Lappings, Lemel & Sweeps…Stories from Hatton Garden

A group of jewellery students from across London have made a film with digital:works focusing on the fascinating, hidden history of Hatton Garden in Central London. This area has been the centre of London’s jewellery trade since the 18th century.

The participants have learnt about this history through a short series of talks and walks through the area before going on to meet the many crafts men and women working in the maze of workshops and shops in the area. Many of these people and businesses date back several generations and their stories are the stories of the jewellery business in London, its trade, skilled workers, immigration, and how those cultures and skills have mixed to create a unique area. Behind the often plush shop fronts are a warren of ancient workshops and passageways to be explored in which skilled workers use techniques handed down through families and apprenticeships.

There is a dedicated webpage here