Photographs from our exhibition showcasing the results of a current oral history project in Dorset, studying the changing nature of our leisure time over the last 60 years.

The exhibition at Dorset County Museum showcases a wide range of toys and games, donated by the community for the project. Alongside the historical items are new adaptations made by young people of old toys we used to play with like the go-kart. You will also find a milk bar with the ever popular jukebox, so popular with the early teenagers. Interspersed are small samples from some of the oral history interviews collected over the last year, allowing the audience to hear people talk about various aspects of our everyday leisure time.

The project initiated by digital:works and is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. This community project sees a range of organisations join together, including Thomas Hardye school, AgeUK, POPP,  U3A, Dorset History Centre and Dorset County Museum. The research will lead into the creation of a new archive, elements of which feature in the exhibition and the release of a free to download ‘Walking Museum’ app in May 2014. The new archive will be housed at the Dorset History Centre in Dorchester for future generations to study. More about the project at www.freetimeourstories.org.uk.

Photos by Mandy Rathbone and Mary Rogers.