Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards
Søren Kierkegaard
WISEArchive believes that people both retired and still at work have made an important contribution to society in the course of their working lives and are a valuable source of knowledge and experience which should be recorded and preserved for future generations.
The second half of the twentieth century was a period of increasingly rapid change in the workplace. Employees and management had to adapt as new skills and ideas, new technologies, new health and safety legislation and much more were implemented. Unions became stronger and some established working practices and jobs became obsolete. The workplace continues to see much change as we progress through the twenty-first century.
This archive aims to preserve stories of working lives, mainly in Norfolk, using transcribed recordings. Most of the stories have been edited, but the words are those of the contributors, as are the opinions. The archive is constantly expanding with all work carried out by volunteers.
If you have worked in Norfolk and would like to record your recollections for future generations we would be delighted to hear from you. We record both individual stories and stories for specific projects.
Browse our extensive archive to learn more about this rich history or search for specific occupations as you choose. For our latest activities look at our News page.
WISEArchive’s exhibition Celebrating Wensum Lodge: A Legacy of Adult Education will run in the Long Gallery at the Archive Centre, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DH until December 2025. Drop in during normal opening hours (Monday to Friday) to learn more of the story of Wensum Lodge and its importance as a centre for adult education across an enormous range of subjects from its start in 1966 to its closure at the end of 2023. There will be displays and films to view.
The exhibition is also part of Norfolk Heritage Open Days from 12th to 19th September 2025.
Many thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Norfolk Record Office for their support.
More on the News and Projects pages.
WISEArchive attended the Water, Mills and Marshes End of Project event in September 2024. We contributed over 100 stories to this major project, and our book Life and Work on the Broads 1920-2020 received many plaudits. The event was held at the Norwich University of the Arts’ new immersive visualization lab and was an opportunity so see some of the Broads Authority’s new work with NUA which is exploring the landscapes of the Broads. Spectacular immersive displays made us feel part of the landscape ourselves and set the scene for future work. See the News page.
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See WISEArchive on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyspG242ufw
