# Historic England funds 56 projects celebrating working class histories

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/02/22/historic-england-funds-56-projects-celebrating-working-class-histories/
- Published: 2024-02-22T09:40:00+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Historic England is funding 56 new projects across England that celebrate working
class histories through its Everyday Heritage Grants programme.**

They include stories of a Bacon Factory in Calne, Wiltshire; a Grade II listed former
rhubarb farm in Leeds’ ‘Rhubarb Triangle’, the working-class history of drag in 
Newcastle’s “Pink Triangle”; Gypsy and Traveller tales from Greensand Country, Bedfordshire;
and the tradition of pigeon racing in Skinningrove, North Yorkshire. All will be
funded across the next two years through Historic England’s programme, which celebrates
working class histories.  

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2024/02/We-Wont-Hide-Credit-Sofia-Barton-
Lady-Kitt.jpg)

Credit: Sofia Barton Lady Kitt

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#### Two of the projects

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2024/02/Gypsy-and-Traveller-Tales-in-Greensand-
Country-Credit-of-Full-House-Theatre-2.png)

Credit: Full House Theatre

**Gypsy and Traveller Tales in Greensand Country, Full House Theatre, Bedfordshire**

This project centres around the co-creation of a touring exhibition telling the 
story of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities in Greensand Country, Central
Bedfordshire. Full House is a child-focused charity and arts organisation based 
in its heart. The year-long project will take place on three local sites, where 
children and families from GRT communities will create content alongside visiting
artists, forming a body of work to be shared with the public. In the early stages
of the process Full House will spend time with GRT families to identify artists 
they would like to collaborate with. The final output will be an exhibition, co-
created and curated with participants, that will tour three local libraries. 

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2024/02/Bacon-Factory.jpg)

**C&T Harris Bacon Factory Oral Histories, Yesterday’s Story, Calne, Wiltshire **

Revealing the stories of those who worked at the C&T Harris Bacon Factory, this 
project will work with former employees to create an archive of oral history exploring
the work, life and friendships of these factory workers. Operating for over 200 
years, the C&T Harris Bacon Factory opened in the 1770s and was demolished in the
1980s. The project will be led by Yesterday’s Story, supported by the volunteers
of Calne Heritage Centre and archived at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre.
Volunteers will collect oral histories from the former workers and present them 
to the local community in an accessible way.

#### More on the programme

Launched in 2022, the [Everyday Heritage Grants](https://historicengland.org.uk/campaigns/help-write-history/everyday-heritage-grants/)
programme has already supported 57 projects.

For this second round, Historic England received over 380 applications. The total
amount of funding awarded will be £875,000, ranging from £6,800 – £25,000 per individual
project.

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said:

> “There are so many hidden histories to uncover here in England. Every community
> has a story to tell and we want to hear them. This is the strength of our Everyday
> Heritage grant programme, which funds projects that are community-led and really
> engage with local people by empowering them to research and tell their own stories.
> I’m excited to learn more about these fascinating projects as they shine an important
> light on our working class heritage.”

Historic England plans to run a third round of Everyday Heritage Grants this summer
with details to be revealed [here](https://historicengland.org.uk/campaigns/help-write-history/everyday-heritage-grants/).

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