Perhaps you bought a bike from Samways, (I think that may have been my first bike! but I never bought it myself) or worked at Digby’s? Maybe you drank at The Stag or The Ranelagh?

A new project called ‘If Walls Could Talk’ is researching the old shops and businesses of the Park District estate. We are focusing particularly on the area between Ranelagh Road and William Street, and from Charles Street to Crescent Street.

The project is funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and is delivered through the registered charity ‘digital:works’. It is being led by Amy Hopwood, a Park District resident.

We are bringing local people together to map out the old uses of the buildings, to discover photos, describe the old interiors and collect people’s memories of everyday life in this part of Weymouth. We will produce a map of the area as it used to be, plus a digital e-booklet and a website. In the summer we will run a series of guided tours around the estate and hold a celebratory event to share what we have discovered.

Everyone is welcome to our launch event where you can find out more about the project and the different ways you could get involved. It will start at 1pm on Friday 4th April at the Park Community Centre (Chelmsford Street, DT4 7HR), and we would love to see you there.

If you can’t make that date but would still like to get involved, please contact Amy on 07590 827887 or amy_hopwood@yahoo.co.uk