Harlow Museum and Walled Gardens have launched a new project, which aims to capture residents’ memories and experiences of living through the coronavirus lockdown.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives in Harlow. Our families, friends and work colleagues have become untouchable and unfamiliar technology is now an essential lifeline to ‘see’ those we love. We have spent the majority of our days in the confines of our house, having to build completely new routines, whilst managing worries about our health, jobs and the future.

At Harlow Museum, they feel it’s important to mark this period of overwhelming change to our lives. To do this, the museum would like to begin building an archive of residents’ memories and experiences. They would like you to share a photo, film, piece of writing or an object that you feel has helped you get through this uncertain time in your life.

What might you share?

Anything! From a teabag to a song lyric, whatever you think has helped you through this period, no matter how random it seems. Some suggestions could be a memorable picture, an item from a new hobby you took up or evidence of a kind gesture you received. The item can be in the form of a photo, a film, piece of writing or a physical object. The most important thing is that it has been helpful to you personally.

How

There are a couple of different ways you can share your experiences. You can email the museum at harlow.museum@harlow.gov.uk or you can share on the Harlow Museum Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HarlowMuseum/

In your email or Facebook post you’ll need to include:

 

  • details of what you’d like to share
  • a short explanation of why it has helped you
  • a photo (if possible and relevant)

If you have any questions you can email the museum.

When

The museum is collecting photos, films and writing now. For physical objects, please contact them with information about these now, and when it is safe to reopen, the Harlow Museum team will contact you to arrange collection.

About the museum 

Harlow Museum and Walled Gardens holds over 4,000 artefacts ranging from the Collins historic cycle collection to finds from Harlow’s Roman temple site, an accessible library of reference books, local newspapers from 1953 and an archive of maps from 1875, drawings, photographs, social history films, audio and parish records.

It is a historic place with over 1000 years of significance in local history and based around the stable block formerly attached to the Mark Hall estate. The museum is set in two acres of green space that includes the listed walls surrounding the three historical gardens. The 17th century gardens are an important part of Harlow’s past.

The museum service during lockdown

Harlow Museum and Walled Gardens is a Harlow Council venue and has a team of staff and dedicated volunteers working to look after archives and the collections. It is currently closed to the public, but the staff team are still working and planning the reopening for visitors, and our volunteers assisting with the maintenance of the gardens.