High Street Tales

Step behind the scenes of High Street Tales as the eight writers talk about the ideas, people and places that inspired their stories.

You can download the ebook of all the stories at https://historicengland.org.uk/highstreettales

Made in conjunction with New Writing North, and the series was produced by Sonderbug Productions with thanks to Darren Hayman for use of his song Pram Town. 

High Street Tales is part of Historic England’s high street cultural programme; four years of nationwide cultural activity helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The programme is run by Historic England, in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Follow us on social @HistoricEngland, using the hashtag #HighStreetTales.

In 'Flying', Maria wanted to capture the Black Country dialect. Growing up in Wednesbury, her character Lily May can only dream of having the confidence her friends all seem to have. On a special day when spirits stir, it’s Lily May who discovers a new side to Wednesbury, and herself.

You can download the ebook of all the stories at https://historicengland.org.uk/highstreettales

Made in conjunction with New Writing North and Writing West Midlands, and the series was produced by Sonderbug Productions with thanks to Darren Hayman for use of his song Pram Town. 

High Street Tales is part of Historic England’s high street cultural programme; four years of nationwide cultural activity helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The programme is run by Historic England, in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Follow us on social @HistoricEngland, using the hashtag #HighStreetTales.

In 'Under the watchful eyes of seagulls', writing duo Ellie McKinlay-Khojinian and Ligia Macedo explore the seaside town of Great Yarmouth. Here we dip behind the flamboyant arcades and candy-floss colours of the seafront on a visit to King Street, through the eyes of a kindly Portuguese migrant who befriends an elderly resident.

You can download the ebook of all the stories at https://historicengland.org.uk/highstreettales 

Made in conjunction with New Writing North and National Centre for Writing and the series was produced by Sonderbug Productions with thanks to Darren Hayman for use of his song Pram Town. 

High Street Tales is part of Historic England’s high street cultural programme; four years of nationwide cultural activity helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The programme is run by Historic England, in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Follow us on social @HistoricEngland, using the hashtag #HighStreetTales.

In Borrowed Ground, writer Robin Pridy has combined Hastings’ familiar sites, sounds and smells with the stories and memories of local people, to turn the town’s Trinity Triangle into the backdrop for the fascinating life of her character, Jackie Brigham.

You can download the ebook of all the stories at https://historicengland.org.uk/highstreettales 

Made in conjunction with New Writing North and New Writing South, and the series was produced by Sonderbug Productions with thanks to Darren Hayman for use of his song Pram Town. 

High Street Tales is part of Historic England’s High Street Cultural Programme; four years of nationwide cultural activity helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The programme is run by Historic England, in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Follow us on social @HistoricEngland, using the hashtag #HighStreetTales.

In All the Secret Postcards, writer and photographer Rod Duncan describes a father reminiscing during a visit from his concerned daughter. Whether remembered or imagined, the past and present of his hometown, Leicester, are brought to life in his memories.

You can download the ebook of all the stories at https://historicengland.org.uk/highstreettales 

Made in conjunction with New Writing North and Writing East Midlands, and the series was produced by Sonderbug Productions with thanks to Darren Hayman for use of his song Pram Town. 

High Street Tales is part of Historic England’s High Street Cultural Programme; four years of nationwide cultural activity helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The programme is run by Historic England, in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Follow us on social @HistoricEngland, using the hashtag #HighStreetTales.

In her short story In Between Days, poet and novelist Merrie Joy Williams was inspired by the local community, who she spoke to discover this vibrant corner of London. Her story explores the rich history of Woolwich through the eyes of its teenage resident, Karim.

You can download the ebook of all the stories at https://historicengland.org.uk/highstreettales 

Made in conjunction with New Writing North and Spread the Word, and the series was produced by Sonderbug Productions with thanks to Darren Hayman for use of his song Pram Town. 

High Street Tales is part of Historic England’s high street cultural programme; four years of nationwide cultural activity helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The programme is run by Historic England, in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Follow us on social @HistoricEngland, using the hashtag #HighStreetTales.

In The Women of Number 11, writer and poet Rebecca Tantony used online conversations, socially-distanced conversations as well as the sights and sounds of Weston-super-Mare to conjure the lives of the women across the ages.

You can download the ebook of all the stories at https://historicengland.org.uk/highstreettales

Made in conjunction with New Writing North and Literature Works, and the series was produced by Sonderbug Productions with thanks to Darren Hayman for use of his song Pram Town. 

High Street Tales is part of Historic England’s high street cultural programme; four years of nationwide cultural activity helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The programme is run by Historic England, in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Follow us on social media @HistoricEngland and using the hashtag #HighStreetTales.

In this episode, the musician and writer Celia Bryce explores North Shields high street in an otherworldly tale which follows a mysterious character on his journey through streets of the past to return a lost shoe to its home.

You can download the ebook of all the stories at https://historicengland.org.uk/highstreettales

Made in conjunction with New Writing North and the series was produced by Sonderbug Productions with thanks to Darren Hayman for use of his song Pram Town. 

High Street Tales is part of Historic England’s high street cultural programme; four years of nationwide cultural activity helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The programme is run by Historic England, in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England. Follow us on social using @HistoricEngland and using the hashtag #HighStreetTales to stay up to date with the latest High Street news.

Welcome to High Street Tales. A brand new Historic England podcast.

Starting in Autumn 2020, specially commissioned writers on seven high streets across England began work on High Street Tales: a new storytelling initiative by Historic England to uncover the hidden histories and celebrate the everyday magic of the high street.

Working both online and offline where they could, they spoke with local people to uncover memories, reflections, personal histories and local legends on and around the high street. What emerged was a set of modern High Street Tales which explore the connection between history, memory and place and paint a vivid portrait of the high street.

High Street Tales is part of Historic England’s high street cultural programme; four years of nationwide cultural activity helping to make high streets more attractive, engaging and vibrant places for people to live, work and spend time. The programme is run by Historic England, in partnership with Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England.