Histories of Childhood Heritage Toolkit

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Unpacking treasures from the 18th century Doll's House at Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire ©National Trust Images/Paul Harris

 

The ‘Histories of Childhood: Uncovering New Heritage Narratives’ toolkit reveals how histories of childhood offer fresh perspectives on collections and properties now in the care of heritage organisations.

At the heart of the toolkit are eleven case studies written by heritage professionals and researchers whose museums and historic sites have adopted innovative approaches to histories of childhood. The case studies explore British history across almost 2000 years, ranging from castles to country houses and from forts to workhouses.

Click here to download the toolkit.

The toolkit is part of an on-going collaborative project that draws on the work of the Centre for the History of Childhood at the University of Oxford, the UK’s only centre for this research since 2003. The project aims both to enrich heritage by incorporating the latest research into histories of childhood and to enhance academic research by drawing on collections and expertise within heritage organisations. The project is supported by the Oxford National Trust Partnership and funded by a Knowledge Exchange Innovation Fund Award awarded to Siân Pooley by The Oxford Research Centre in the Humanities (TORCH) in 2022-23. To find out more, please email sian.pooley@magd.ox.ac.uk.

 

The Centre for the History of Childhood aims to promote the study of children, youth and childhood in the past through supporting research within and beyond Oxford, fostering a community of researchers and sharing new research through public engagement activity. 

The National Trust Partnership is an award-winning collaboration between the University of Oxford and the National Trust which creates new opportunities for interdisciplinary research, knowledge exchange, public engagement with research and training beyond institutions and beyond. 

 The TORCH Heritage Programme aims to enable ambitious and mutually beneficial partnerships that connect Oxford’s world-leading expertise with the UK and international Heritage Sector.