THE wall came tumbling down – and its story was captured on film by young people in Devonport.  A film that explores the history and impact of the wall that has split Devonport in two for over 50 years was showcased locally at Welcome Hall on Thursday, February 8th, 2007 as part of the Devonport Art of the Community celebration.

Students from Parkside Community College in Devonport created a social history film about the wall around the former South Yard Enclave. The pupils from year eight were assisted by Becca Coslett and James Mankiewicz, who are both student ambassadors from Plymouth College of Art and Design.

Liz Adams, education project manager with Groundwork, who coordinated the film, said: “The aim of the film is to raise the aspirations of students in Devonport and to help contribute a sense of identity and citizenship among everyone who will see it.

“The wall has divided the people of Devonport for so long and the older generation who have seen the effects of the wall first-hand can see the community come together for the first time in decades. It is a hugely important part of local history and the children who have seen it happen will appreciate it in the future as Devonport is regenerated. It is a new opportunity and a new start.”

The celebration was supported by Devonport Regeneration Community Partnership as part of their Art of the Community Initiative, co-ordinated by Barefoot, the Plymouth Arts Education Partnership Agency. 

The film, which was designed and edited by the pupils, features local residents recalling their memories of the wall in Devonport, and the aspirations of young and old as the first section of the wall finally came down in readiness for Redrow Homes’ redevelopment of the site.  

The area was once the thriving heart of Devonport until, after being heavily damaged in the Blitz, it was taken over by the navy in the early 1950s and walled in.

Ciaron Foster, one of the pupils who have helped put the film together, said: “It’s been great taking part in such an interesting project. We have learned about all areas of filming, from editing to interviewing, and I want to get involved in film making in the future.”

Fellow pupil Carla Knuth added: “I found it interesting learning about the effect of the wall on people and how to report it.” 

The film includes footage of the first major breach in the wall, when Redrow demolished a section in January in preparation for a new information centre. Redrow has already begun the process of integrating the site back into the Devonport community and transforming it into a mixed-use neighbourhood of more than 450 new homes, shops, offices and community facilities. Detailed planning consent has recently been granted for the first zone by Plymouth City Council so that building work can begin.

Redrow has worked in partnership devising the film with the students and facilitating the project, with the developer’s community liaison officer, ex-teacher Anne Tillett, seconded for part of her time to work with the young crew. She says: “The video is great.  The children have done a fantastic job and, apart from it being extremely entertaining to watch, it will also be used as an educational resource in local primary schools and we are also planning to show it as part of our Devonport past, present and future exhibition."

The film will also feature as part of an exhibition of Devonport’s past, present and future when Redrow opens its information centre, ‘Insight into Vision’, on March 2nd. In the meantime, for more details of Redrow’s flagship mixed-use venture ‘Vision’ log on to www.vision.redrow.co.uk or call 0845 676 0328.