Cinque Ports – mediaeval past comes to life in a new podcast

Jude Montague from Resonance FM talks to Sam Dook from Lifesize CiC about a creative project to reimagine history in Hastings and Folkestone for radio.

What were the Cinque Ports?

Once they were a confederation of ports in the Middle Ages including Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich. Sam Dook, director of the Hastings-based arts organisation Lifesize, used this theme for a project exploring history that enabled a cross-county collaboration between adults with learning disabilities.

The partner organisations were Touchbase in Folkestone’s Creative Quarter and Parchment Trust based on the Ponswood Industrial Estate in St Leonards. Folkestone was a ‘limb of Dover,’ which meant they were part of the wider confederation of the Cinque Ports.

The project was focused on making radio podcast programmes exploring local history together in creative ways, with music, storytelling and visits to heritage sites.

I asked the director, Sam Dook about his motivation to set up this ambitious project.

‘I thought it would be an interesting challenge to see if we could facilitate a creative collaboration between adults with learning disabilities who do not know each other and are based in different coastal towns. Meeting and working with new people can be a positive and educational experience.

‘A lot of what we do as an organisation is about trying to support people with barriers to access high quality creative arts activities that develop skills and improve wellbeing.

‘Coming from the area, I’m interested in the history of coastal towns of the Southeast, the unique way these towns feel; the sea, beaches, coastal walkways and how we relate to them as inhabitants.

‘Old folk songs, poetry and visits to heritage sites generated material. Together the group adapted the old historical songs Sumer is icumen in and Spanish Ladies, using them as vehicles to explore storytelling.

‘Sumer is icumen in made us think about the changing seasons, and the coming of spring.

‘The Great Storm of 1287 redrew our coastal landscape. In Hastings part of the cliff collapsed which blocked the harbour. The River Rother was diverted to Rye, meaning New Romney ended its life as a port. Some who remembered the Great Storm of 1987 reflected on their experiences.

‘The Folkestone group visited the church of St Mary and St Eanswythe and talked about religion in the Middle Ages.

‘Eanswythe was born around 614 and was a princess of the South Saxons.

‘Her family founded the first women’s monastery in England and her bones were rediscovered in the church’s walls in 1885 in a lead reliquary, an incredible physical link to medieval life.

‘The Hastings group visited the Smugglers Adventure in St Clements Caves and explored the dramatic stories of crime and law enforcement that were once part of everyday life. These outings to real places gave the project a special energy and participants responded with original audio made using Lifesize accessible music strategies and unique homemade instruments.’

I asked Sam what he hoped people would get from listening to the podcasts.

‘Initially I hope the project participants are happy with their creation and have found it fun, interesting and educational, something they are proud of and want to share.

‘Beyond that I feel they have done a great job of making podcasts that can be enjoyed by others who are interested in local history and the creative work of people with learning disabilities. The project has been well received and Lifesize plan to create new and exciting podcasting opportunities for people in the future.’

 

Sam adds: ‘We would like to thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund for enabling us to undertake the project, develop as an organisation and improve our skills as creativity for wellbeing facilitators. The participants, for their dedication, patience and creative input and the staff at both partner organisations who supported us to ensure the project ran smoothly.

 

 

You can hear the Cinque ports podcasts here:

‘Cinque Ports’ radio logo *click to listen*

and find out more about Lifesize here:

Lifesize webpage *click to visit*

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