Who Wants to Talk About Heritage?

On 11 November, 40 of us gathered to talk about all things Havering heritage at the inaugural Heritage Havering Conference. The sleek, modern background of CEME campus, particularly the domed auditorium, provided a unique contrast to the culture-focused event. Attendees ranged from councillors, Havering cultural practitioners, artists, students, Heritage officers, and planning officials – to name a few. I was delighted to invite Stephanie Ostrich, Jill Warren, Seán McGovern, Nompumelelo Ncube, Judith Garfield, Bill Fisher, and Jane Keane as speakers. 

The day began with an introduction to Havering London and the ‘A Good Life’ cultural strategy from David Shearing and Mathew Russell. It was then my turn to take to the podium to discuss what a heritage ecology is. My definition of heritage ecologies borrows from the Cambridge Heritage Research Centre’s (CHRC) explanation of how, ‘heritage ecosystems and intangible heritages, as well as cultural landscapes, work together to construct human relationships with place’. With this idea in mind, to me, Havering’s heritage ecology is the resources and environments in which heritage  – tangible and intangible, known and untold – exist in the London Borough of Havering from as many perspectives as possible.

I looked at digital and in-person methods from Medway, the CHRC, and Hastings Commons as examples of how to map heritage ecologies. After outlining how Havering might use these examples to build an ecology of our own, we dove into our speaker panels.

As an audience, we first learned about how archaeology can uncover hidden stories and the importance of planning authorities in assessing and protecting heritage. After lunch, we heard how Islington’s Pride, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, captured untold queer histories within Islington’s built heritage and archives. We then discovered the power of local stories from Havering London producer Nompumelelo Ncube as she summarised interactions at Romford Market through The Exchange project. To wrap up the day, we learned about the importance of oral histories, museum practices, and ethically engaging with participant communities in Havering. 

My main reflection of the day is how powerful heritage is. A diverse audience and speaker topics prompted questions, disagreements, and solutions of how heritage can be used to better life for Havering residents. There was a sense of shared purpose and unity amongst attendees to collaborate going forward. By creating a heritage ecology, Havering will demonstrate how a mapped network of cooperative heritage stories, practitioners, and assets can lead to community cohesion and resilience. 

Whether it be the highlighting the Havering Hoard as an archaeological trove or using the Havering Planning Association’s historic maps, collecting boxes of ephemera from local residents or setting up a neon market stall to engage with visitors, documenting oral histories throughout Havering or learning about the borough’s history at the Havering Museum, there are endless opportunities to connect the heritages of Havering. 

It is now my (very exciting!) task to go out in Havering and discuss with all of you what you consider the borough’s heritage to be. I’m eager to understand what you think is vital to Havering’s identity, and what your identity is within Havering. I hope we can all begin to answer this powerful question: what makes Havering home?

If you are interested in participating in creating a heritage ecology, or want to chat about Havering’s heritage, please reach out to me at alyssa@haveringlondon.com.

Thank you to our Havering Unearthed and Havering London funders – The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Romford BID, Arts Council England, and the London Borough of Havering, Havering Changing, Royal Central School for Speech and Drama, and the UK Government – for sponsoring this event.