Working-class online mini series for Historic England.
Roz, Co Founder of Gwenda's Garage in Sheffield.
Three incredible stories centred on working class social history have been covered in our latest documentary series for Historic England.
From the iconic sands of Morecambe bay to the hedonistic, DIY music culture of The Mermaid pub in Birmingham, our three films capture working class history with deeply authentic and personal testimony.
Morecambe landladies chatting over afternoon tea.
Our first film “Morecambe Landladies", explores the history of bed and breakfasts in Morecambe through interviews with three generations of landladies. The project aims to preserve the memories and stories of these iconic figures who have witnessed Morecambe's evolution over the years.
Women's Movement activist standing against the police.
Our next film “Gwenda’s Garage", explores the story of an all female garage in Sheffield. Founded in 1985 by three women mechanics, it was a pioneering repair workshop that empowered women in a male-dominated field. In 2023, a musical and exhibition were created to commemorate its legacy, celebrating its impact on working-class history.
This was a story that our Co-Founder Natasha Hawthornthwaite felt personally connected to, you can view the behind the scenes film here where Natasha goes into a little bit of detail about why this project meant so much to her: https://vimeo.com/989631353
The Mermaid (Home of Metal)
And finally, “At The Mermaid”, was a hugely fun story to end the series on. The Mermaid pub in Birmingham was a pivotal venue for the underground music scene in the 1980s, nurturing the early days of Napalm Death and the birth of grindcore. It hosted a diverse range of bands and had a lasting impact on the music industry that is still felt to this day.
Northern Heart provided Historic England with a complete production service, from concept to delivery over a period of 12 months. Natasha directed "Gwenda’s Garage" and "Morecambe Landladies", while At The Mermaid was created by Scott Bradley.
After the success of Historic England’s first round of Heritage Grants, they are launching the scheme again: more grants are available for projects that celebrate working class histories and underrepresented places. Grants of up to £25,000 are offered to organisations and individuals, with a focus on community-led initiatives.
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