Surrey History Centre

Residents of all ages and communities across Surrey are being invited to keep a personal record of what life has been like for them during shutdown – their thoughts, experiences and challenges – and to deposit it for historical preservation with Surrey History Centre when the pandemic has passed. The record can be in any format – written (no set length), a sound recording, video, or a series of drawings. These personal reflections will be a valuable and fascinating source for future generations and historians, helping them to understand and appreciate what we are all experiencing in 2020. 

The History Centre is especially encouraging children to submit their diaries as part of an activity with a parent or guardian. It could even form the basis of a group activity undertaken by a school online as a virtual classroom activity.

Although contributions can be submitted anonymously to maintain privacy, the preference is to know gender, age and (at least) the name of your town or village or even simply the first part of your postcode. You can deliver your diary in person when the History Centre reopens, submit it by email to shs@surreycc.gov.ukor post it to: Surrey History Centre,130 Goldsworth Rd, Woking GU21 6ND.

Photographs of life during shutdown

Across Surrey there are visual indications of how life has changed during these exceptional times: from notices in shop windows of queuing etiquette, to social distancing whilst out for daily exercise around the county’s towns and villages. Where they can safely be taken, the Surrey History Centre is also asking for residents to submit photographs reflecting the experiences and challenges of living during the coronavirus crisis. Again, these will be added to the archive at Surrey History Centre, for historical preservation.

Take your photograph, keep a record of what you have photographed, together with when and where it was taken. Send your images by post to Surrey History Centre, 130 Goldsworth Road, Woking, GU21 6ND (or deliver in person when the centre re-opens), or email them to shs@surreycc.gov.uk More about the project at: https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/share-your-experiences-of-life-during-shutdown/

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