Dropbox Paper

Clerkenwell, Ring and Culture Mile mapping

Note by Belinda Kidd

MEETING RE POTENTIAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN VARIOUS CLERKENWELL MAPPING/COMMUNIUTY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES – 27 FEB 2019 – AT LONDON METROPOLITAN ARCHIVES

The aim is to explore possible connections and collaborations between

Clerkenwell Commons - Mike Franks

Layers of London – Tom Furber (London Metropolitan Archives)

The Ring – Belinda Kidd

Connecting Clerkenwell / Tom Neumark, Peel Institute/ David Wilcox

Culture Mile trail – David Wilcox

INTRODUCTION

David Wilcox called together the meeting. He lives in Bartholomew Close, just south of Smithfield, and with others is developing the idea of London as a more networked city, with an emphasis on mapping, storytelling, and a blend of online and face-to-face communications. He is also exploring (as a personal project) how to develop a Story Map and trail for the Culture Mile, from the Barbican to Smithfield.

He is keen to ensure community involvement and ownership of mapping initiatives – open to local people’s contributions. Considerable potential in Clerkenwell area but also complex as so much going on. Getting it right here could be an example for development elsewhere. In all this, the question is what you can do professionally, and what can you do on your own.

As well as the people at the meeting, David is also in touch with a digital fellow at Museum of London, Lauren Vargas from University of Leicester.

LAYERS OF LONDON

This brings together, for the first time, a significant collection of digitised historic maps, photos and other information provided by key partners across London. Partners include: the British Library, The London Metropolitan Archives, Historic England, The National Archives, MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) and a wide range of national and local archives, institutions and community groups. Members of the public will be able to contribute and upload material.

CLERKENWELL COMMONS

Mike Franks is developing the concept of the Clerkenwell Commons and a revival and updating of the Clerkenwell trail created in 1977 for the Silver Jubilee, using this to create community connections. This is the fruition of some 40 years of Mike’s living and working in the area. He is an architect and urban planner – worked on Covent Garden in the 70s and on Clerkenwell Workshops, pioneering this approach to development.

A 21st Century Coffee House of the streets.

Concern that the south part of Clerkenwell (Medieval Clerkenwell - i.e. around Farringdon/south of Bowling Green Lane) is being drawn into the City and losing its diversity. Much of the making history of the area is close to being lost entirely – 300 years of instrument making nearly gone. The northern part (Municipal Clerkenwell) includes Finsbury which was the focus of an early municipal effort to address poverty. People living in the flats there don’t see the southern part of the area as having much to do with them – and often don’t use the facilities that are on their doorstep.

Plans to link up with Clerkenwell Design Week to launch it – an outdoor event, using the railings either side of Northumberland Street to post up information about the area – explore what is and what is not My Clerkenwell.

CULTURE MILE TRAIL

A personal project of David’s but has spoken with Nick Kenyon (MD of Barbican) about it who seems supportive. http://bit.ly/2HRG8y8,

DW’s wife is Ann Holmes who is a Common Councillor, a livery member (Cordwainers) and Deputy Chair of the Education Board.

Title could be Then Now and Next.

PEEL INSTITUTE / CONNECTING CLERKENWELL

Peel Institute set up a project a year ago to connect people in Clerkenwell – Connecting Clerkenwell http://www.peelinstitute.org.uk/connecting-clerkenwe

DW is doing networking/social mapping – investigating the social ecology. Aim to use networking mapping to help community connections – both the local residential population and professional. Doing exploratory technical work with Outlandish on how better to join up what already exists. The project will have some links with Layers of London as well as exploring many other ways to connect people and groups in Clerkenwell, face to face and online.

Tom Neumark is CEO of the Peel Institute, a charity which was established in late 19th Century, and runs the Three Corners centre. The problems of the area can be solved within the area – e.g. older people’s isolation, children living in overcrowded in homes and in poverty. There are organisations working on this, but not linking up. The local population itself is fractured – example of a workshop asking local people to name their area, and everyone came up with a different name! A lot of primary schools but no secondary. Not many collective structures to work with – only one residents’ association so the local councillors haven’t been pushed to take action. However, a new Councillor, Matt Nathan, is engaging with the voluntary sector which is welcome. Peel is supporting local people’s projects and trying to join them up more. Also providing leadership support for people who are active in the community. The Three Corners centre provides a physical hub, and they would like to create more of a digital hub.

THE RING