Walking heritage: Mapping a city's hidden history

Walking Heritage: Mapping a City's Hidden History

Dr. Carmen Levick from the University of Sheffield’s School of English has created an immersive walking app that turns Sheffield’s streets into a living historic trail. The app utilizes landmarks, images, and music to reveal previously untold stories of the city’s past communities.

Uncovering Personal Stories in Urban Heritage

European cities such as Sheffield are known for their rich cultural heritage and diverse populations. Yet, the personal histories of the communities that shape these inclusive, multifaceted spaces often vanish from official records. These narratives typically emphasize common identities rather than the unique experiences of individual groups.

The Risk of Losing Unique Community Voices

Focusing only on shared identities tends to marginalize distinct voices. As a result, the histories, struggles, and achievements of particular communities risk being overshadowed, reduced to minor notes rather than key parts of a city’s overall story.

Research on Heritage, Memory, and Identity

“Official histories influence how individuals see themselves, and a community’s legacy can be traced through the built environment, even when that community is no longer visibly present.”

This insight drove Dr. Levick’s research, which examines how heritage and memory shape identity and how the physical cityscape preserves the legacies of former communities.

App as a Tool for Rediscovering History

The walking app aims to reconnect residents and visitors with Sheffield’s layered past by highlighting stories that are often overlooked, making history more inclusive and personal.

Author’s summary: Dr. Levick’s walking app revitalizes Sheffield’s hidden history by uncovering forgotten community stories through landmarks, emphasizing diverse identities beyond official narratives.

University of Sheffield — 2025-11-02