Industry News

Fascinating untold stories of children from County Durham’s past will be the focus of a new exhibition curated by young people.

‘Welcome to our County: The Children of Yesterday and Tomorrow’ has been devised and created by Durham Youth Council and opens on Saturday 2 November at The Story – Durham County Council’s heritage and registration venue near Durham City.

Drawing on objects and documents from The Story’s extensive collections, the exhibition shines a light on children throughout history, including the Roman Empire, Medieval times, Victorian era and more.

From a miniature uniform made for a little boy to match that worn by his father serving in the First World War, to beautifully illustrated Victorian diaries – each object has been selected and researched by the young people.

The aim is to showcase lesser-known stories, investigate why young people’s voices are often omitted from histories and explore how class and geographical location have shaped children’s experiences over the years. The exhibition, which runs until spring 2025, also considers how children’s stories should be recorded now and in the future.

Sam Treweeke, 19, a Durham Youth Council councillor, said: “We wanted to create a space in which people of all ages can both learn about and reflect on the past while being able to relate to it on a deeply personal level.

“We, as a youth council, hope everyone leaves this exhibition having thought about their own story of childhood – whether that be their past or present – and of course, appreciate and enjoy learning about history through the lives of children.”

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “Children and young people’s voices are uncommon in historic records, especially those from working class backgrounds.

“What makes this exhibition so special is that it not only shines a light on the experiences of children from the past, but it does so through the eyes of today’s young people. It is sparking conversations about issues that affect children today and the need to ensure all young people have access to the same opportunities.

“Inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do, from our Inclusive Economic Strategy to our innovative cultural programme that has helped forge County Durham’s reputation as the Culture County. Members of Durham Youth Council should feel incredibly proud of what they have achieved with this exhibition.”

Cllr Ted Henderson, Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: “The commitment these young people have shown to this project over the last few years, and their understanding of issues facing their contemporaries both now and in the past is incredible. They have created an insightful and thought-provoking exhibition that I’m sure will capture the interest and imagination of people of all ages. Congratulations to them all.”

Located in Mount Oswald House on the outskirts of Durham City, The Story contains five historic collections, including six miles of archives covering 900 years of history and the entire DLI Collection and Archive. It is also the home of the County Registration Service, a permanent exhibition about the history of County Durham and its people, a search and discover research space and a café.