People in Barrow can discover the magic of their town centre thanks to a unique audio experience.
Historic England, together with the National Trust and Sound UK, aims to bring the hidden histories and stories of the Cumbrian town to life with a series of self-guided, immersive sound walks.
Local artist Dan Fox has recorded a guide which includes stories from the days when 14,000 people worked in the shipyard and when Luftwaffe bombs rained down on the town. There will also be recollections of local civic events, such as the celebrations which marked the centenary of the town hall.
Listeners will take a self-guided route, supported by an illustrated map, at their own pace.
“I had initially planned to use a lot of archive material for the Sound Walk,” Dan said, “but as I started making recordings of local people sharing their stories about the Barrow, I was captivated by their living memories and this became the focus of the project.
“As different characters opened up with their reflections, common themes emerged which I could weave into a conversation following the route through the town.”
Councillor Helen Wall, lead member for heritage and wildlife, added: “I am delighted that these fascinating personal reflections on Barrow’s history will be brought to life through the sound walk and it is perfect timing to launch during the Heritage Open Days week in September.
“We are really pleased Historic England has chosen to support this innovative local project and include it in their hidden histories series. It is also the perfect complement to our wider High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme.”
As part of this year’s Heritage Open Days, from September 10-19, the self-guided sound walk will be free to download and available in accessible formats from HistoricEngland.org.uk/SoundWalks
