Joy Wilson & Emma Hardman – Holy Island
This oral history film was created in 2019 for the National Trust, as part of an exhibition held at Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island.
Titled Joy Wilson & Emma Hardman – Holy Island, the short film presents an intimate conversation between mother and daughter—two generations reflecting on life, family, and change on the island.
Commissioned by the National Trust, the aim was to preserve and share Holy Island memories through storytelling. The film was screened inside Lindisfarne Castle, allowing visitors to listen to the voices of islanders while surrounded by the very landscape described in their stories.
Why This Oral History Film Matters
At its heart, this oral history film is about place and memory. It brings together the lived experiences of Joy Wilson, who spent her childhood on Holy Island, and the gentle curiosity of her daughter, Emma Hardman. Their conversation reveals a rich tapestry of Holy Island memories, from wartime hardships and fishing traditions to wedding customs and the tolling of the bell when someone died.
“My father was an Islander. My grandparents… they lived and died there. I spent all my holidays on the island. As soon as school broke up, I wanted to be off on the boats to the island…”
Oral history films like this give voice to personal truths. They don’t dramatise or overexplain—they let the lived experience speak for itself. That’s what makes this piece so resonant. Commissioned by the National Trust, it now forms part of a broader effort to keep Holy Island memories alive.
From Funerals to Fish Lines: Holy Island Memories in Detail
Throughout the oral history film, Joy shares poignant Holy Island memories—some heartbreaking, others funny, all rich in local colour. She recalls how funerals were community events, where women walked two by two in black, wreaths in hand. She speaks of baiting lines with her grandmother for fishing trips, of lightning storms on the causeway, and of gathering cowrie shells for sixpence a bag.
“My granny used to have to bait lines… every hook had to have bait. It was hard work for the women.”
“If I could paint, I would paint that moment—on the cart, in the storm, crossing the sands to the island.”
These personal stories are the lifeblood of any strong oral history film, and they offer viewers a new way of connecting with the heritage the National Trust works to preserve.
Working with Archive Photographs
One of the joys of making this oral history film was integrating archive photographs into the edit. Black-and-white images of family members, fishermen, and Holy Island landscapes gave form to Joy’s descriptions. These photos weren’t just visual decoration—they were historical artefacts in their own right, layered with emotional resonance and placed carefully within the storytelling structure.
When Joy describes her grandfather asking if the islanders had been told to toll the bell upon his wife’s death, the photograph that follows—a blurred image of a village funeral—adds a layer of collective memory to her personal one.
A New Layer: Filming the Landscape of Holy Island
This oral history film was also a creative milestone for me—it was the first time I integrated extensive landscape footage into one of my commissions. For over a year, I had been gathering shots of Holy Island in different seasons, lights, and tides. The rhythms of the landscape—the shifting skies, tidal causeway, quiet boats, and castle silhouette—felt essential to the story we were telling.
Rather than just acting as “b-roll,” these images work like a visual memory—echoing the texture of Joy’s voice and reinforcing the emotional tone of the piece. The place becomes a character in the film, shaping and holding the lives and traditions we hear about.
Including this extensive landscape footage helped me realise how much space and atmosphere can ground a story. Since then, I’ve made it a regular part of my practice, particularly when working on heritage films or anything rooted in place.
The Role of the National Trust
The National Trust‘s role in supporting this project was vital. Their commitment to local voices, particularly in the North East, made it possible to document and share Holy Island memories in ways that go beyond placards and panels. Their use of video and oral history techniques reflects a growing understanding that heritage is not just physical—it’s emotional, cultural, and often fleeting if not captured.
By screening this oral history film within the historic walls of Lindisfarne Castle, the National Trust created an immersive experience—allowing visitors to hear directly from those who lived the history beneath their feet.
Why I Keep Making Oral History Films
My filmmaking work often explores people, place, and memory—and this oral history film is a perfect example. It allowed me to slow down, to listen, and to preserve voices that might otherwise fade. There’s something timeless about hearing someone recount the smell of the sea, or the way sandwiches tasted different without crusts, or the silent reverence of a funeral procession.
These aren’t just Holy Island memories—they’re reminders of how stories shape place and place shapes stories. And they’re exactly the kinds of stories I believe the National Trust should—and does—protect.
🖼️ Explore more of my heritage films here