Bournemouth University: Research Project to Document People’s Memories of Bournemouth Town Centre

As people’s shopping habits change, Bournemouth town centre is undergoing a period of transformation – with many flagship shops closing or being redeveloped.

A new research project will aim to recognise the architectural and community heritage of these spaces, and capture people’s memories of the high street to help inform future development.

Bournemouth Square

The Coastal Communities, Coastal Stories project has received National Lottery Heritage Funding.

It will be led by Dr Kate Terkanian, a Senior Lecturer in History at Bournemouth University, with Professor Sam Goodman and Associate Professor Ashley Woodfall of the Faculty of Media and Communication, in partnership with local groups.

Dr Terkanian said: “While the town centre’s retail spaces are naturally of concern to local businesses and the council, an equally important yet often overlooked element is the extent of the architectural and community heritage involved.

“We want to explore what the loss of vibrant communal spaces means to those who live and work in the area, as well as the thousands of people who visit Bournemouth on an annual basis.”

Bournemouth’s Victorian shopping arcade

The project will encourage people of all ages to share their memories of the high street through a range of creative activities.

These will include photography walks, oral history collection, and narrative-building workshops.

Memories collected during the project will be shared through pop-up exhibitions and public talks alongside walking trails featuring interviews and photography. They will also be kept in regional archives at the Dorset History Centre.

Dr Terkanian added: “As heritage is a strong part of developing culture, this project will explore what the high street has meant in the past and what people in the community want it to look like in the future.

“The project will celebrate the high street and recognise its significance in peoples’ current-day lives as well as acknowledging its importance to the history and heritage of Bournemouth.”