A beautiful and informative book containing over 120 of my original images has just been published following the practical completion of the first phase of Luton’s regeneration of its former ‘Hat District’.
I was commissioned by The Culture Trust, Luton from 2017 to 2022 to document the 5-year refurbishment, regeneration and transformation of a number of run-down former hat-making factories into vibrant creative workspaces, whilst retaining their important industrial heritage.
Visiting periodically, in liaison with the project team as various stages took place across the 3 main sites, I was allowed unfettered access to the buildings, both inside and outside as scaffolding allowed.
As I explored the spaces, alongside the more formal recording content of certain fixed perspectives, I was given a free rein to express the content, detail and nature of each space as I wished and the work taking place. This enabled me to observe not only the buildings in their widest space and location, but down to the finer details in the build and materials as they were and as they became, with all the stages of transition in between.
This body of work is now part of the permanent heritage archive to show how the built environment was cared for and reused.
The more abstract interpretations were curated into a series of prints by expert Matthew Shaul to form an exhibition known as ‘These Walls Tell Stories’ which enabled the public to visit and see the work. A series of limited-edition prints are available here alongside a signed copy of the book with a limited-edition print here.
This latest book has been written by The Culture Trust Luton’s Chief Executive and driving force behind the project, Marie Kirbyshaw, along with Heritage Officer Elise Naish, to tell both the heritage story of these hat factories and also the journey of the spaces and their future worth to the local creative community and beyond.
To see my work illustrate this story so extensively and lavishly is a real pleasure.
(All Images on pages below ©ShaunArmstrong)
