Rhythms of the river

How it all began...

In June 2005 a working group was created to explore Cultural Entitlement in Cheshire Museums, Libraries and Archives.  This brought together officers from Chester City, Cheshire County, Halton and Warrington Councils.  A grant was made available from Museums, Libraries and Archives North West for services to work with schools that currently are not engaged with them.  The projects had to link in with 'Every Child Matters', in particular the outcome 'Making a Positive Contribution'. 

Grosvenor Museum was successful in achieving a grant for the project 'Rhythms of the River:  Exploring Chester's Dee'.

What are the aims of the project?

The main aim of the project is to explore and interpret the social and natural history of the River Dee through verse, music and art, using collections, photographs and archive.  The project will be used to raise the profile of the work currently underway to regenerate the Riverside through exhibitions at the Museum and performances by the Dee.  The project will introduce the school and its community to the Museum and demonstrate how working with the service can add value to the curriculum.  It will give the participants a greater understanding of their heritage and develop ways in which they can make a positive contribution to their community.  It will develop confidence and encourage family groups to learn and have fun together.

Who is involved?

The Museum Service worked with 105 pupils from Eccleston Primary School and their families, along with locals from Eccleston Village.  Workshops were facilitated by a number of professional artists and musicians in addition to museum staff.

What does it involve?

The groups came to Chester and had a boat trip from the Groves to Red House, a guided riverside walk and a workshop exploring objects, documents and photographs that revealed different aspects of the Dee's history.  This was followed by a guided walk of the Dee in Eccleston beginning at their school.

They then met folk singer and historian Roy Clinging who performed some traditional Chester and river related songs for the school.  Using this as inspiration they worked with a group of musicians 'The Chimps' to write their own verse and put music to their song.

The children also worked with artist Andrew Leigh to produce some boat  and river inspired art work to be displayed in school and at the Museum.  During half term the children and their families were invited to activities at Stretton Watermill to see a working flour mill and discover Victorian and Tudor life by a river.

The project concludes with a performance of the song at the school, by the Dee and their song and images captured on a DVD

What are the outcomes?

The children produced both art work and verse that can be used as part of an exhibition at the museum, to interpret the riverside and promote the regeneration work on the promenade.  The Museum will have formed a sustainable relationship with the school and its local community and can build on this in future work.  There will also be a body of research material brought together about the river Dee.

The children will have a greater understanding of their local area, the people who live within the community and they will hopefully have worked successfully together.  We hope that participants will have greater confidence in developing this type of work, in accessing the services of the museum and gain new skills.  We hope the participants will have fun and enjoy the opportunity of working with professional artists and musicians. 

Rhythms of the River
Composed by Eccleston Primary School & the Chimps

Along this river's edge
Roman legions once did tread, once did tread.
They came to English soil, brought ashore their wine and oil, wine and oil.
Along this river's edge.

Keeper of souls set free
Quick sand, everlasting sleep, everlasting sleep.
Within its current fold, swirling whirlpool, gasping cold, gasping cold.
Keeper of souls set free.

(Chorus)

Can you hear the rhythm of the river?
Can you hear the river calling?
Can you hear the rhythm of the river?
Can you hear the river calling you?
Can you hear the rhythm of the river?
Can you hear the river calling?
Can you hear the rhythm of the river?
Can you hear the river calling you?
Can you hear the river calling you?

A home to nature's best
Where salmon swim, while cormorants rest, cormorants rest.
Ducks pass gliding through, king of fishing, flash of blue, flash of blue.
A home to nature's best.

These working waters flow
Sails fill as the trade winds blow, trade winds blow.
Mills turn hour on hour
Stone ground, hammer pound, felt and flour, felt and flour.
These working waters flow.

(Chorus)

It ebbs and flows, it swells and drifts
Turning tides and sands that shift
Witches in barrels and the old Dee mills
Old King Edgar and the hangman's hill.

This is our river hear its tale
The band plays on as ferries sail, ferries sail.
Hidden behind a tree, stolen kisses we can see,
Down by the Dee.
This is our river hear its tale.

(Chorus)

 

For more information contact:
Sue Hughes, Museum and Education Manager, Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2DD, 01244 402012, grosvenormuseum@chester.gov.uk

Mike Hardman, Education Officer, Grosvenor Museum, 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester, CH1 2DD, 01244 402018, grosvenormuseum@chester.gov.uk.