Discover the Invisible Worlds App
- Last updated:
- 22 December 2022
Invisible Worlds is an exciting new digital installation research project at Alderley Edge until June. The project is a collaboration between an interdisciplinary team of researchers led by the University of Birmingham, aiming to tell the stories of this special place in a new way.
Getting up and close with the Invisible Worlds App
Launched in January 2023, the Invisible Worlds app can be used at Alderley Edge by visitors, as well as allow people around the world to remotely explore the magic of Alderley Edge.
Through their smartphones or tablets, visitors and users will be able to explore Alderley Edge with augmented reality wizards, knights, and white horses appearing throughout the landscape, as well as specially commissioned soundscapes providing an atmospheric background. Perhaps most excitingly, users of the app can also explore mines underneath Alderley Edge from their own homes.
The app has been produced for the Invisible Worlds research project, which is led by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with the Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London, and the University of Lincoln.
Dr Victoria Flood, the principal investigator on the project, said: “The Legend of Alderley Edge – of the wizard, in search of a single horse, who watches over an army of subterranean sleepers – is of great significance for our understanding of the legendary history of Cheshire. We are excited to bring this new experience of the Legend to life.”
But the app is not just about wizards and horses. Users will be prompted to share their responses to the Legend and the versions of it that they are familiar with. The research team will use this information to write a crowd-curated history of the Legend, tracing its contemporary life.
Rachel Thomas, National Trust general manager for the Cheshire Countryside, said: "We hope that it will give people the chance to see the Edge in a new way and add some extra magic to their visits. We're also really excited that users of the app will be able to experience the stories of Alderley Edge digitally, even if they're unable to visit us in person."
Now it’s your turn to be the storyteller...
Share your legends of Alderley Edge through the Invisible Worlds Augmented Reality app.
For more information on how to download the app and any queries or troubleshooting, please visit the main website for the Invisible Worlds Project. You can also visit their YouTube channel for more insights and behind the scenes information.