Oral Histories Project with the Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association
My name is Vicky Windmill. I am a third year History: Heritage and Public History student at Bath Spa University. For my third year project, I have been working closely with the Bath Ethnic Minority Senior Citizens Association (BEMSCA) to conduct an oral histories project.
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My Oral Histories Project
My project has been centred around capturing the life stories of the elders of BEMSCA. In particular, I was interested in capturing stories and memories surrounding peoples' transition from their country of origin to England, as this is something which is often not well documented in spite of the fact that it is something which is central to their stories.
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This website collates the work I have completed during my time at Fairfield House. The purpose of this website is primarily to archive the audio recordings of the interviews I conducted, as I wanted to ensure that they will always be accessible to not only BEMSCA, but the families of those who partook in an interview.
A Bit About Fairfield House
Fairfield House is a Grade II listed building in Newbridge, Bath. In spite of the fact that the house is an important piece of imperial history, due to its connection with His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie, its history is lesser known.
The house is considered a site of importance both to the local community of Bath, and globally to the Rastafari and Ethiopian communities. The house is living evidence of the footsteps of the Emperor in England, which provides an important window into African Imperial History.
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When Haile Selassie gifted the house to city, he requested that it be used as a home for the aged. The work of BEMSCA is integral to fulfilling his legacy.
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For more information visit:
https://www.fairfieldhousebath.co.uk/about-us
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Or listen to this episode of Imperial Voice Radio to find out more about Haile Selassie's time in Bath:
