Forty Years On

Forty Years On

Children running on a Peterborough estate
Children running on a Peterborough estate

Heritage Grants

Central
Peterborough
Eastern Angles
£164800
Between 1968 and 2008 Peterborough experienced huge growth, developing from a small historic Fenland town into the modern, culturally diverse commercial centre of today.

The three-year project is inspired by the people and the city of Peterborough and pays tribute to the area's expansion over a 40-year period. It combines historical detective work with the preservation of vital documents, in-depth interviews with residents and the creation of some fascinating theatrical work.

The new town was initially overseen by Peterborough Development Corporation to provide homes, work, services and recreational facilities for thousands of new residents. This has resulted in an impressive archive which holds 200 boxes of documents, thousands of photographs and hundreds of plans, letters, committee minutes, photos and designs. 

For the first time, the theatre company Eastern Angles, Peterborough’s Archives Service and over 100 local volunteers are exploring this wealth of historical material to reveal the story behind Peterborough's 40-year transformation.

Alongside the official history in the archive, the story of the changes in the memories of Peterborough's population will be told; from long-standing members of the community who witnessed the changes, to people who migrated into Peterborough, and more recent migrants who have come to the area from Eastern Europe.