The construction and uses of the past in the Medway Towns: A study of local historical consciousness

This thesis addresses heritage narratives in Medway, a group of post-industrial towns in North Kent, in the South East of England. Through a series of ethnographies, the thesis deals with the roles played by official stakeholders, amateur historians, and volunteers within the sector.

The research explores how non-professionals contribute to the preservation, interpretation, and dissemination of cultural heritage, and how their engagement shapes collective historical consciousness within local communities, creating discourses that challenge the official heritage narrative in the Medway Towns.

Employing a mixed-methods approach, this thesis consists of eight ethnographies, combining participant observation, in-depth interviews, and archival research. The primary objective was to understand the motivations, practices, and impacts of amateur historians and volunteers on cultural heritage narratives and historical consciousness.

Findings reveal that amateur historians and volunteers play a polyvalent role in heritage spaces. While often filling gaps left by institutional actors, they both challenge and reinforce hegemonic heritage discourses. These are defined in the thesis by the introduction of the concept of Entombed Histories.

The motivations of amateur historians and volunteers were found not to be driven solely by an interest in history, or a desire to foster a sense of identity and continuity within their communities, but that in this context heritage takes on multiple purposes and meanings. The thesis argues that the involvement of non-professional actors in the heritage sector contributes significantly to the democratisation of historical knowledge and the diversification of historical narratives.