Burlington Dreams

Special Project with Bridlington Old Town Association, Bridlington Town Team and individuals: March – June 2008.

Burlington Dreams Film Image

Business owners and individuals living or working in Bridlington Old Town High Street filmed interviews and used stop frame animation to explore their life histories and their thoughts about the future of the Old Town in the context of Renaissance. It was a ‘light-hearted’ follow up to an exchange visit to other coastal towns with an ‘old town’ (Hastings, Margate and Folkestone) and the preparation of a consultation document, ‘Old Town Live’, by members of the Old Town Association for Bridlington Renaissance Partnership.

Burlington Dreams Film Image

Six individuals representing the different views of the Old Town, from the ‘don’t change anything’ attitude to the thinking visionary, were chosen to take part. They were a silver jeweller and cultural entrepreneur; the Chair of the Old Town Association who manages a ‘quiet garden’ for retreats and is very involved with The Priory church; a sewing machine and typewriter repairer during his last week before closing down his shop after over thirty years of business; a neo-classical architect; a café owner and a traditional blacksmith.

These individuals were chosen to shake things up and get the negative and positive views of the people really involved in the neighbourhood, only one of whom had ever had any involvement with the Town Team; to engage them in dialogue about the future of work and business in the area, the use of the streets and the Old Town’s place in relation to the radical plans for the transformation of the town centre. This was achieved by combining reflective writing and animation to create an eccentric but informative portrait of thinking at a particular time, documented in a short film accessible and enjoyable for all.

All the individuals were willing to talk quite deeply about their beliefs and their place in the community. A wide audience, from stroppy teenagers to hard to win over publicans, has viewed the film with pleasure – often asking for a copy. Six very different views of the Old Town and its future but with a common care and commitment to a much loved place to live and/or work were collected.

Burlington Dreams Film Image

Some excerpts from the six poem portraits by writer Adam Strickson, which incorporate quotations from the participants (The following words were included within the film):

On D.C. Torn, Sewing machines, typewriters

You know things always need altering, adjusting,
that cars will eventually be left outside towns,
that your street now needs customers who will spend
without batting an eyelid, on Fine Art and fine food.

Digby Harris, architect

Too much money’s the enemy of conservation
and though Friday night’s the downside of being here
the thumbedness of this High Street is its grace.

On Diane Davison and the Georgian Tea Rooms

Gracious and generous, with words of welcome for natives and strangers, the Old Town will invite everyone to tea. She bakes to perfection and serves her cakes with
unexpected twists at her traditional door.

The project involved people in the debate about Renaissance who had not previously been involved; they wanted to be part of it because the subject was their own neighbourhood, a small but vital part of the total planning for Renaissance in the town. The showings of the film at a local pub as well as the Town Team, free distribution at the Old Town Show and at a poetry and music evening at a local gallery reached all sorts of people with little understanding or involvement in Renaissance.

Bright, recycled paper bags with still images and messages from the film are still being used by local shops, continuing to stimulate debate. 98 copies of the 100 DVDs printed were given away. Many more people are now involved in informed thinking about the future of the Old Town.