Jaines in the Clink!!

12th August 2009

As part of the Revitalising Deptford Project to support local businesses, a new photographic archive exhibition in Deptford was launched in April.  With funding from South London Business, curator Jaine Laine invited local residents to bring along their prints and memories of days gone by.  Jaine then scanned the photographs and saved the images digitally to create a permanent pictorial archive by and for the community. Over 400 Deptford residents turned out over the ten days to share their stories and enjoy images displayed at The Albany Theatre in Deptford’s town centre.

After the successful launch, Jaine secured permanent premises for the Deptford People’s Archive museum in the old Deptford police station in Amersham Vale. Jaine is currently redecorating and equipping her new space. Once up and running, the museum will be open to the public each day and will house the archive of artifacts, memorabilia and local photographs of Deptford’s history.  

Jaine has also opened the Metropolitan Tea Room next to the archive where people can meet and sample her tasty home made food, sandwiches and cakes.  Her specialty being chocolate brownies!! All the produce is home-cooked, simple and appealing and yes, cream teas are on the menu. There are 30 artists in studios in the same building and the police next door who particularly enjoy the ploughman’s lunches.  Locals bring in herbs from their gardens and, of course, their photographs. The tea room will be the financial arm for supporting the Museum.

One of the old police cells has been converted into a recording room so aural as well as pictorial memories can be recorded and archived.

Ever enterprising Jaine also hopes to use some of the space to house vintage clothing for people to buy in order raise money for the project. 

Apart from the proceeds from the tea room and various events, including auctions, exhibitions and tea dances, Jaine is now approaching various organizations for support and extra funding. There is also a membership scheme entitling members to a regular newsletter of news and events and where they can offer their stories to share with others.  

If you would like to talk to Jaine Laine about participating in this evolving exhibition,  to add stories, mementoes, copies of photographs or even funding, please contact her on 07983 937 310 or email: ourlaine@live.co.uk.

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