Maria Caulfield, Member of Parliament for Lewes, has welcomed the announcement that Historic England is funding a project about the historic former Parker Pen factory in Newhaven.
The project is one of 56 new projects that Historic England will be funding across the next two years through its Everyday Heritage grant programme, celebrating working class histories.
Historic England received over 380 applications and has chosen to fund 56 community-led projects – six across the South East – that will explore the stories of people and places at the heart of our history. The total amount of funding awarded by Historic England will be £875,000 ranging from £6,800 - £25,000 per individual project. The sum of £87,000 has been pledged towards projects in the South East.
Press Play Films has been granted £21,840 in funding to bring together different generations to record community oral histories and create short stop-motion animations in clay to uncover the rich working-class history of Newhaven's renowned Parker Pen factory. Having started life in a few ex-army huts, it gradually became one of the largest and most technically advanced pen factories in Europe.
The once-thriving site had a 1,200-strong workforce, but after gradual dismantling, the factory was demolished in 2014. The project will encourage intergenerational understanding of Newhaven's community heritage and industrial past, with pupils involved in interviewing people who worked at the factory before these memories disappear.
The project will involve ex-Parker employees, local primary and secondary school students, Newhaven Museum volunteers, Hillcrest community centre and the town's wider community.
Commenting on the project, Maria Caulfield MP said:
“The Parker Pen factory was such a historic part of Newhaven’s history, so many residents in Newhaven will have relatives who worked there at some point in their lives and there are always amazing stories to hear. I’m sure this project will be very welcomed by the local community”