Community research sits at the heart of Made in Millbrook. Eight local people are working as community researchers, investigating subjects, places and experiences that matter to them and to the wider community.

Millbrook has been shaped by post-war development, changing patterns of housing and employment, its parks and recreation grounds, youth organisations, social spaces and the relationships formed between neighbours. While archive material and official records provide important evidence of these changes, they cannot tell the whole story. The knowledge held by residents, their memories, observations and lived experiences, offers a more personal understanding of how Millbrook has developed and what it means to the people connected to it.

The individual projects explore the area from several different perspectives. They examine teenage life across generations, children’s changing use of parks and green spaces, and how young people use social media. Other projects trace the history of Millbrook Recreation Ground and Green Park, the impact of the 13th Southampton Sea Scout Group, and the post-war development of Pennine Road. Community researchers are also exploring how women and girls exercise, what residents value about different places in Millbrook and what they would like to improve, and whether the area would benefit from a combined bookshop, café and community hub.

The researchers are using interviews, online surveys, archive research, oral-history material and observations of public spaces. These approaches bring personal stories together with historical evidence and present-day experiences. People who live in Millbrook now, as well as those who grew up or spent important parts of their lives there, have been invited to contribute their knowledge and memories.

Together, the projects are creating a richer picture of Millbrook’s heritage and identity. They preserve local knowledge, celebrate the area’s communities and open up wider conversations about the places, relationships and experiences that residents value—and the future they would like to help shape.

Researching Millbrook Together.

Exploring Millbrook’s past, present and future.