IN-PERSON London Heritages. Section B

Abstract

This paper introduces a collaborative interdisciplinary workshop and presents a series of reflections arising from it. The workshop, organised in York in 2024, was the latest in a series; previous events have taken place elsewhere in Europe and Asia. The object of study in York was Barley Hall, a heritage attraction which first opened to visitors in 1993. The building today is a reconstructed medieval townhouse, based on an earlier structure of around 1360. The two-day workshop, supported by an awarded research grant, represented a further collaborative project between a university institution and York Archaeology, the educational charity and archaeological organisation that operates Barley Hall. The workshop’s main aim was to explore narratives (developed with digital tools) through which York Archaeology might present the building and its history to visitors. Various collaborative activities, including site visits, group conversations, collaborative mind-mapping exercises and subsequent group presentations characterised the event. One of its most relevant values was its interdisciplinary nature, which allowed the generation of ideas not limited by a single discipline’s point of view. The workshop involved year 3 students from architecture, MA students in public history and heritage management, and academics and researchers in related fields, plus staff and volunteers from Barley Hall. The reflections generated during the workshop will inform new interpretative approaches at Barley Hall, enhancing cultural understanding for all. The methodology is characterized by a qualitative approach based on primary data collected during the workshop, including photos of all the mind maps and notes by the organisers/researchers.