Yesterday I walked…A LOT!
Not knowing Preston well but having to produce a site specific research idea this semester, I arrived early before lectures to survey the few places I had discovered via the wonders of the internet.
I found the River Ribble and a place called Aqueduct Street, just because I liked the name. I kept being drawn to a place called Winkley Square, a Georgian development with this small but beautiful ‘park’ area in the centre. It is the park I was drawn to, like a little secret oasis in the middle of town. Will research this more now and see what ideas spring out.
We had a mini mapping day, discussing the different ways of mapping a site/place/space via research, direct experience, social dialogue etc. So we all went out into Preston for an hour to find a place to ‘map’.
I discovered an amazing olde worlde book shop that was full (and I mean full) to the gunnels, so many bizarre and wondorous books. Especially when you find hidden gems like an old Limited Edition copy of Peter Pan in the foreign travel section – trip to Neverland anyone?
Bought an old map of Ayrshire which was beautiful and an old book of famous Preston people. Eavesdropped on a few conversations and made a physical map of sorts. Really interesting half day, amazing what one can achieve in such a short space of time!
