Heritage-Led Wellbeing Experiences at Broughton Sanctuary
In this pilot project at Broughton Sanctuary in Skipton, North Yorkshire, we aligned the estate’s rich heritage with its emerging vision as a centre for wellbeing to establish a 3–5 year heritage investigation programme that anchors the past in the present. Read on to discover more.
Bridging past and present at Broughton Sanctuary
There is growing recognition of the powerful role cultural engagement can play in supporting both individual and community wellbeing - maintaining and even enhancing mental and physical health while deepening our connection to a place. In response to this, we have developed a Heritage and Wellbeing Model, which has led to the creation of a bespoke toolbox for crafting tailored heritage wellness experiences for our clients.
As part of this initiative, we recently delivered a pilot project at Broughton Sanctuary in Skipton, aligning the estate's rich heritage with it's emerging vision as a centre for wellbeing. The goal was to establish a concept for a 3–5 year heritage investigation programme that anchors the past in the present - using storytelling, participation, and cultural exploration to foster a deeper sense of the Sanctuary and promote wellbeing.
- Client Broughton Hall Estate
- Location Broughton, Skipton
Exploring wellbeing through landscape and legacy
The pilot study focused on defining what wellbeing means in the context of Broughton Sanctuary, and explored how the cultural heritage of the landscape could form the foundation for immersive heritage experiences. Key discussions included ways to add value to existing business strands through heritage, review of existing wellbeing activities, staff-led open idea sessions, and strategies for integrating heritage into the Sanctuary’s broader operations.
Crucial considerations such as evaluation methods, funding opportunities, collaborative partnerships, accessibility, and delivery mechanisms for diverse audiences - locally and internationally - were central to the discussion process. This work culminated in the creation of a bespoke ‘Sense of the Sanctuary’ toolkit to guide the development of future heritage experiences.
An exploration of the variety of potential heritage experiences was summarised and illustrated in a dedicated delivery brochure. A high-level appraisal study of the estate’s historic environment was also completed and revealed a wealth of further opportunities for future exploration.
One of the key outcomes of the pilot project is the proposed development of heritage loops for the new Odyssey Trail for the Sanctuary. Designed to evolve over time, these 'loops' will be informed by ongoing archaeological and historical research. The 'loops' will enrich the visitor experience as they journey along the Odyssey Trial and could be integrated into both existing and new facilities in the future through a combination of physical and digital formats. Innovative technologies such as Projection Augmented Relief Models (PARM) and virtual or augmented reality could also be used to enhance storytelling and engagement.
If you know of anyone who might be interested in a similar project, then please contact our Heritage team.
