Social Memory and Oral Histories of the Middlesex Hospital Annex

Oral History Project

In 2005, in honour of the London & Middlesex Archaeological Society’s (LAMAS) 150th anniversary, a Research Fund was created in support of investigation into the archaeology and history of London and Middlesex. In 2021 the Iceni Archaeology team were the successful recipients of the LAMAS Research Fund for a project surrounding social memory and oral histories of the Middlesex Hospital Annex, the site of the former Strand Union Workhouse in Camden.

So much of what we do as archaeologists’ is concerned with what’s in the ground, or beneath our feet, that sometimes we forget to look up. To truly appreciate the benefits of archaeology, we must understand not only the physical remains of those people or that place, but also the associated social fabric and memory, and how that place changes in light of the passage of time and development. The recent archaeological excavations at the Middlesex Hospital Annex prior to its redevelopment have been shedding light on the physical history of the building at 44 Cleveland Street, but it got us thinking about how we could preserve the spoken histories of such an important place. To tap into that identity is one of the fundamental tenets of placemaking, of belonging, and of engaging with the historic environment.

Iceni Projects are working in conjunction with the London & Middlesex Archaeological Society (LAMAS) to collate the history of the building located at 44 Cleveland Street, Camden, and to preserve the intangible histories that are fundamental to its identity. We are focusing on the period when the building functioned as the Middlesex Hospital Annex (c.1916-2005), and would love to hear from people with associations, stories, anecdotes, and memories of this place, in order to record and preserve them for future generations.

If you have any kind of association with the Middlesex Hospital Annex, or it features in your life in some way,, we would love to hear from you.

Please fill out a Contributor Form below and feel free to join us on 24th of Feb at 6:30pm for an introductory evening on Zoom by RSVP’ing to the email address below.

RSVP: oralhistory@iceniprojects.com

Thank you to everyone who has contacted us so far showing an interest in contributing to the Middlesex Annex Oral History Project. Due to a technical issue, if you have filled out a form and not heard from us, could you please resubmit the form below and someone will be in contact with you as soon as possible. Many thanks, Oral History Team.

1. Full Name

Email: *

Telephone Number:

2. Year of birth

3. Place of birth

4. Do you have a personal connection to the Middlesex Hospital Annex, or a personal connection to anyone who lived, worked, or was associated with the Middlesex Hospital Annex?

5. What time period does your connection to Middlesex Annex cover in approximate years (e.g. 1989-1998)? What approximate age corresponds to your connection to the Middlesex Annex (e.g. 25-40)?

6. How has your connection to the Middlesex Hospital Annex affected your life? Does it play a minor or major part?

7. What kind of feelings does the building itself evoke for you? Do you like it? Do you dislike it?

8. Are you aware of the recent developments of the building at 44 Cleveland Street? What are your thoughts and feelings on the recent work?

9. Would you be willing to be interview in person to talk about your recollections? (please tick one) *

Yes

10. Would you be willing to be interviewed on camera to talk about your recollections? (please tick one) *

Yes

Thank you for your contribution. It has been received.

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Collection and Management of Oral History and Personal Information

Iceni Projects Ethical Policy

The following policy illustrates how Iceni Projects will undertake the Project, and what steps will be taken into consideration to ensure that the Project adheres to an ethical policy of personal data collection.

All Contributors to the Project will be supplied with –
1. An Information Sheet clearly stating the Projects aims and objectives;
2. An Interview Participation Agreement (Contributor Agreement) detailing how personal information and the Contribution will be handled and stored by Iceni Projects; and
3. A Recording Agreement detailing rights and responsibilities with respect to copywrite ownership of the Contribution.
Iceni Projects is GDPR Compliant and holds ISO Certification; there has not been a data breach in the 16 years of operation.
Archiving of material relating to the Project will be done digitally, and stored on Iceni Projects servers (password protected, GDPR compliant). Any original hard copies of documentation will be returned to participants upon completion of digitisation.
Iceni Projects has a robust QMS Policy relating to the digital storage of material and the creation of an archive, compliant with ISO 9001:2015.
Additionally, all digital archive material will adhere to Work Digital / Think Archive (DigVentures 2019), as well as the Chartered Institute of Archaeologists (CIfA) Standard for the creation, compilation, transfer and deposition of archaeological archives (2014). Prior to the commencement of the Project, a Work Digital / Think Archive Data Management Plan Overview will be completed and information included on the Project Information Sheet.