A two year project to open up, catalogue and protect Hillingdon's historical materials is to become a reality, thanks to a £247,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The award, made last month, will enable the council and Brunel University to take steps to open their collections to the public, including:
- Hillingdon Local Studies and Archives' collection held by the council. Based at the Central Library in Uxbridge it provides an insight into the life and times of the borough, including local authority records and a collection of around 10,000 photographs. It also contains the Market Charter awarded to Uxbridge in 1180 as well as letters of local dignitary, Edwin Scott, discussing day-to-day life in the 18th century.
- The University's nationally important collection celebrating the pioneering work of Maria Grey College and the Teacher Training Registration Society, considered to have shaped modern teaching methods.
- The British and Foreign School Society (BFSS) archive at Brunel which contains important documentation about 19th century schooling and teacher training.
Carolynne Cotton, Local Studies, Archives and Museum manager, said: "Hillingdon's heritage is important to everybody and thanks to HLF, local people will be able to discover this proud inheritance and find out what it means to them. Our collections are fantastic but I am sure that visitors will have more to add. We are encouraging everyone, especially those who have not used the collections before, to contribute items so the heritage they value is represented and benefits the community."
Images will be digitised and web pages created to catalogue the items, to become an educational and research resource available through the council's website. A series of educational topics for teachers and pupils will also feature on the website and be available for local history talks, exhibitions and demonstrations.
Brunel University Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Steve Hodkinson added: "The university is delighted to be partnering the council and the BFSS in this project. The work will not only catalogue and conserve very valuable historical resources but it will also bring them into the heart of the community of learning via the latest technology."