MEDWAY ON SCREEN: Rochester events taking place in July

Screen Archive South East, with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, is leading an exciting new community history project on the River Medway in the twentieth century.

It is devoted to the River Medway, the towns and villages it passes through and its important place in the social, industrial and agricultural history of Medway and Kent in the last century.

Screen Archive South East has in its care unique film material that captures many of the industries and communities associated with the Medway as they were in the 1930s and 1940s. From the hop fields near Tonbridge to the breweries, factories and docklands at Maidstone and the Medway Towns, the river connected contrasting ways of life and enabled the development of a thriving industrial base.

The Medway on Screen project invites you to view the archive films of the River Medway and contribute related stories and histories.

The project was successfully launched in Maidstone during June, and arrives next in Rochester with the Rochester launch taking place on Tuesday July 6th at the Visitor Information Centre, Rochester High Street from 6.00pm – 7.30pm. The event is free and open to all, so come along to find out about the project activities and to see a screening of selected archive film with accompanying talk by Frank Gray, director of Screen

Archive South East.

The Rochester Discovery Day follows on July 15th also at the Visitor Information Centre. At this event you will also be able to view archive films of the River Medway and contribute your memories, stories, photographs or any other related material for inclusion in the project. Please bring along items that you would like to share with the project, and tell any friends or family who may also be interested. We would love to meet and speak with people that have memories of growing up, living and working in the Medway and West Kent area.

The Discovery Day event will include:    

• Screenings of selected archive films

• An opportunity to share your memories of life in the Medway area

• Information on accessing local archive services

• Demonstrations on how to contribute to the project online

The two hour programme of activity starts at 4.00pm and is repeated at 6.00pm. Full details of the event programme will be publicised locally and be available on the project website: www.brighton.ac.uk/screenarchive/medway.

July 6 Launch Event

6.00‐7.30pm, Auditorium, Visitor Information Centre 

July 9 Drop-in Session

11.00am-3.00pm, Eastgate House, Rochester High Street

July 15 Discovery Day  

4.00-8.00pm, Auditorium, Visitor Information Centre

July 16 Drop-in Session  

11.00am-3.00pm, Eastgate House, Rochester High Street

July 20 Drop-in Session

11.00am-3.00pm, Eastgate House, Rochester High Street

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. Since 1994 it has supported more than 26,000 projects, allocating over £4 billion across the UK.