‘Not again!’ I can remember my son muttering as his football thudded against the kitchen wall, ‘I went there in Year 2 and then in Year 4 and now I have to go there again in Year 6.’ He was referring to his school trips to the remains of the gunpowder factories in our village, Chilworth.

Local History is a fascinating branch of history that can engage and motivate. It can provide a real opportunity to build on the community, to celebrate diversity but also to unite a group of people...