Meet the team

Since the Knole Oral History project started in 2011, many contributions have been made by a large group of people. Volunteers take on a variety of roles: research, interviewing, transcribing, website editing and archival submissions to the British Library’s National Sound Archive. Knole’s Property Curator, Eleanor Black looks after us and our archive is part of the Knole Collection. Our work continues with a core group of six volunteers, with four new volunteers joining us to have a go at verbatim transcribing.

We gratefully acknowledge these verbatim transcribing contributions in the past:

Mary Warner, Sara Martin, Elaine Pordes, Will Johnson, Louise Carmichael, Mollie Barden, Louise Bishop.

And in conducting interviews up to 2015:

Marcia Barton, Knole volunteer for more than 30 years, has also researched for the Oral History team since 2011.Daphne Eatwell who used to work in market research put her interviewing talents to good use since the start of our oral history project in 2011, before retiring in mid-2015.  Christine Nevard, MBE, was an experienced Knole volunteer and guide. She joined the Oral History team when it started in 2011, interviewing and transcribing for 5 years. Nicky Stitchman interviewed and carried out research as well.

Our thanks also to the following:

Sam Bailey, former Property Curator, who provided encouragement and fiscal support through the years since the Covid-19 pandemic, up to 2023.

Lucy Atkinson, House & Collections Manager from mid-2018 to early 2019, then Senior House Steward until November 2021, also managed the Knole Oral History team. She gave us support and encouragement in the very busy years towards the end of the six-year Inspired by Knole project.

Jonathan Sargant was involved in most aspects of the project from 2011 up to March 2015. As Community Engagement Officer at Knole for more than 7 years, he was instrumental in launching this Knolestories website, charming interviewees and volunteers alike and sharing his enthusiasm for social history and cake.

We also thank Geoff Dawber, Joy Wyman, Rosemary Milton-Thompson, Laurence Pordes, Lucile Corby, Steven and Liz Dedman, Christine Dixon, Debbie Innes, Julia Kiggell, Clare Thake, Roger Wall, and Pamela Ward.