As we explored the outside areas of the grandstand for the first time it seemed to me that the location reflected the weather, cold and miserable. The littered fields made me think about how on race days the fields would’ve been littered not with coca cola cans and sweet wrappers but with betting slips- at least this would’ve shown life and purpose, the societal change shows the lack of importance the grandstand now has.

The room that interested me the most was one where I did not see an obvious horse racing connection, instead what I found interesting was the fact that this room was used as an RAF meeting room during the First World War. ‘A large part of the work has to do with researching a place, often an unusual one that is imbued with history or permitted with atmosphere’ (Pearson, 2007, p.7) we took this idea by Pavis and began looking for clues in the room to help us create the correct atmosphere. On the wall we found the words ‘through struggles to the stars’ painted in a foreign language, this along with the large stele pillars and fireplace give the room a very authentic feel adding historical character and meaning to the room, and justifies Ibid’s idea that ‘Layers of the site are revealed through reference to:historical documentation’. (Pearson, 2007, p.8).

As we explored the room my group member laid on the floor and noticed the symmetry on the ceiling with the lights, he felt that it reflected a runway therefore this linked with the Raf history of the room and excited us. This showed an example of Macauley’s idea that,
‘The site may begin to tell its own story’ (Pearson, 2007, p.9)

The largest room in the grandstand however completely lacks in historical culture or even any evidence that only around 50 years ago it was used for a big horse racing event. This room now looks like an average community centre and the space is now used as a children’s play group meeting. ‘Its not just about a place, but the people who normally inhabit and use that place. For it wouldn’t exist without them’ (Pearson,2007,p.8) I find Ibid’s idea extremely ironic as during world war 2 the room was used as a place where the dead bodies were taken, It is interesting to see how very differently the space is being used as I believe there is a striking difference between a striking difference between a room once being filled with death and now being used for young new life.

References: Pearson, M (2010) Site specific performance, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.