Keeping up to date with our history
SINCE the Community History and Arts Project (or CHAP) was set up in 2018, we have looked to engage as much as possible with the local community.
We are a voluntary collective of people with an interest and passion in the history of our local area, seeking out information about places, people, and events from the past of Downend and Emersons Green, to share them with everyone.
We have published a history map of the local area, worked with residents and groups to make a banner depicting key people and events from local history, had stalls at local festivals to hear tales old and new of the area, and held many community history walks – both for the public and over 1,000 local school children.
This is in addition to monthly articles in the Voice, of course, sharing our findings and activities.
We are very much a living history group too, and keen to document significant events and the development of our local area today.
This is why we photographically documented the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local area, and the celebrations for the coronation of King Charles III.
In the spirit of this contemporary history, we recognise that social media and other forms of communication play an increasingly important role in all of our lives.
We already share our latest articles and findings via Instagram (@downendchap) and are seeking other ways to communicate with different generations of our local community and learn more about our collective history.
This is why we now have a Substack newsletter, which will enable us to better share our findings, upcoming local events and articles with you, our local community.
By subscribing via our website, downendchap.org, or our Substack profile (downendchap.substack.com) you’ll receive our newsletter directly to your email inbox.
We’re always keen to hear from anyone in the community.
Whether you would like to get involved, are curious about our area’s past, have memories to share or a question we may be able to answer, please get in touch via the CHAP website.
You can also email big.gin@yahoo.com or write to CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS.
Elliott Sargent