A TALKING bench has been unveiled in a town centre so shoppers can find out the local history.

One of eight benches was installed at the Town Square in Great Dunmow as part of the 'You Are Hear: Sound and a Sense of Place' project.

At the same time, two interactive audio-video kiosks will tour public places, with a third installed at the Essex Record Office (ERO).

The three year, £276,800 project to digitise, catalogue, and make available many of the historically significant sound and video recordings in the Essex Record Offices’s archive.

The project is mainly funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Essex Heritage Trust and the Friends of Historic Essex.

John Spence, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Heritage, Culture and the Arts, said: “So often we rely on the eye to bring archives to life; creating this aural dimension not only lets blind people like me have the experience it actually immerses you in the sounds of the period, or place.”

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “This is a fantastic way for local people and visitors to get a sense of the history of these places, and what life was like for local communities over the years. We are delighted that, thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to fund this project to bring local history, and local benches, to life.”

To help out with the heritage tours contact info@essexsounds.org.uk or 033301 32467.