Cyber trail to bring stories alive at BBC Restoration site in Wellesbourne

Music and illustrations will give visitors to a blacksmith heritage site in Wellesbourne a unique insight into the stories about the site.
Chedham's Yard in Wellesbourne.Chedham's Yard in Wellesbourne.
Chedham's Yard in Wellesbourne.

Using a grant from Warwickshire County Council’s tourism event fund, Live & Local has been working on a project over the past year at Chedham’s Yard to develop a new ‘cyber story trail’ that blends historical and folklore stories, music and interactive artwork.

Warwickshire canal boat-based musician Kel Elliott has been gathering stories from volunteers at the yard and Wellesbourne residents to transform into story-songs.

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Kel and her band are using the audio archive she has created to produce 11 new songs which, along with field and archival recordings, can be enjoyed by visitors via their smartphones or on-site iPods as they walk through the yard.

Warwickshire artist Catherine Askew has created a new illustrated online map of the yard, which will guide visitors around the site. The mobile website has been designed by Coventry-based web developers Twentytwo Digital and will work on most smartphones and tablets.

David Close, Chedham’s Yard trustee and parish councillor, said: “We are a community-based heritage centre and, since winning the BBC Village Restoration Fund in 2006, we have been busy renovating and building our visitor offer. We’re looking forward to premiering the songs and for our first visitors to use the mobile website.”

The ‘Discover: Chedham’s Stories’ mobile website goes live at discoverstories.org on September 9 at 5pm and Kel Elliott & Her Three Man Orchestra will perform some story songs at 7.30pm at St Peter’s church in Wellesbourne. Visitors to Chedham’s Yard will be able to use the mobile website for the first time on September 10 during Heritage Open Days from 10am to 4pm. Free entry.