Just as many people are interested in researching their family histories and finding out about their ancestors, investigating the history
of one’s neighbourhood village or town is also becoming more popular. I will consider two of the ways in which this research can be
carried out.
Perhaps the most straightforward way of finding information about the recent history of a neighbourhood is to interview elderly
people who remember the place as it was in the past. These personal memories can provide us with a clear idea of what life was
like in a place we know today. Unfortunately however, old people’s memories may not be reliable, which means that any factual
information they pass on may not be accurate or complete.
Another practical and effective approach is to consult written records in, for example, museums, churches or record offices. But
today, more importantly than this, anyone who has access to a computer can search the Internet for information about the history
and development of the place in question. This method will almost certainly provide factual information, as well as more personal
insights, and will enable us to discover facts about our neighbourhood beyond living memory.
Although I believe that interviewing people from a neighbourhood would provide interesting and personal information, I think that
the Internet is more likely to provide detailed and reliable information.
Just
as
many
people
are interested
in researching their family histories and finding out about their ancestors, investigating the history
of one’s
neighbourhood
village or town is
also
becoming more popular. I will consider two of the ways in which this research can
be
carried
out.
Perhaps the most straightforward way of finding
information
about the recent history of a
neighbourhood
is to interview elderly
people
who remember the place as it was in the past. These personal memories can
provide
us with a
clear
idea
of what life was
like in a place we know
today
. Unfortunately
however
,
old
people
’s memories may not be reliable, which means that any factual
information they pass on may not be accurate or complete.
Another practical and effective approach is to consult written records in,
for example
, museums, churches or record offices.
But
today
, more
importantly
than this, anyone who has access to a computer can search the Internet for
information
about the history
and development of the place in question. This method will almost
certainly
provide
factual
information
,
as well
as more personal
insights, and will enable us to discover facts about our
neighbourhood
beyond living memory.
Although I believe that interviewing
people
from a
neighbourhood
would
provide
interesting and personal
information
, I
think
that
the Internet is more likely to
provide
detailed and reliable
information
.