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Stratford sits within the Lower Lea Valley which, from porcelain to printing to perfume and plastics was at the centre of the industrial revolution in London. Fast forward to the recent changes brought about by the London 2012 Olympics, and you will find that there is history to discover, just outside our door. This course will develop your understanding of our new neighbourhood with enjoyable group walks that uncover local histories from the industrial revolution through to the London 2012 legacy.
The course is suitable for anyone with a curiosity about local and London history and requires no previous knowledge of Stratford. The course includes walks from the Mary Ward Centre and any concerns about accessibility should be discussed with the tutor before enrolling.
The course covers Stratford histories within walking distance of the Mary Ward Centre and the Olympic Park. By the end of the course, students will have explored routes that will help them learn about the following topics within our Stratford neighbourhood:
The industrial histories of Stratford and the Lower Lea Valley
The expansion of the Stratford railways and waterways
The city park movement as inspiration for the Olympic Park
Social reformers and educationalists within the locality
The social impact of recent regeneration on local communities
There will be some teaching in the classroom, but a greater emphasis is on taking part in walks that begin at the Mary Ward Centre. These walks will visit specific locations and talk about features such as art works, architecture, monuments and place names that will bring the subject to life The tutor will devise and guide the walks and incorporate group study topics as well as provide opportunities for reflection. The course also uses Moodle, the online learning platform, which will hold the course content, enabling students who wish to continue developing interests outside of the class time, Assessment will be by tutor observation of contribution to the course as well as completion of student research into a specific area of interest.
As much of the course will take place on walks, please wear comfortable shoes!
Further study on other courses at the Mary Ward Centre and a greater interest in local history.
See how long it will take you to get to college. Please select the campus of the course you wish to study.