The Watercress Line, Hampshire’s Heritage railway was recently successful in gaining funding from Hampshire Archives Trust, Alresford Historical and Literary Society and New Alresford Town Trust to enhance its family Learning and school learning resources. This funding through our ‘Watercress Line Through Time’ project aims to share well known facts, stories and key moments in the lines history as well as uncovering more unusual events, stories and people connected to the line will be depicted and interpreted in a variety of fun, humorous and engaging ways so that more people can discover for themselves the Heritage and history of Hampshire’s very own heritage railway.
We have worked with Seekers Create (based in Portsmouth) to create a series of pop up panels depicting a fun facts timeline of the lines history from the 1860s to present day mixed with fun facts, myths and unusual events that happened along and around the line.
We have also worked with costumed interpreter Martin Jakeman and SUSU film services to create the railways very own song and music video which depicts key events and moments in the railway’s history with a very catchy rhyme. The video can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNC-i0EvAk8
Finally collaborating with Jack Wallbridge a local designer who has designed a snakes and ladders format floor mat game called tracks through time for children and families to play both at Ropley, they will be able to download a copy from our website and eventually on board some of our trains as well.
The Watercress Line Through Time project has been a perfect way to draw out some of the unknown stories of both the railway itself, the people and key events that to shape the railway right from the 1860s through to the present day. All three elements aim to bring these facts and stories to life in a fun, engaging and informative way for everyone who visits the railway.
Author: Daniel Ball
Bio: Dan is the education and outreach coordinator for the Watercress Line heritage railway, and has been in post for just over two years. He has a strong background in museum and heritage learning and community engagement through his previous posts which have included working in a number of museums across Hampshire, including the Army flying museum near Andover, Winchester military museums, Sea City Museum and the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth. He has coordinated a wide range of community projects in many different museum roles including knitting a giant scarf for HMS Alliance at the royal navy submarine museum to working with community groups to co-curate mini exhibitions as part of the Army flying museums project eagle.
