Following a very insightful visit to the Lincolnshire archives, in our workshop at the site we were asked to write a letter to the grandstand, this was to be informal and the purpose of the task was to make a personal connection with the site. Here is my letter;

Dear Grandstand,

Yesterday, I looked into your past at the Lincoln archives. Fascinated bu the depth of your history it reinforced the sadness I felt of your abandonment in the present day.

In particular, the event that took place during the first World War, in which the 1000th plane made by Ruston Works, dropped 5000 leaflets to advertise war bonds in order to help the government raise funds. This was so successful a second drop took place in March.

Furthermore, the plans showing the space that is now used as a community centre, then to be proposed to be a mortuary was interesting yet creepy. What stood out to me was the ‘Sluicing’ room which first was miss-read as slicing! Still the potential of bodies being washed down in an area where children now play was quite harrowing. The crossing of life and death. 

Yours Sincerely,

Verity. 

Although the task at first seemed strange, the letter seemed to flow easily. Yet again from my own personal letter and others within the group, the phenomenological responses struck the hardest. Feelings of loss, neglect, sadness and abandonment echoed through the room as we carried out further tasks.

Indeed, I think the task did help to make a personal connection to the site, a site which to some of us in the group was meaningless. Hopefully we can develop the connection further whilst creating pieces in the space.