Bringing history to life for communities and audiences.

History is not only something to be found in archives and books. It exists in the buildings, landscapes, objects, memories and stories that surround us.

Ictis Heritage Research works with communities, organisations, heritage groups, museums, schools and other audiences to research, interpret and share history in engaging and accessible ways.

From a local history project or heritage trail to an exhibition, talk or educational resource, projects can be developed around the stories and heritage that matter to your community.

What Can We Create?

Heritage Trails

Turn the history of a place into an engaging journey through its streets, buildings and landscape.

Ictis can research and develop heritage trails that explore the history of:

Villages and towns
Historic estates
Buildings and streets
Landscapes
Industrial sites
Archaeological sites
Local communities

A trail might include historical research, route development, interpretation, photographs, maps and written content.

Possible deliverables

Trail research
Route plans
Historical narratives
Interpretation text
Trail maps
Illustrations and historic photographs
Printed trail leaflets
Digital trail content
Signage or interpretation-panel text

Exhibitions & Interpretation

Good interpretation turns historical research into something people can connect with.

Ictis can research and develop content for exhibitions, displays and heritage interpretation projects.

This might include:

Exhibition research
Object and photograph interpretation
Historical narratives
Interpretation panels
Display text
Captions
Timelines
Historic photographs and maps
Exhibition scripts
Digital interpretation content

Projects can be developed for museums, heritage organisations, community groups, schools, public spaces and other venues.

Local History Projects

Every community has stories worth discovering.

Ictis can undertake research into the history of a village, town, neighbourhood, organisation or community and help turn that research into a project that can be shared with the public.

Projects might explore:

The development of a settlement
Local buildings and streets
Community history
Local industries
Schools and churches
Businesses and organisations
War and military history
Social history
Lost buildings and places
Changes to the local landscape
The experiences of local people

Research can be presented through reports, exhibitions, publications, talks, websites, trails or other agreed formats.

Historical Talks & Presentations

Sometimes the best way to bring history to life is simply to tell the story.

Ictis can develop and deliver historical talks and presentations for:

Local history societies
Community groups
Heritage organisations
Schools and educational groups
Museums
Libraries
Clubs and societies
Public events

Talks can be based around existing research or developed specifically for your organisation or audience.

Topics can range from local and regional history to specific buildings, people, communities and historical events.

Educational & Community Resources

Historical research can also become a resource for learning.

Ictis can develop accessible historical content for educational and community use, including:

Educational resources
Activity sheets
Historical information packs
Teaching materials
Local history resources
Research guides
Community project materials
Historical timelines
Illustrated information sheets

Projects can be adapted to different ages and audiences.

Community Research & Oral History

Some histories cannot be found entirely in archives.

Local memories, family stories and community knowledge can provide an important part of the historical record.

Where appropriate, Ictis can help develop projects that bring together documentary research and community knowledge.

This might include:

Collecting and organising local memories
Researching community stories
Recording oral histories
Investigating family or neighbourhood histories
Combining oral testimony with documentary evidence
Developing community exhibitions or publications

Oral history projects are approached carefully and with appropriate consideration for consent, recording and the use of personal information.

What Does a Public History Project Look Like?

There is no standard format.

A project could be as simple as:

“We’d like someone to research the history of our village and give a talk about it.”

Or it could become a larger project:

“We want to create a heritage trail documenting the history of our village, including research, historic photographs, a map and interpretation panels.”

Other projects might include:

A local history exhibition

Researching the history of a community and creating the written content for a temporary or permanent exhibition.

A historic building interpretation project

Researching a building and developing interpretation explaining its history and significance to visitors.

A community heritage project

Working with residents to research and document the history of their community.

A school history project

Developing local historical resources that allow pupils to investigate the history of the place where they live.

A heritage publication

Researching and writing a booklet or illustrated history of a building, village, organisation or community.

What Can We Provide?

Depending on the project, deliverables might include:

Research & Writing

Historical research
Local history reports
Historical narratives
Articles
Booklets
Exhibition text
Interpretation text
Object and photograph captions

Visual & Interpretive Materials

Heritage trail content
Historic maps
Annotated maps
Timelines
Historic photographs
Image research
Interpretation-panel content
Exhibition layouts and content planning

Events & Engagement

Historical talks
Presentations
Workshops
Community research sessions
Educational sessions
Guided historical walks

Digital Content

Website content
Digital exhibitions
Online historical resources
Digital timelines
Social media history content
Downloadable educational resources

The exact deliverables can be developed around the aims, audience and budget of each project.

Working With Communities

Public history works best when people are involved in the process.

Where appropriate, Ictis can work collaboratively with community groups, volunteers, local historians and organisations to develop projects that reflect the interests and experiences of the people connected to a place.

Projects can be designed to encourage participation, gather local knowledge and create resources that remain useful to the community after the project has finished.

From Research to Public History

Every project begins with research.

Ictis combines historical investigation with clear writing and interpretation to transform evidence into something that people can understand, explore and enjoy.

Whether you’re planning a small local history talk or developing a larger heritage project, we can help take your idea from an initial question through to a finished public-facing resource.

Have a History Project in Mind?

Perhaps your community has a story that deserves to be told.

Perhaps you want to explore the history of a building, create a heritage trail or develop an exhibition.

Or perhaps you simply have an idea and aren’t sure where to begin.

Get in touch to discuss your project.