Collecting living memories of the rich and varied history of the Lower Severn Vale Levels helps to preserve the area’s heritage and allow future generations to understand and appreciate it.

Oral historian Julia Letts led this project to gather the histories of the people who have lived and worked across the Lower Severn Vale Levels and those who travel the Severn Estuary. Volunteers received training in using specialist recording equipment and interview techniques.

Altogether volunteers interviewed nearly 50 local people from fishermen and farmers to nuclear engineers and bridge builders. The stories and memories collected were used to produce a new publication and travelling exhibition, Tales of the Vale, alongside research done by our local history volunteers.