Woman walking down a high street listening to something on headphones. — Sandra Kazlauskaite walking on Grantham High Street © Emilie Nunn

Sandra Kazlauskaite walking on Grantham High Street © Emilie Nunn

High Street Sound Walks

Historic England has worked with the National Trust and Sound UK to create a series of sound walks in six high streets across England for Heritage Open Days, from 10-19 September 2021.

Listen to a High Street Sound Walk near you

Barrow-in-Furness

Dan Fox’s sound walk explores the diversity of Barrow’s high street and the changes it has witnessed.

Grantham

Sandra Kazlauskaite’s sound walk guides you through St Peter’s Hill and Westgate to unearth fascinating hidden histories across generations.

Great Yarmouth

Wander this ancient walled town and hear how its streets have changed in a compelling sonic journey by Oliver Payne.

Hull

This sound walk by Jez riley French evokes Whitefriargate’s history using a range of hidden, overlooked or usually inaudible sounds from the street.

Reading

A sound walk by Aundre Goddard and Richard Bentley combining music and sound with real and imagined voices to tell the story of London Street.

Redruth

This walk is made up of snippets of history, both old and contemporary, collected and reimagined by Sue Hill, Ciaran Clarke, Annamaria Murphy.

Two men wearing headphones walk along a street apparently listening while looking at the building to the side of them.

Sound artists Aundre Goddard and Richard Bentley walking on London Street towards the Shenai/Matrix. © James John

Six journeys of discovery

Each sound walk is a distinctive, immersive soundscape taking listeners on a journey of discovery. The walks bring hidden histories and stories to life, helping people to see their high street in a new light.

Listeners can take a self-guided route, supported by an illustrated map created for each place. The walks will encourage people to slow down, pause and reflect, and experience their environment in a new way.

Sound artists have worked with communities to collect stories so that each sound walk is informed by and represents authentic local voices and experiences. These works connect listeners with the people, past and present, who have made their high street what it is today, transforming the everyday into something magical.

The six sound walks have launched as part of Heritage Open Days and are available here and in accessible formats. Historic England has worked with writer and subtitling specialist Mark Kirkbride to produce creative writing pieces that interpret the sound walks for deaf and hard-of-hearing people. These are available on alongside the sound walk audio via the links above.

A market stall holder (right) stands and talks to a man with recording equipment (left).

Image of sound artist Oliver Payne interviewing Terry Smith. Terry has spent his life doing ‘all sorts’ but has always traded in and around Great Yarmouth. He proudly states he can sell anything, and often does! © Wayne Pilgrim

High Street Sound Walks is a commission by Historic England, National Trust and Heritage Open Days with support from the players of People’s Postcode Lottery and produced by Sound UK. It is part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme, led by Historic England.

Sound Walks is an exciting build on our previous work with artists. We’re thrilled to be working with Historic England with support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery to bring the diverse, fascinating stories of our local high streets to life through work with local people and skilled artists.

Annie Reilly, Experience Development Manager National Trust