April 2008
Full steam ahead for new museum and education centre

The Severn Valley Railway steamed into spring with a new museum and education centre, the Engine House. A large collection of full size steam engines are displayed in the new centre at Highley, together with exhibitions, room sets and interactives which give visitors the chance to find out how this heritage railway works.

The interpretation has been designed by Imagemakers as a series of immersive experiences and includes the chance to take on the role of the engine driver at the footplate (also adapted for wheelchairs), surround sound and light effects of a train in motion and other sensory tools that explore how a steam engine works.

Set-pieces range from a carriage restoration workshop to a ‘pub – a re-creation of the 1965 scene where local people gathered at The Coopers Arms and took the momentous decision to save the railway from closure. All the interpretation has been informed by the branding package put together by Imagemakers which encompassed a very iconic graphic style, logo design and colour scheme for use throughout the building.

The opening of the Engine House was a triumph for the Severn Valley Railway, as last summer’s floods severely damaged stretches of track, preventing the steam engines from being moved into the building. Now the Engine House is on track to help visitors appreciate and understand life behind the scenes at this remarkable railway.

April 2008
What’s the story? Exhibition plans for county museum

The events that shaped an area of south-east Wales and changed the community and landscapes forever is the theme of interpretation being devised for a landmark building by Imagemakers Design and Consulting. Caerphilly County Borough Council have awarded a prestigious £200,000 contract to the company to design multi-sensory exhibitions for the new county museum in the Winding House at New Tredegar.

The museum is ‘wrapped around’ the last remaining structure at the once thriving Elliot Colliery which still houses the pit's steam winding engine. One exhibition explores the story of the county borough of Caerphilly, including the impact the Romans had on the area and how the industrial revolution brought a huge influx of people from around the world, changing a rural settlement into a bustling, multinational community. Other displays will focus on how the colliery worked and incorporate reminiscences of the people who lived in the district.

April 2008
Ship to Cornwall’s Shore

Falmouth’s significance as Britain’s first and last port is explored in a project Imagemakers recently carried out for the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. The port’s heyday was between 1850 and 1910, when it was used by ships crossing the Atlantic to make repairs, take on supplies and receive orders for their onward destination.

The theme was determined following a series of workshops with the client team. Some fascinating tales were uncovered of the industries that sprung up to provide the needs of ship and crew and these are told through a timeline frieze, images, a touchscreen and audio designed around artefacts including a telegraph machine and harbour master’s log. One of the highlights is a young sea captain’s diary recording his impressions as he sailed into Falmouth for the first time and these are related throughout the display. We also created a room set showing a ship agent at work to underline the crucial role he played in communicating between ship and shore.

Exhibitions Manager Ben Lumby said “At the beginning of this project we were battling with our own ideas for this gallery's development. Imagemakers’ ability to immerse themselves in our local stories was key to developing a strong underlying theme for the whole gallery. The result is a strong cohesive story that draws people in through images, sounds and objects. We were very impressed with their process and also the high quality finish that our visitors have come to expect.”

The journey through the town’s maritime history is due to be brought up to date in another phase which looks at how the port has been used in recent times.

April 2008
Invaluable guidance from the HLF

Imagemakers have recently completed a prestigious contract for the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to produce a guide on interpretation. ‘Thinking About Interpretation’ is one of a number of guidance documents which can be obtained from HLF as part of the supporting materials for their third Strategic Plan period. It has been produced specifically to support their Learning aim - 'to help people learn about their own and other people's heritage' - and aims to help grant applicants provide information about their heritage and interpret it for visitors.

The guide encourages applicants to think about all aspects of the subject, from the meaning of the word to the practical details of implementation. In addition to defining the essentials for good quality interpretation such as providing equal access and addressing audience needs when planning content, subjects covered include working with consultants, training staff and evaluation. The guide is now available on the HLF website (www.hlf.org.uk) in the Publications section under the Helping your Application heading.

We are also compiling four case studies of a variety of projects that use different interpretive methods to achieve their objectives. This will also be available on the HLF website as a further aid to applicants planning interpretive schemes.

March 2008
Making the Move

Heritage interpretation specialists Imagemakers Design and Consulting have appointed Phil Songhurst as project manager. He has previously been a client of the company and now brings his wide-ranging experience of the sector to work for Imagemakers.

 

Phil’s recent employment has included project managing the building and development of the exemplar eco-friendly Attenborough Nature Centre for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust.  Imagemakers worked with Phil on the interpretation for the cutting-edge centre, which became an interpretive facility in its own right and was highly commended in the national RIBA awards. Phil was then approached by Severn Trent Water to take on the role of commercial manager for three visitor centres, before taking up the post at Imagemakers.

 

The company’s managing director Jane Sillifant said: “I’m delighted to welcome Phil to Imagemakers. His knowledge of a client’s requirements and his strong project management skills will be a real asset to the company.” Phil joins a team of eighteen, including in-house creative multimedia designers, based in Devon and Scotland supplying a UK wide client base with bespoke interpretation solutions.

December 2007
Award-winning museum – it’s in the (post) bag

Bath Postal Museum and Imagemakers are celebrating the news that the museum has received a commendation in the Interpret Britain and Ireland Awards for its innovative interpretation, designed by the company.

The competition recognises the very best examples of interpretation at heritage sites throughout the country and the commendation to the museum is one of only seven handed out nationally by the Association of Heritage Interpretation (AHI) which organises the scheme.

The honour comes in the wake of a complete revitalisation of Bath Postal Museum, which now uses interactive and audio-visual displays alongside period furniture and postal equipment to tell the story of 4,000 years of communications. The AHI judges recommended the commendation for ‘the attractive use of media, layering of interpretation and lots of interactivity with specific opportunities for families and children.’

The revamp of the museum coincided with a move to a new site below the city’s main post office and following a successful funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, with which Imagemakers also assisted.

November 2007
On the multi-sensory discovery trail

An innovative £1million fully accessible natural and social heritage centre has just been opened in the South West. Aimed at people of all abilities and ages, the centre at Wistlandpound in North Devon will enable wheelchair users and those with limited mobility to enjoy this popular lake and woodland. The project has been completed after a two-year collaboration between the Calvert Trust Exmoor, Forestry Commission England and South West Lakes Trust.

The multi-sensory interpretation around the reservoir and in the discovery centre was designed and created by Imagemakers, a specialist consultancy working exclusively in the heritage sector.

This major new countryside attraction consists of a 2km all-ability discovery trail (a first for the region) around part of the Wistlandpound reservoir and a fully accessible discovery centre, converted from a listed linhay barn, for people to learn about the Wistlandpound estate’s social, historical and environmental importance. There is also a 2km challenge trail, with the UK’s first exercise trail for wheelchair users.

Bird hides and sensory structures for those with a visual impairment have been created along the new discovery trail to help people connect with the natural beauty of the lake and a meeting point will provide groups with a place to rendezvous or have lunch.

“The Wistlandpound reservoir is a beautiful place to explore with a multitude of wildlife and this new all-ability discovery trail will enable even more people to enjoy it, irrespective of how mobile they are” said Tom Haynes, Wistlandpound’s new Site Manager and Ranger. Tom will be organising events, leading guided visits and co-ordinating volunteers at Wistlandpound.

A major portion of the funding for Wistlandpound has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund (£325,000), with other generous contributions from Sport England, the Esmee Fairburn Foundation, the Bradbury Trust, Devon Renaissance and the EBM Charitable Trust.

November 2007
Pass it on

Tactile interpretation is encouraging visitors to discover more about the history and wildlife of a famous site in Scotland. To interpret the Pass of Killiecrankie, where the Jacobite army defeated government troops in 1689, and help orientate visitors, the National Trust for Scotland commissioned Imagemakers to design installations for the exterior of the visitor centre and the wider landscape.

A range of solutions were used including plaques etched with images of some of the birds, insects and trees of the area, which children can use to create their own ‘rubbings’, directional signs and panels set into bespoke oak frames, where the uprights were carved with wildlife of the river and woods. A paved circle indicating the extent of the 18ft leap made across the gorge by the soldier Donald McBean to escape the Jacobites was engraved with a quote by him and with footsteps to highlight his take off and landing.

Kit Reid, Interpretive Planner, the National Trust for Scotland said: “The Trust was looking for an approach at Killiecrankie which provided visitors with a high quality informative interpretation of the site. The Imagemakers team gave us an extremely professional service, working closely with Trust staff to produce a superb end product.”

August 2007
Knowing your place

Installations to raise the visual profile of England’s newest National Park are being devised by Imagemakers Design and Consulting.

The New Forest National Park Authority has commissioned the company to design boundary markers that will create a clear and positive sense of arrival to the park. The area, which was designated as a National Park in 2005, currently has no signage on the ground to show the existence and extent of the park to locals and visitors.

The markers, which will complement the surrounding environment and be constructed of local materials, are to be used at up to 54 sites, including major and minor roads and long distance footpaths into the park.

August 2007
It’s Your Park!

Helping people to understand the significance and feel proud of their local park was the aim of interpretation recently created by Imagemakers Design and Consulting for Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council. And when the subject is the grade 1 listed Birkenhead Park, which was the world’s first publicly funded park and is now internationally recognised for its innovative design, there’s plenty to celebrate.

When Birkenhead Park was opened in 1847, it was a landmark event at a time when there was nowhere for working people living in towns and cities to go for fresh air and exercise. Birkenhead’s park set the pattern for the future and its design by Joseph Paxton influenced the layout of parks around the world including New York’s Central Park. To convey the importance of the park, Imagemakers designed a series of banners and shot and edited a film, which are on show in the park pavilion. The film highlights the many different ways in which people have enjoyed using the park in the past and still do today. Meanwhile, a multi-layered interactive CD-ROM allows people to explore the history, wildlife and current facilities of the park in greater depth.

Martin McCoy, Birkenhead Park Manager said: 'Following the restoration of the park infrastructure, our main priority has been the engagement of local people and park visitors and our vision for the interpretation package, therefore, was of a flexible suite of materials. The film provides an accessible and inspiring introduction to Birkenhead Park while further layers of detail are available on the interactive CD-ROM. In the park pavilion, strong images reflect the atmosphere of the park and the whole package aims to inspire visitors to explore the park’s rich heritage.

The beauty of the materials is that they can be used on site or sent out to schools or groups as great introduction to the park before a visit. The pavilion exhibitions are also flexible, allowing us to have a clear gallery space when required for external exhibitions.’

The interpretation is part of a multi-million pound scheme to restore Birkenhead Park, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Merseyside Objective One Programme and Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council.

June 2007
Making sense of symbols

Innovative, multi-sensory interpretation is encouraging visitors to explore the symbolism of two Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Wales. The interpretation has been designed by Imagemakers for Cadw, the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment service, and incorporates a range of interactive and tactile solutions.

At Castell Coch near Cardiff, the rich Victorian Gothic décor draws on symbols from many sources to illustrate the uncertainty of life and this is highlighted through audio, “hands-on” replicas of statues and highly-decorative graphics. A three dimensional puzzle allows visitors to ‘build’ the castle from its medieval base to the top of its Victorian turrets.

The installation at Plas Mawr, an Elizabethan townhouse in Conwy, interprets the significance of heraldic symbols carved in the plasterwork through tactile reproductions, images, text and audio. This features an imaginary conversation between the 16^th century owner of the house and his daughter, discusses how family connections and achievements are revealed through the emblems.

Touchscreen tours using sound and vision have also been installed at both properties. Jayne Rowlands, Head of Presentation for Cadw, said: “Castell Coch and Plas Mawr Elizabethan Townhouse are the jewels of the Cadw estate and enhancing the accessible interpretation at both sites has been a stretching but rewarding challenge. Developing physical and intellectual access is a key priority for Cadw and we were impressed by Imagemakers' ability to deliver practical solutions that meet DDA standards and add to the overall visitor experience.”

May 2007
Getting the picture at Ashridge

The wildlife and history of an ancient forest are graphically illustrated in two huge murals just completed for a popular Hertfordshire visitor centre. The murals are part of an interpretative scheme designed by Imagemakers for the National Trust’s Ashridge estate. One mural depicts 150 species against a backdrop of the varied habitats they live in at Ashridge and will be used by staff to introduce visiting groups to the environment. The other mural explores the area’s history through a timeline and is supported by a time-travel game.

Interactives are also used to introduce young visitors to the anatomy of a stag-beetle and to the different wildlife found at Ashridge. Additional elements include interpretation on how the Trust manages the estate and a child-friendly redisplay of replica archaeological artefacts. The scheme has been designed around a life-size oak tree that incorporates models and audio of wildlife which was installed by Imagemakers three years ago.

May 2007
On the road

A replica 1950s petrol pump and a trunk resembling the boot of a car are currently touring libraries, archives and community spaces around the Midlands as part of a new travelling exhibition, commissioned by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT).

The travelling exhibition, which explores the social history of transport over the last 100 years, aims to promote a new permanent display opening later this month at the Heritage Motor Centre, based at Gaydon, Warwickshire. Both exhibitions are entitled ‘Life’s Highway’ and have been designed by Imagemakers working with the BMIHT. They represent the culmination of a Heritage Lottery funded project to archive and make publicly available the extensive collection of images and documents gathered by motoring journalist Nick Baldwin.

The petrol pump (which is built in sections so that it can be assembled and disassembled for transportation from one venue to the next) houses a display screen which plays back evocative images of transport through the decades with interesting ‘factoids’ alongside. The boot of a Morris 1000 contains handling objects such as a ticket-machine from a 1970s bus and the speedometer from a 1950s car, together with an explanatory panel under the boot lid.

Other elements of the travelling exhibition include large graphic banners and a lectern stand containing locally and regionally relevant images from the archive.

February 2007
Engaging the Senses

An innovative project to create sensory interpretation at two of CADW’s premier properties is being developed by Imagemakers Design and Consulting.

The company have just been commissioned by CADW, the Welsh Assembly Government’s historic environment service, to devise schemes that will engage and involve the senses of visitors to the fairy-tale Castell Coch in South Wales and the Elizabethan townhouse of Plas Mawr in Conwy. Imagemakers will be designing a range of interactive and tactile solutions for this pilot project, focusing on the senses of touch, hearing and smell.

Castell Coch is a late nineteenth-century 'fairytale' castle, built on medieval remains, by William Burges and decorated in Victorian Gothic style. Plas Mawr is an exceptional Elizabethan townhouse with elaborately decorated plaster ceilings and fine wooden screens. Both properties are owned and cared for by CADW, which promotes the conservation and appreciation of the country’s historic environment.

January 2007
Moving Museum

A move by Bath Postal Museum has prompted the complete revitalisation of its displays about the role communications have played in Britain. The museum has just reopened after moving to new premises below the city’s main post office and has introduced exciting hands-on activities alongside its archive collections to appeal to a wide audience.

The new-look museum was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and designed by Imagemakers, who also worked with the museum’s Trustees to prepare the funding application. The company installed the entire museum within six months once the award was granted.

Audio-visual displays, ‘talking heads’ and touchscreens are used to tell the story of 4000 years of communications. These include a Victorian post office where various characters describe their duties next to a period set-piece, and portraits of two 18th century Bathonians who come to life to recount how they revolutionised the early postal service.ÊÊ The range of interactives include a board game interpreting the realities of mail coach travel, an audio point describing the significance of the various post horn tunes and a specially designed perforating machine for visitors to create their own commemorative stamps.

A ‘Room of Firsts’ exhibits the rare items connected with Bath’s unique postal heritage such as the Bath Penny Black, the only extant copy of Ralph Allen’s mail contract and the first 100 mile airmail flight. Special displays of the museum’s collections are showcased on a changing basis and other archive material can be accessed digitally.

August 2006
Work Starts On Wych Barge

Droitwich residents have the opportunity to play a major part in the creation of the replica Wych barge which won ITV's People's Millions lottery programme last year.

The Waterways Trust have appointed Imagemakers to design and create the replica barge. The designers are now calling on the town's residents to come forward with their memories of the canal and help create the material which will be used to construct the replica barge.

Over the coming months, Imagemakers will be running a range of events and activities to gather information and material for the project. These include an oral history day to capture memories of the canals, which will be used in the barge's interpretation panels, and workshops for community groups on brick-making and illustration which will be incorporated into the barge.

Imagemakers also plan to collect the names of local families who have an historic connection with the canals and salt works so that they can be etched into the barge's seating. The life-size representation of the barge will be situated in Vines Park and will be a focal point for recreation and information in Droitwich Spa.

Kim Chester, Development Manager of The Waterways Trust said: "The Wych Barge was unique to Droitwich but there are none in existence today. It is important that local people can celebrate their heritage through this project and that the reminiscences of those involved with the barges are commemorated forever as part of the scheme."

The project aims to create a life-size replica of the boats that once transported salt along the area's canals and is funded by The Big Lottery. The completed barge will form a key part of the scheme to restore the Droitwich Canals.

July 2006
Hands-on at Dartmouth

Hands-on exhibits and original displays are helping visitors to Dartmouth Museum find out about the life and works of a remarkable local man. The newly-opened Henley Gallery celebrates the achievements of William Cumming Henley (1860 - 1919), an ironmonger and self-taught man who amassed a vast collection of artefacts, paintings and historical documents related to the town.

The Gallery is set out as his study, with examples of the geological specimens, shells, scientific implements and interactive automata that he collected on display, together with the "hands-on" exhibits. These include a sequence of short videos about his life which are triggered by visitors, a microscope to study species, much as Henley the naturalist would have done, and a facsimile ironmonger's catalogue.

The opening of the Henley Gallery has been masterminded by the Dartmouth Museum Association and the museum's curators Angela White and Brian Langworthy. It marks the final part in a revitalisation programme for the museum, which has been made possible through funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Dartmouth Town Council as trustees of the Henley Collection. David Lingard, Chairman of the Association said "The new gallery is the culmination of five years work. William Henley's collections have been in storage for several years and we are delighted that local people and visitors to Dartmouth can once again appreciate all that he achieved in his lifetime."

Interpretation consultants Imagemakers have carried out the design and implementation work for the Henley Gallery and for the other elements new to the Dartmouth Museum this year: an audio recording of a "town crier" introducing visitors to the museum, a trompe l'oeil of an 18th century dresser displaying objects from the collection and a series of wall-mounted illustrated panels with information about the museum's highlights.

July 2006
Amongst heather and hill forts

A huge black grouse and a giant plant are just two of the eye-catching orientation and interpretive installations that have recently appeared in the Clwydian Range in Wales. The installations aim to raise awareness about the leisure opportunities and special qualities of four sites within this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and were created by Imagemakers Design and Consulting for Denbighshire County Council and Forestry Commission Wales.

The body of the three-dimensional grouse, carved in oak, includes map panels and wind-up audio of the bird's call, while the plant - representing Herb paris which is prevalent in the area - has panels, lift-flaps and poster displays. Another installation in a woodland setting takes the form of an interpretative shelter, with a wildlife food chain and the names of trees carved into the structure and a roof of oak tiles shaped to resemble different leaves. A leaflet dispenser, poster displays and lift-flaps provide further interpretation. The final installation interprets the Iron Age hill forts in the vicinity through a panel in a surround carved with relevant artefacts and wording in Welsh and English.

February 2006
The Magic of Peter Pan

Creating a magical interactive experience for young visitors to J M Barrie's Birthplace in Scotland is the aim of a contract just awarded to Imagemakers Design and Consulting.

The heritage interpretation specialists have been commissioned by The National Trust for Scotland to create a Peter Pan Room within the property as a place for play, inspiration and discovery. The completed room will tell the story of the boy who would not grow up, together with those of his friends and enemies such as Wendy, Tinkerbell, the Lost Boys and, of course, Captain Hook.

Peter Pan's creator J M Barrie was born in 1860 in the house which adjoins the exhibition area, and his early life here inspired the characters and plots in his work. This latest addition to the property in Kirriemuir, Angus will be managed by Corrie Cheyne, Imagemakers' newly-appointed project manager for Scotland and the North of England who is based in the area.

February 2006
Homing in on Scotland

Heritage interpretation specialists Imagemakers Design and Consulting have appointed Corrie Cheyne as project manager for Scotland and the North of England. Corrie will be based in the company's new office in Scotland, where she is already well known in the sector as secretary for the Scottish Interpretation Network.

For the past four years, Corrie has gained extensive experience as an interpretive planner for Edinburgh-based Campbell & Co., working on projects for museums and national parks, including visitor centres for Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Northumberland National Park and Cairngorm National Park. Other clients have included Historic Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and The National Trust for Scotland.

Corrie's appointment will enable Imagemakers to offer an even better service to its existing clients in the region and expand into other areas. She says"I'm looking forward to opening up new avenues for Imagemakers in Scotland and the North of England, as well as developing the relationship with established customers". Imagemakers have just been awarded two contracts in Scotland, both of which Corrie will be managing: creating a magical experience for young visitors in a Peter Pan Room at J M Barrie's Birthplace at Kirriemuir, Angus for The National Trust for Scotland and designing the public areas for Scottish Natural Heritage's new headquarters at Westercraigs near Inverness.