Peel X has revealed its latest immersive augmented reality (AR) trail app with the launch of Discover Northallerton, transporting people back in time to uncover the North Yorkshire town’s fascinating history.
Long before it was Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s home, Northallerton was, and is, an important North Yorkshire market town. The new augmented reality trail app Discover Northallerton immerses users into the sights and sounds of the history of the town as they are transported into portals of the past.
Peel X designed, created and developed the innovative trail app on behalf of Hambleton District Council as part of the Northallerton High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme in partnership with Historic England. It has been created and developed using extensive academic research from York Archaeological Trust and Heritage 360, who worked with key stakeholders and the local community, to identify and create historically accurate 3D visualisations of the town.
Jessica Wright, MD of Peel X, said: “Augmented Reality apps provide a great way for locals and visitors alike to discover hidden stories and engage with characters from the rich heritage of the town’s past. The future development of the app will include food and drink trails as well as seasonal trails designed to be enjoyed by the whole family.
“Many of our clients are now using trail apps as an innovative way to encourage footfall back into town centres post-pandemic and get visitors to discover and explore new places. Through a mix of digital storytelling methods including 360 CGI portals, 2D and 3D animation, they are a fantastic way to while away a couple of hours for all the family.”
The free to download, smart-phone app guides visitors through sites of historical interest such as the former Bishop of Durham’s Palace, the Tickle Toby Yard, the site of a Georgian theatre, and the Golden Lion, a coaching inn midway between London and Edinburgh on the Great North Road.
Discover Northallerton uncovers hidden stories of the people and events that shaped the market town over the centuries – Henry Rutson who donated the former Rutson Hospital, Bishop Beck, who lived in a palace at the site of the current town cemetery and Charles I, who was held prisoner at the Porch House in 1647.
The Discover Northallerton trail app launches just in time for Easter. It brings together a full range of digital storytelling, augmented reality, 360 experiences, animation, reconstruction and films, woven together with a menagerie of animated animals along the route, to entertain the kids.
Council leader, Councillor Mark Robson, said: “The trail will allow users to immerse themselves in Northallerton’s rich heritage and brings to life historical characters, events, and places. The app illustrates Northallerton’s history in a way which is fun, engaging, and interactive whilst providing a valuable historical resource.”
