historic landmark.
“It will have such a fantastic impact not only on the local community, but also the city and the region as a whole.
“ We are proud to volunteer our company’s digital skills to help promote the excellent work being undertaken there to an even wider audience, and get even more local people and volunteers involved in telling its’ story.”
In addition, members from Castle in the Community will be on hand to talk to people about the restoration of the castle and recent developments in the project over coffee and cake.