Along These Lines is a collaboration between Quiet Down There and sound artist Anna Celeste Edmonds, creating and presenting an immersive soundwalk that explores Brighton’s laundry heritage.
Laundry is a distinctly aural and sensory experience, we often hear people talk of the sounds, smells and feels that come with a trip to the laundrette, and many local people remember someone in their family working in laundry services. Together, with a small group of project contributors, the team explored local archives and resources to research and uncover stories, photos, and film of 19th and 20th Century laundry heritage, linked to Roundhill, Elm Grove, Hanover, and The Level in Brighton & Hove.
We know laundries have been a site for organising, meeting, and connecting for over 200 years, often becoming hotbeds of activism for women’s suffrage and solidarity, but so far these incredible stories have not had the recognition they deserve. Anna and the project contributors delved into these histories; and created an immersive soundwalk made accessible through locative mobile technology. The soundwalk was presented to the public through a ‘taster’ event during Heritage Open Days in September, with the refined final 10 track experience available as part of Dreamy Place festival in October 2023.
This project was funded by the Heritage Lottery, and is available to access on Echoes, annacedmonds.com and quietdownthere.co.uk. Thanks to historian and geographer Geoffrey Mead, and Gerry and Maria from Brighton and Hove Women’s History Group for sharing their knowledge and time. Accompanying zine and project artwork by Little River Press www.littleriverpress.co.uk.