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Ampthill Past Memories are pleased to announce that they now have 25 podcasts loaded and available worldwide, and more than 1500 people have already listened to at least one of the podcasts from as far away as America, Denmark, Spain and South Africa.

There are many more to be finalised and loaded and more interviews already booked.

The project continues to go from strength to strength and Ampthill Past Memories have been successful with their application to the Rookery South Community Trust Fund, and the project has been approved a grant of £1,721.00. It will enable them to buy 2 sets of equipment, laptops software, etc including an annual transcription software license for the next phase of the project.

More volunteers are now required, and the next stage is to enrol interested volunteers to check the interviews already run through the transcribing software, so that a transcript can be made available for those who wish to read the memories in this way.

Having accumulated a vast quantity of books, leaflets, articles and more about Ampthill and the locality, a suitable location is being sought, to enable storage of all this information and of course to add to it. This would enable others to access and view/research the documents etc. If anyone knows anywhere, please get in contact.

We would be very pleased to hear from anyone willing to help in whatever way they feel able. Please email ampthillpastmemories@gmail.com

Click on here from IOS or Android devices https://podfollow.com/ampthillpastmemories

Or go to https://open.spotify.com/show/6yPws8oBOsXf9Udpw4tZXv

Following the interesting and enjoyable talk given by Richard Luscombe on The History of Wrest Park covering its 800-year History and Stories, we have been able to arrange Summer visits to Wrest Park, for a tour of the Wallpaper Rooms and a Below Stairs/ Behind the scenes tour.

When:  Monday 10^th June,  Tuesday 11^th June,  Sunday 8th September 2024

The ‘below the stairs’ tours can only accommodate 7 people at a time due to confined space and so, we have arranged three dates to allow for 14 people per visit,

The format of each day will be as follows:

• 10:30 a.m.    Arrive at Wrest Park
• 11:00 a.m.    All 14 members of the group will have the Wallpaper Rooms tour
• 1:00p.m.       1^st group of 7 will take the Below the Stairs/Behind the scenes tour
• 2:00p.m.       2^nd group of 7 will take the Below the Stairs/Behind the scenes tour

There is plenty to see and do at Wrest Park, both in the house and around the lovely gardens and other buildings and so it should be a very enjoyable day.

COST for the Visit:

English Heritage Members – you will use your membership for entry, and we ask for a £5 donation towards the Wrest Park Community Fund payable to ADPS.

NON-English Heritage members – will have to buy a day entry ticket either online beforehand or at the gate on the day. Also we ask for the £5 donation towards the Wrest Park Community Fund  payable to ADPS.

Advance online ticket for a concession without a donation is £12.70 but, at the gate, it will be more.

No charge for car parking.

WALLPAPER TOURS.

Join us for a unique peek inside the mansion house at Wrest Park as we explore rooms rarely open to visitors – the amazing wallpaper rooms.

See the stunning ‘Eldarado’ papers in the French Room and the intricate hand-painted papers in the Chinese Room as our knowledgeable volunteer guides explain the history of these rooms and the family’s use of them.

Below the Stairs/Behind The Scenes  Tour

A tour of the basement and talks about the history of the house from various perspectives, servants, coal cellars, the institute.

Please email membership@adps.org.uk   with your preferred dates and number of places required.

Many thanks

ADPS Committee

The First Eight Months!

The Ampthill Past Memories Project takes us on a stroll down memory lane with recordings of Ampthill residents sharing their stories.

It’s a unique peek into the heart and soul of our town’s history.  The memories allow us to explore Ampthill’s past through the personal tales and cherished memories of its residents.,

The project was born out of discussion between Mariella Cook and Sandra Read who had both participated in the Greensand Country Landscape Oral History and recognising that Ampthill was a rich source of more recent history that as yet, was not recorded centrally.  We explored the methodology, and we needed equipment, help and advice.

Terry Lee, Senior Tutor in Radio & Audio at the University of  Bedfordshire and Chair of the Community Media Association, came to our rescue with much help and advice. Our thanks are extended to Terry for the help and assistance he has given to us over the past few months.

Initially Ampthill & District Preservation Society funded podcast equipment and we explored funding opportunities to purchase a dedicated laptop and software. The CBC Inspiring Volunteering fund awarded a grant of £500, followed by £500 from the Ampthill Town Council Community Grant Fund for which we are very grateful.

We already have eleven recordings “in the can”, and these will be edited and uploaded soon. Many more interviews are scheduled, with a list of potential interviewers

Next stages include transcribing the interviews, lodging copies with the British Library Sound Archive and more. Some of Terry’s University students will now become involved with helping to edit the interviews and create the podcasts.

The project could not have run without the residents that have already allowed us to record their precious memories,  We extend our appreciation and thanks to all those that have already completed interviews and all those that will do so in the future.  Also a huge thank you to those  who have come forward to join the interview team.

The Project has been set up as Podcasts which can be accessed via the Ampthill & District Preservation Society website ADPS.org.uk, or by scanning the QR code which appears on the logo of the project.

We are pleased to be able to include  a trailer of the project here – please clink on the link.

https://open.spotify.com/show/6yPws8oBOsXf9Udpw4tZXv

There are always more memories out there waiting to be found. If you would like to share your memories with us and are happy to have them included in the Ampthill Past Memories Project, please do contact us by email on ampthillpastmemories@gmail.com.

We will undoubtedly need more funding in the future but we are rightly proud of what we have achieved so far on such a small budget(<£1300) and with so many hours given in kind by volunteers.

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