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from Rural Regeneration magazine
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from Rural Regeneration magazine
Location: Gloucestershire
An extract from an letter mentioning the Oakridge project published in Rural Regeneration, the quarterly magazine of Gloucestershire Rural Community Council (March 2003)
LHI funds have already enabled people in the village of Oakridge near Stroud to capture archival material and memories whilst they still can, to carry out research including a built heritage survey, and to produce a lasting record of their work in contributions to the Village Museum and Gloucester Museum Archives and an illustrated book to be published later this year.
Among its claims to fame, Oakridge boasts significant connections with the worlds of literature, arts and crafts. Among its former residents are the Dymock Poet John Drinkwater. He moved into Far Oakridge so he could be near his friend, artist Sir William Rothenstein, who hosted many soirees at Iles Farm with guests including H.G. Wells, G.B. Shaw and Max Beerbohm. It was Rothenstein, together with well-known wood sculptor William Simmonds (who had his studios in Oakridge), who jointly founded the Village Hall.
As in so many rural areas, the number of lifelong residents in Oakridge has fallen dramatically in the last 20 years, from about 33% in 1980 to only 10% now. Getting involved in an LHI project offers a really practical way for incomers to get to know and understand both the place and the people - to take pride in the past, and have a stake in the future.
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