Archives In Action - Navigating the River Weaver!
The historic Daniel Adamson steamship in Frodsham, affectionately known as The Danny, could not have been a more fitting venue to celebrate the completion of our latest Cheshire’s archives: a story shared project. On a sunny summer’s evening, contributors with a shared love of the river gathered on board for a first screening of the animated film ‘Navigating the River Weaver’.
The River Weaver winds for around 50 miles through the heart of Cheshire. While its industrial past is well preserved in our archives, we wanted to explore the river’s more recent story. As industry declined and the river’s role has changed, we wanted to document how people are using the river today.
To find out, we spoke to the people who know the river best. After researching current river users, we invited local groups and individuals to share their memories and experiences through recorded oral history conversations. In total, 29 people took part, contributing more than six hours of recordings filled with personal stories, observations and reflections.
For some, the river exceeded expectations:
“I thought it was the industrial heart of the northlands, it was a bit of a surprise that there was quite so much nice countryside to row in.”
Others described the simple joy of time on or by the water:
“Five minutes on the water…you get the rewards in bucketfuls.”
Again and again, the same theme emerged: while the river may have its issues, it is one of Cheshire’s hidden gems, full of history, beauty and untapped potential.
These stories then took on a new life as we handed over the recordings and photos, plus documents and maps from our collections, to Mako Create and a group of young people from Winsford. Though a series of creative workshops, they produced the animated film ‘Navigating the River Weaver’ combining their own ideas, artwork and voices with those from the recordings and materials from our collections.
The result is a powerful exploration of the river’s past, present and future created by the community for the community.
You can see the film at selected museums and libraries across Cheshire. The animation is also available on our YouTube channel, while highlights from the oral history recordings can be heard on our SoundCloud page.
Together, these stories ensure that the River Weaver’s rich heritage continues to flow into the future.
By Anya Moon, Community Engagement Officer
