AN AMBITIOUS project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund aims to gather the history of Lower Belvedere through the families who live there.

Tideline will piece together the heritage of the area by tapping into its residents’ experiences, memories and family histories.

The stories will be used by writer Sarah Butler, to create a piece of public art which will be installed later this year on the River Thames wall.

There will also be a series of publications and a new website to showcase all the memories gathered.

To the unfamiliar eye, Lower Belvedere can look bleak and industrial, but it has a fascinating history.

From the late 19th century, Belvedere marshes were home to a huge encampment of gipsies who bred horses, and lived in Varda wagons (gipsy caravans) and bender tents.

By 1947 it was the largest encampment in the UK with 600 residents in summer and 1,700 in winter.

The encampment was largely destroyed in the floods of 1953 when the Thames broke its banks.

Lower Belvedere also has a proud industrial history, especially its Second World War efforts which included helping to build the Mulberry harbours for the D-Day landings and Operation PLUTO which enabled cabling to be laid under the English Channel to France, to supply fuel to allied troops.

Tideline is looking for community ambassadors, volunteers of all ages able to gather between two and seven hours of oral history from people.

To find out more call Saskia Delman on 020 8309 4155 or email camilla.brueton@bexley.gov.uk