Bill Bryson visited the Berwick WorkSpace development, the site where the first new offices to be built in the town in over 20 years are being constructed. The prominent position in the centre of Berwick is in an historic area known as Boarding School Yard.
Here, Bill Bryson made a piece of Berwick history when he joined the pupils of Berwick Middle School to create a time capsule of information and materials that will capture the spirit of the town for future generations to discover. From archive photographs from the 1930s and a 1950s map of the area, to a selection of items that will reveal what the schoolchildren of today's Berwick think and care about, the capsule will record the town's 20th century story. An English Heritage newsletter on work in Berwick was included and the author even contributed one of his own famous books to the capsule.
English Heritage has, with Northumberland County Council, funded a website hosted by the Berwick Civic Society which is following the construction of the building and features a specially-created webcam which tracked the archaeological excavations on the site and regular blogs from the archaeologists. It is hoped that the webcam will follow Berwick's regeneration in action over the coming years.
Bill Bryson, Commissioner for English Heritage said: "Northumberland is somewhere for which I have a particular affection and Berwick is truly the jewel in the county's crown. It has such a special spirit and I am delighted to be here today to re-discover its distinctive character. Berwick's architectural and cultural heritage deserves to be cherished and placed at the centre of its plans for the future."
The development of Berwick WorkSpace is in line with the aims of Berwick's Future, an ambitious plan which proposes a vision for Berwick which will secure, over the next 20 years, a Berwick that is competitive and distinctive as well as being a well-connected town that is enterprising and ambitious. English Heritage is part of the Berwick's Future Steering group - an independent group of organisations committed to driving forward the long term regeneration of the town in a way that both respects and utilises Berwick's unique heritage.
Shona Alexander, Director of Regeneration and Development with Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council said: "The new WorkSpace development is symbolic of the energy and drive that Berwick's Future is creating and the time capsule project is proof that the young generation of the town care about the Berwick of the future. Together we are putting new life into the very heart of our historic market town."
John Hamilton, Project Director and Economic Development Officer for Northumberland County Council, said: "I'm very pleased that WorkSpace is hosting this event, which symbolises what we are trying to achieve from the development. The WorkSpace is about leading regeneration and supporting the growth of businesses in Berwick , whilst recognising and preserving the unique spirit of the town. The time capsule represents the investment of today's young people in the future of Berwick, just like the WorkSpace."
Linda Bankier, Archivist for Berwick Borough said: "The children from Year 5 of Berwick Middle School have really enjoyed working on this project. It has helped them to see that what happens today is history for people in the future. They have taken photographs of the town, kept diaries and really thought about what people in years to come will want to know about Berwick in 2007. A selection of their work will be placed in the time capsule, and the rest will be preserved in the Berwick Record Office for future generations to consult."
