The Water Replies Films

Online Archive

The Water Replies is a participatory journaling and creative writing project, shaped and led by poets Selina Nwulu and Caroline Bird. Below, you can view the inspirational contents of 80 creative journals. The majority of these were created by people living along the Thames Estuary coastline, with many choosing to reflect on lockdown spent near the Estuary. Some of the journals have been collected from further afield, with visitors and past residents exploring the impact of the river on their memories. Each book has been carefully filmed for audiences to read through and enjoy - alongside a series of window displays and murals which you can discover at Chalkwell Hall (South Essex), and displays in Chatham and Rochester Libraries (North Kent).

We hope you enjoy viewing the archive.

We would like to extend a big thank you to everybody who shared their journaling process with us, via online workshops, audio recordings and the hundreds of beautiful pages you see below.