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Talking bridge brings the past to life

29th Nov 2005

The Waterways Trust has teamed up with Gloucester artist, Andrew Stonyer, to help visitors to the Gloucester Docks connect with the history of the area.

Andrew Stonyer has developed an innovative ‘talking bridge’ which has been installed by the Trust adjacent to its award-winning National Waterways Museum.

Sensors triggering the recording are activated when someone walks across the temporary bridge connecting the Museum with the area around the Mariner’s Chapel.

Chris Hayes, General Manager of The National Waterways Museum, said: "This is a great interactive exhibit. The commentary includes traditional docklands noises which aren’t usually heard today, together with memories from people who used to work on the boats.

"We have used interviews and noises from the audio archive of the museum to explain the history of the Barge Arm and Gloucester Docks. It really brings the past to life."

Hugh Conway-Jones, local historian and secretary of the Friends of the National Waterways Museum, was also involved with the development of the project.

Hugh said: "We wanted to make sure that what people hear on the talking bridge is relevant to what they are seeing, so it adds to their visit. We therefore used recordings of the noises which the boats on display make and interviews from people who worked in the area."

One local person whose memories have been recorded is Chris Witts. At 16 years of age, Chris was one of a crew of four working on large tanker barges during the 1960s. "I was the lad on board which meant the general dogsbody. I did anything and everything – cooking, cleaning, steering. As a lad you only spoke when spoken to and if you did anything wrong it wasn’t a telling off you got, it was a clip round the ear!"

Chris Hayes said: "With all the development work going on, Gloucester Docks are changing rapidly, bringing new life to the area. It is a great place with lots to offer visitors and local residents alike. It is important that we don’t forget the heritage of the docks and this talking bridge is a fascinating way of capturing these memories and sounds before they disappear."

The talking bridge is one of a series of artworks going on display around the docks funded by the South West Regional Development Agency and Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company.

Last updated: 22/10/2008