Plans for a £60,000 augmented reality app could help unearth a town’s hidden history.
Southwell’s Community Archaeology Group and Heritage Trust presented their plan for a high-tech app detailing a town’s artefacts to councillors at a recent meeting of Southwell Town Council.
The groups plan to submit a National Lottery Heritage Fund bid to create the platform — expected to cost £50,000 to £60,000 — with the written support of the council.
Representatives John Lock and Steve Rodgers spoke at the meeting, on May 8.
The plan initially focuses on the Burgage, but it is hoped to also include wider areas of the town including Frogatts Field and Higgons Mead.
John said: “The Burgage is just a hidden landscape… it’s a whole different world.”
He explained that past digs there had discovered “extraordinary” things — including a 13th century jug.
He added: “The challenge is telling the story in an accessible way.”
The app is planned to take viewers on an “immersive walk around town”. Real-time location tracking is planned to allow people to identify objects where they were found, and 3D scans of artefacts from digs will allow them to get an in depth idea of what the item looks like.
Photographs of areas of the town in the past — including the lace mill and haymaking on the Burgage, and Elizabethan wall paintings at the Saracens Head — are also set to be included.
Short descriptions and audio recordings would be presented for each item.
Steve added: “You can go at your own pace, and take your own route.
“[With the scans] you can see them in quite minute detail. We’re really trying to help people immerse themselves in the hidden history of Southwell.”
The app would also be developed with the ability to add more items and stories as it developed.
John further explained the focus wouldn’t solely be on archaeology — with stories of historic buildings such as the Houses of Correction to be included too.
Steve said: “It hopes to add another attraction to the town, which will have people walking through the shops.”
Lyn Harris described the plans as “really exciting” — and other councillors were also keen to offer their support.
Jamie Bostock praised the planned inclusion of audio descriptions to help those with less sight — for who heritage can be “hard to access” — and suggested an app could also help more young people get interested in heritage.
“It’s like Pokemon Go with artefacts,” he added.
Peter Brooker questioned if the app would be run entirely on GPS rather than markers — which was confirmed as the groups “didn’t think leaving out QR codes on the ground or posts was a good idea”, although it has worked for similar schemes including one in Warwick.
“Obviously accuracy is important,” Steve added.
“We don’t want people stood in the middle of the road saying ‘There should be a medieval well here’.”
Lyn Harris confirmed the council’s support for the plan, and the groups are due to approach the fund to express their interest.
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