Photo by Maria Locke Mortensen
The Heritage Specialism appealed to me because it touched upon contemporary
social and political challenges facing museums and the heritage sector. Our lectures and group discussions often engaged with contested or difficult histories, and it was interesting to consider how interpretation changes over time.
One of my favourite aspects of the Heritage Specialism, however, was the opportunity to engage with the heritage of Leicester as a place and the University. An early activity that we did in pairs was to consider the local heritage of Leicester and its sense of place, alongside an example of a place that was meaningful to us.
I enjoyed conducting research into the industrial history of Leicester and the way that heritage impacts the landscape and buildings we see today. Other groups looked at the faded advertisements on brick walls that are still visible around Leicester and the covered market in the centre of town. It was interesting to learn about the heritage of Leicester, especially as many of us have been unable to get to know the city due to the pandemic.
Similarly, the final group assignment involved research into the history of the University of Leicester. We were given access to the University archives online in order to contribute to the University’s ‘Our 100’ project.This project is celebrating the centenary of the founding of Leicester University by gathering nominations for 100 things that define the past, present and future of the University.
The three groups on the Heritage Specialism looked at the Race Protests that students were involved with, the lives of some early international students at the university and the history of the RAG parades. Getting to work with the University Archives and learn about the lives, activities and campaigning of past students felt incredibly valuable in a year where many of us haven’t got to engage with campus life.
The project allowed us all to appreciate the history of the university in a more meaningful way and enabled me to build a deeper connection to Leicester as a place.
Written by Molly Hale
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