Island History Trust
Encyclopedia
The Island History Trust is a local history
institution based on the Isle of Dogs
in east London
, England. The Trust was created by volunteers, who started to collect photographs of local life in 1981. At that time the docks
and nearly all the local factories had closed, and the transformation of the Island by Canary Wharf
and other developments had not begun. Some locals felt a loss of identity as their established way of life had ended and they wished to record and preserve their local history.
Initially the focus was on collecting photographs. Many were copied and returned to their owners, and notes about them were made and indexed. Later interviews were recorded interviews with elderly Islanders, and a number of people wrote memoirs to add to the collection.
The Trust's premises are currently in The Dockland Settlement, which is one of the Island's oldest community centres. The collection is open to the public on a part time basis, and may be visited out of normal hours by appointment. The trust also publishes organises exhibitions, runs local history classes and arranges open days when former residents of the Island return to reminisce.
English local history
Local history is the study of the history of a relatively small geographic area; typically a specific settlement, parish or county. English local history came to the fore with the antiquarians of the 19th century and was particularly emphasised by the creation of the Victoria County History series...
institution based on the Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
The Isle of Dogs is a former island in the East End of London that is bounded on three sides by one of the largest meanders in the River Thames.-Etymology:...
in east London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England. The Trust was created by volunteers, who started to collect photographs of local life in 1981. At that time the docks
London Docks
The London Docks were one of several sets of docks in the historic Port of London. They were constructed in Wapping downstream from the City of London between 1799 and 1815, at a cost exceeding £5½ million. Traditionally ships had docked at wharves on the River Thames, but by this time, more...
and nearly all the local factories had closed, and the transformation of the Island by Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf is a major business district located in London, United Kingdom. It is one of London's two main financial centres, alongside the traditional City of London, and contains many of the UK's tallest buildings, including the second-tallest , One Canada Square...
and other developments had not begun. Some locals felt a loss of identity as their established way of life had ended and they wished to record and preserve their local history.
Initially the focus was on collecting photographs. Many were copied and returned to their owners, and notes about them were made and indexed. Later interviews were recorded interviews with elderly Islanders, and a number of people wrote memoirs to add to the collection.
The Trust's premises are currently in The Dockland Settlement, which is one of the Island's oldest community centres. The collection is open to the public on a part time basis, and may be visited out of normal hours by appointment. The trust also publishes organises exhibitions, runs local history classes and arranges open days when former residents of the Island return to reminisce.