The project revolves around 97 Charles Street and how its role and the Mounts community have changed over the years.
In the 1830s, this area was pastureland. By the end of the 19th century, most of the houses in the Mounts had been built and today it is a busy multi-cultural community.
The original inhabitants of 97 Charles Street, the Ives family, ran a family business making shoes. Then, for more than 20 years, it housed the offices of the Northampton branch of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives who in turn sold the building to Northampton Constituency Labour Party (CLP). Today it is home to The Lab, a community music and arts venue who lease the building from the CLP.
The Mounts has supported working communities since the early days when most worked in the shoe trade. Over the years, different communities have made this area their home. We think this history is interesting and important and needs to be told.
Our group consists of volunteers meeting weekly to catalogue and archive the documents, photos and other items which tell the story of the building’s 140-year history. Together with Lab committee members, we are working to engage with the community; residents, businesses and organisations, to share stories of the Mounts and adjacent areas and to make the 97 Charles Street archive accessible to all.
We have received funding for this project to deliver the following:
- engagement with local Mounts groups and their members to record the history of their community within this area
- material for performances at the Lab of music and written word events which celebrate the lives and experiences of the Mounts community.
- The digitisation and safe, accessible and online storage of 97 Charles Street archives
We feel this will encourage a sense of pride of place in the Mounts Community and help sustain resilience in these times of tension.
Job Vacancy
The project has a vacancy for a Community Engagement Facilitator
