Events Calendar
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Performing Room Northampton – Heritage Tour
8 September @ 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Explore the deep hidden history of our building.
Step back in time to hear our story and discover how our heritage helped to create Northampton’s beautiful Culture Quarter through public exhibitions and immersive multimedia utilising VR technology.
We have worked on a multimedia heritage project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to uncover and share the hidden history of our historical building, first built as Franklin’s Hotel and Restaurant in 1872 by John Campbell Franklin to capitalise on railway passengers traveling to the new St John’s Street Railway Station from the new rail route built between Bedford and Northampton.
For decades, it served as the meeting point for merchants, traders and other travellers coming to Northampton.
An impressive list of artefacts dating back to when the building was first built characterises the relationship between Franklin’s hotel and the people who used to work there and visit it.
A quick tour of the picture galleries, display stands, glass cabinets and slideshows include authentic old newspapers, vintage bottles, champagne corks, war memorabilia, decorative ceramic floor tiles, an original train ticket used to transport people to St John’s and more.
Other projects consist of a documentary, cartoon animations, children board games, lego reconstructions of old buildings and a digital tour with 3-D modelling.
Each offer you the chance to step back in time and experience what life would have been like for people at the time.
You can find out more about how we are challenging young people’s perspectives and attitudes towards their history and heritage by opening their eyes to how exciting it can be through the multimedia project work we are developing on the links below.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 07 September: 12pm – 6pm
- Sunday 08 September: 12pm, – 6pm
- Saturday 14 September: 12pm – 5pm
- Pre-booking not required
Additional information
We have assembled a documentary using video and photography to showcase our multimedia work and findings for you to view given in the links below. We aim to: • build back family values and community cohesion • bring people to the town who don’t traditionally visit its cultural quarter • improve mental health and well-being • make people feel part of a supportive community that helps realise potential • improve creative and social skills • inspire young people to learn about the history of their town • make history exciting • restore a sense of local pride
- Max no of people per tour: 12
- Est. tour duration: 45 minute(s)