ExploreTheArch’s installation featuring wisdoms offered by the Four Courts community is prompted by the working class wisdoms that are a feature in E. Nesbit’s The Railway Children.

Filmmaker, Rod Morris, has worked with members of the Four Courts community exploring workers’ knowledge featured in most of the chapters of E. Nesbit’s book, originally published in serial form.

The Waterbury family’s move to the countryside in the book affords the three young protagonists opportunity to make friends with individuals in a community very different to their former London neighbourhood. The writing demonstrates how the children’s middle class perspectives are challenged healthily by their new friends, adults who have valuable insights to share.

Weekly chapter readings have prompted a sharing of wisdoms relating to domestic chores, moving home, a love of the railway and an array of work roles which are set against the pages in the book that have inspired these reminiscences.