Nechells Voices

The aim of the Oral History Project is to assist in revitalising the local community by enabling public access to its own heritage. An archive of recordings with local people is being developed so that the social and community history of Nechells is recorded for posterity.

Facilities are now in place for the recording of personal, family and community experiences. In due course, this material will become a vital tool for an understanding of the recent past and enable people, typically local residents, who have been hidden from history, to be heard.

The Project is located in the former Nechells Baths building. This Grade II listed building has been refurbished and restored by an extensive re-building programme, assisted by Advantage West Midlands, the European Regional Development Fund (Government Office West Midlands), the Heritage Lottery Fund and contributions from trusts, charities and private sources. It now houses a number of employment initiatives as well as having space for not-for-profit organisations and community use.

The Oral History Project’s office is permanently accommodated in the former ticket office of the building. This has been fully restored with generous storage areas for artefacts and houses the project’s administrative centre.

One double and two individual booths (formerly changing cubicles on the ground floor of the Baths building) have been adapted as listening posts. They are equipped with advanced CD facilities and headphone sets. Members of the public, researchers and other people who are interested can make use of these facilities for listening to recorded interviews stored in the project’s archive collection.