Project Description
This project was developed by Wiltshire Creative and freelance songwriter and musician Louise Jordan, to enable young people aged 14 – 18 to explore the impact of the First World War on women in Salisbury and nationally. It had a particular focus on local women’s history in Salisbury and Wiltshire. Participants were supported to interpret what they learned about their heritage and to communicate this to their peers and communities through song. 161 young people participated across 24 song writing sessions based at South Wilts Grammar School, Wyvern St Edmunds School and Salisbury Playhouse. Salisbury Museum and Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre helped in providing war-time artefacts, clothing and documents for the students students to draw inspiration and learn from.
Organisation
Organised by
Wiltshire Creative
Region
South West England
Location
SP2 7RA
Event
Date
2019-06-03, 2020-11-28
Venue
Various
Location
SP2 7RA
Focus and Research
Resources used for research
At the start of the project, our workshop leader visited Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre (WSHC) working with Heritage Education Officer to identify relevant archive materials relating to women’s experiences of the First World War and the campaign for women’s suffrage.
The project was able to utilise newspapers, photographs and existing learning resources such as fact sheets for workshop participants. Among the photographs were those of Edith Olivier (the first woman to serve on Wilton Town Council, near Salisbury) - who was against women’s suffrage - and Mary Alice Douglas (Headmistress at Godolphin School, Salisbury during the First World War, a school which still exists for the education of girls aged 5 -18yrs), who was in favour of women’s enfranchisement. Salisbury Museum also loaned handling boxes and costumes as a way of allowing participants to connect with tangible pieces of heritage, and imagine life during the conflict.