A journey of discovery was undertaken by the Doorway Women’s Group in partnership with the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre, Chippenham Museum and independent creative practitioners.

In January 2024 Julie Davis, the History Centre’s Archive & Local Studies Lead (Development, Wellbeing & Local Studies) contacted Chippenham-based Doorway charitable services for homeless people, people without housing or people without homes. This led to the beginning of the project, a series of weekly 2-hour sessions running from May until July.

Each session focussed on the work of local women and covered a range of themes from philanthropic gifts and herbalism through to war work and more. The Doorway group were wonderful, enthusiastically grabbing the opportunity with both hands to see where it led, open to anything; enjoying learning about new things, willingly sharing their thoughts and experiences.

Our discussions were interesting and insightful, and the group talked about the many links from the past that resonated with them today, both in terms of the place of women in society and the key role that Doorway plays in helping the local community right now.

Each session included a creative aspect which culminated in the creation of a film animation which can be viewed here.

There was also an event at Chippenham Museum celebrating all that had been achieved alongside an exhibition which also visited Chippenham Library and the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre.

To find out more about the project, you can download a copy of the  Doorway Project Evaluation Report in word format.

You can find out more about the charity Doorway via this link.

Our thanks go to Doorway and the Doorway Women’s group, Chippenham Museum, Caroline Rudge Originals and Yesterday’s story.