LIFE in The Commandery - one of Worcester's finest historical buildings - is to be recorded in an ambitious oral history project of eyewitness's memories.
Tradition has it that it was built by St Wulfstan on Sidbury in 1085. It started life as a monastic hospital, especially located to serve travellers journeying to Bath, Bristol, or London. Since then, the building has been used as a school, merchant's house, a sweet shop and printworks.
In 1651, when in the ownership of the Wylde family, it was used as the personal headquarters of Royalist commander William, second Duke of Hamilton. Today it is a museum.
Former BBC Radio 4 reporter, Julia Letts, fronting the project, is especially interested in tracking down people who lived, worked and visited The Commandery before 1973, when the building was acquired by Worcester City Council.
By the end of the project, Worcester City Council historians hope to have an audio record of the building's life and layout through the 20th Century.
To complete their plans, they hope to interview people who knew or worked for the Littlebury family printworks firm, which used the building.
The team has already recorded some useful memories, including those of 102-year-old Coralie Bolton, who worked there between 1919 and 1922.
"It's crucial we preserve these fascinating oral snapshots of life and what went on there between 1905 and 2005," said Ms Letts.
"One of the more enjoyable elements will be recording ex-employees' first-hand memories and anecdotes of life in the printworks to create a clearer picture of the Littlebury era," she added.
She explained that the team working on the project was particularly keen to find out which rooms were used for printing, offices or accommodation.
Commandery manager, Amanda Lunt, said the accounts would form a major part of a new exhibition centring on the location's industrial past.
"The Commandery's closing in July, but will open again in 2006 with this major exhibition," said Ms Lunt.
Anyone wanting to help Ms Letts fill in the historical gaps should contact her on 07789 914772, or email her at jletts@cityofworcester.gov.uk
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