Ashford Arts and Heritage Trail

Commissioned to develop proposals for a heritage trail within Ashford's town centre, David found himself researching the demolition of historic buildings and investigating the profound urban remodelling which had erased much of Ashford's historic architecture.

The 'Heritage Trail' was never realised. However, the alternative proposals for an audio archive of local residents' memories of sites and events (which are no longer referenced within the urban landscape) did influence and contribute to later public art proposals within Ashford, Bristol and other locations. Cotterrell's counter-proposals were motivated by an interest in considering democratic mechanisms to contradict the linear historical narrative which is frequently suggested by monumental sculpture, architectural legacies and town branding.

This work lead directly to Cotterrell's major commission to contribute to the Office of the Deputy Prime-Minister funded strategic planning of the region, within the framework of an Arts Council funded consultancy to Ashford's Future.

The 'Heritage Trail' report and proposals may be downloaded in booklet form here.