Beneath Hay Bluff – A Community Heritage Film
- AVimmerse
- Oct 16, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
A Community Heritage Film by AVimmerse, Created with English Heritage & The University of Manchester
How stories, landscapes, and community voices came together on the slopes of Arthur’s Stone.
This Beneath Hay Bluff community heritage film was created to bring together the voices, memories, and reflections of visitors to Arthur’s Stone.
Rediscovering Arthur’s Stone Through the Beneath Hay Bluff Community Heritage Film
In summer 2024, AVimmerse was invited by English Heritage and the University of Manchester to contribute to a major public-engagement initiative: the Beneath Hay Bluff project. Our role was to create a film that captured the voices, memories, and reflections of people visiting Arthur’s Stone, one of Britain’s most atmospheric Neolithic monuments.
Over several days, our team filmed on site and listened to stories from:
Local residents
Visitors from across the UK
English Heritage volunteers
Pandy Inn landlady Lisa Aubrey-Cosslett
Through interviews and questionnaires, we discovered why this ancient landscape continues to inspire awe, curiosity, and belonging. The resulting film weaves these voices together, celebrating the deep emotional connection people feel with this sacred place.
Watch the Film
This approach reflects AVimmerse’s broader immersive heritage practice, blending aerial imaging, digital interpretation, and landscape-based storytelling.
Explore the full range of services: https://www.avimmerse.com/immersiveheritage
Why Arthur’s Stone Matters
Arthur’s Stone stands high above the Golden Valley, a Neolithic burial chamber formed of immense stone slabs, linked to King Arthur in legend since at least the 13th century. Stories tell of Arthur slaying a giant here, the fallen figure leaving elbow marks upon one of the stones.
For archaeology, it is a site of national significance. For visitors, it is a place of reflection, meaning, and wonder.
Learn more:
English Heritage: History of Arthur’s Stone
University of Manchester: Archaeological discoveries
Project background (UK Herefordshire syllabus, 2024)
How the Film Was Made
Our approach was simple: listen deeply.
“The goal was to collect stories from people who visited the site for the Beneath Hay Bluff project.”—Original project statement
We partnered closely with:
Dr John Piprani, University of Manchester
Professor Julian Thomas, University of Manchester
Kate Potter-Farrant, Curatorial & Exhibitions Assistant
A dedicated group of English Heritage volunteers
The local community that keeps this landscape alive
Every conversation was treated as an opportunity to understand how heritage shapes identity, an idea that directly inspires our future work on Warrington Castle and community archaeology.
Themes Emerging from the Project
A Sense of Belonging
Visitors spoke about peace, spirituality, and the power of walking in the footsteps of ancestors.
Living Heritage
This site isn’t only about the Neolithic past, it’s about the people who cherish it today.
Community Voices
Our film positions heritage not as something distant, but something lived, shared, and continually re-imagined through stories.
How This Project Shapes Our Future Work
The Beneath Hay Bluff film serves as a flagship example of how AVimmerse works across:
Community-led heritage projects
Digital storytelling
Education and public engagement
Drone, film, and documentary production
Collaborations with universities and national organisations
This work directly informs our ongoing heritage initiatives including:
Local heritage teaching & workshops
Our upcoming platform for mapping stories, memories, and cultural identity.
If your organisation, school, or community group is exploring ways to bring history to life, we’d love to collaborate.
Special Thanks
Our gratitude to everyone who made the film possible:
Dr John Piprani, University of Manchester
Professor Julian Thomas, University of Manchester
Kate Potter-Farrant, Curatorial & Exhibitions Assistant
The English Heritage volunteers and staff
The community members who shared their voices
Work With Us
AVimmerse specialises in turning heritage, archaeology, and community knowledge into compelling digital experiences, from films and virtual tours to story-driven workshops.
Let’s create something extraordinary together.
Beneath Hay Bluff sits within AVimmerse’s ongoing immersive heritage work, combining landscape storytelling, aerial cinematography, and digital interpretation.
Learn more: https://www.avimmerse.com/immersiveheritage
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