"Meanings and symbolisms which people attach to places, and how these can - and should – be struggled over, are all important issues".
Doreen Massey, ‘Space Place and Gender’ Polity Press 1994

Words, images, people, sounds, ideas, history, our perceptions of a place are complex constructions.  What shapes your idea of the North of England could be built up from a mixture of personal and collective associations. A place’s history, architecture, how it is represented in the media - on TV, radio, in newspapers, in the arts, by comedians, in film, literature, for its politics, its economy; these are influences that can shape a place. The flat cap, cobbles, pies, whippets and other clichés of the north are hopefully in the past. Obviously there are some associations which we have no control over, the weather for example, but what and who shapes the north now, and is it fixed? Can we discuss anywhere as being ‘other’ or ‘different’ anymore or are we living in a globalised society where our towns and cities are merging into one? Can we construct and control meanings and symbolisms of a place and do they become its identity?

Over the course of 29 days Bryan and Laura visited towns and cities across the North of England. Use the website and case studies in this section to consider what shapes the north now. Places of specific subject interest in the blog are: Day 2 in Scarborough; Day 15 at Park Hill; Day 16 at The Working Class Movement Library in Salford; Day 18 at Chimney Pot Park; Day 19 at the Midlands Hotel Morcambe; Day 22 in St Helens.

Go to Discussions and Activities for more debate in this area. Feedback your ideas in the Wonderful North Forum.