Breaking Down Barriers: The Role of Public Archaeology and Heritage Interpretation in Shaping Perceptions of the Past

Abstract

In 2018, a survey by English Heritage found that children’s memories of historic sites, specifically castles, are more likely to derive from film and television than visiting a castle. Ideas about the past become influenced by popular culture. Despite this, heritage sites remain an important resource with tens of millions of people visiting them in the UK every year, including 1.7 million schoolchildren in 2017. The level of interest in the past represents an opportunity to challenge and break down preconceptions about history. Through an examination of community archaeology digs at the castles of Buckton and Radcliffe in Greater Manchester and new heritage displays at the English Heritage castles of Orford, Suffolk, and Pevensey, East Sussex, this chapter will show how the public can engage with history and redefine the borders of their understanding, exploring conceptual rather than physical borders.