By james art The fascinating untold stories of children from County Durham’s past will be the focus of a new exhibition curated by young people.
Welcome to Our County: The Children of Yesterday and Tomorrow is conceived and created by Durham Youth Council and opens on Saturday 2nd November at The Story – County Durham’s heritage and registration venue, near Durham City.
Based on objects and documents from The Story’s extensive collections, the exhibition shines a light on children throughout history, including the Roman Empire, the Middle Ages, the Victorian era and more.
From a miniature uniform made for a little boy to match that worn by his father, who served in the First World War, to beautifully illustrated Victorian diaries, each item has been chosen and studied by the young people.
The aim is to showcase lesser-known stories, explore why young people’s voices are often left out of stories, and explore how class and geographic location have shaped children’s experiences over the years. The exhibition, which runs until spring 2025, also looks at how children’s stories should be recorded now and in the future.
Sam Treweek, 19, a member of Durham Youth Council, said: “We wanted to create a space where people of all ages can both learn about and reflect on the past, while also being able to connect with it on a deep level personal level.
“We, as a youth council, hope that everyone will walk away from this exhibition thinking about their own childhood story – whether it’s their past or present – and of course, appreciating and enjoying the study of history throughout life to the children.”
Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Partnerships, said: “The voices of children and young people are unusual in the historical record, particularly those from the working class.
“What makes this exhibition so special is that it not only shines a light on the experiences of children from the past, but also does so through the eyes of today’s young people. It sparks conversations about issues affecting children today and the need to ensure that all young people have access to equal opportunities.
“Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do, from our inclusive economic strategy to our ground-breaking cultural program which has helped build County Durham’s reputation as a cultural county. Members of Durham Youth Council should feel incredibly proud of what they have achieved with this exhibition.
Cllr Ted Henderson, cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “The commitment these young people have shown to this project over the past few years and their understanding of the issues facing their contemporaries both now and in the past is incredible. They have created an insightful and thought-provoking exhibition that I am sure will capture the interest and imagination of people of all ages. Congratulations to all of them.”
Located at Mount Oswald House on the outskirts of Durham City, The Story houses five historic collections, including six miles of archives covering 900 years of history and the entire DLI collection and archive. It is also home to the County Register Office, a permanent exhibition on the history of County Durham and its people, a search and discovery research space and a café.