We listen to people tell their social or personal history and record them so that their testimony is preserved.

Our memories are fragile - they die with us - so it's important to preserve these precious historical records while we can.

Oral history gives a new perspective on the past - different to established sources, different to dry historical tracts - the history of the people of Britain, how they see their lives, and the times they have lived through.

The Workshop was formed in 1983 to record the memories of people in Waltham Forest, north east London. It is one of the longest-established oral history groups in London, and over the past 24 years has made more than 500 recordings. WFOHW has published eleven books or pamphlets on aspects of life in this part of London, looking at a changing social landscape as well as some personal stories.

What do we do?

• We interview local people and record their memories of the topics we are currently looking at, take them seriously, and preserve the recordings in the Vestry House Museum, Walthamstow for the future.
  
   
• We publish books when each project is completed, and tapes from our interviews are available for public use at Vestry House.
  
   
• We want to make more links with other oral history sites in the UK and worldwide; if you are online let us know.