Our Coast, Our Sea - Berwick’s Food Heritage History Sessions with Derek Sharman

17 January 2010

These sessions will start on Monday 19th January, starting at 9.30am and finishing at 12.00 noon. There will be 10 sessions in this first part of the course. It is planned to have a further four sessions on dates to be agreed in the Autumn.

The idea is to explore the story of producing, processing and preparing food and drink today and in the past through a series of talks and workshop activities. Derek will be leading each of the sessions and providing an historical background to the topic, but other speakers will come to some of the sessions. This will provide opportunities to gain from their knowledge and expertise, ask questions and stimulate ideas for further personal research.

Though structured, the sessions will be the usual mix of presentation and discussion in an informal and friendly atmosphere. Don’t worry if you are not able to attend all of the sessions.

The course is being offered completely free of charge as part of the Berwick’s Food Heritage project being run by Berwick Slow Food group with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Everyone who takes part will be asked to undertake one piece of personal research and a second joint activity with another member of the course, to produce a variety of display and other materials that will add to the overall objectives of the project. It is anticipated that everyone will find some topics of particular interest to them to follow up in this way. A university dissertation is not expected, but Derek is quite excited about what we can produce together. The last four sessions in the Autumn will focus on developing and completing these research activities before the project ends in November 2009.

Our activities will be supported during the year by the activities of local photographers and information, documents and artefacts offered from people in the local communities.

PROPOSED COURSE OUTLINE
This outline may well be amended as we progress through the course, but it will show the range of topics Derek is planning for us to cover.
Throughout the course, we shall have the support of Linda Bankier at the Berwick Record Office and will be making extensive use of the archives held there, including old issues of local newspapers and documents relating to local businesses.

Derek also anticipates organising a field trip in conjunction with the course and has some locations in mind that should make this an interesting and special experience for you.

Before the Agricultural Revolution
Prehistoric hunter-gatherers and farming before enclosure. Our guest speaker will be archaeologist Dr. Kristian Pedersen. We will spend time at this session discussing ideas about how to tackle the personal study activities.

Enclosures and Improvers
Farming from the 16th century to the present day, new agricultural methods, crops and animal breeds.

Salmon, Shiels and Smacks
Exploring the history of the salmon industry in Berwick. There will be a guest speaker at this session.

Barley Farm to Brewery
All aspects of grain from plough to port, and its uses from baking to brewing. This session will include a discovery walk along Berwick’s “Barleycorn Trail”.

Allowances, Diets and Rations
Food in soldiers’ barracks, prisons and workhouses. Diets for health and food fashion through the ages.

Marks in the Landscape
Buildings and other evidence left in the landscape. This session will include contributions from local photographers who are taking part in the project.

Traditional Skills
An investigation of some of the traditional food producing and processing skills that are still in use today, with (non-food!) contributions from some local producers.

Making and Selling
Food processing, shops and kitchens through the ages. We shall look in particular at the stories behind some of the familiar businesses in Berwick, past and present.

The Silver Darlings
The fishing industry on the coast of Northumberland and Berwickshire. There will be a contribution from a guest speaker at this session.