Visitors to the historic Cornish town of St Ives will be able to relive moments from the past at the exact place they happened with a new iPhone application.
The Walkabout St Ives app, launched by West Cornwall-based Awen Productions, uses a mixture of archive film, photographs, art and local stories to guide users on a storytelling trail using their phone or iPad.
The novel idea also includes commentary from local artist Naomi Frears and fifth-generation fisherman Christopher Care, who share their memories of living and working in the resort.
Barbara Santi, of Awen Productions, said the archive film, much of which is from South West Film and Television Archive footage, dates back to as early as 1904.
She said: "The archive film brings to light moments in history located around the town. Seeing these old images in the exact place where they were taken long ago, transports you back in time.
"Weaving through the St Ives' streets, you discover how men used to pull the lifeboat along Wharf Road before machinery, what the harbour looked like when fishing was a thriving industry, how people in the 30s used to live in Downlong, and much more."
The app is designed to be used in two ways. The walkabout mode is described as a heritage trail, using a visual guide and GPS map to steer users to each location. It is also possible to go on a virtual tour from the comfort of your own home.
The project was supported by the Memory Bay Oral History Project partners in St Ives, South West Film & TV Archive and Penlee Gallery.
Janet Axten, from St Ives Archive, which is one of the Memory Bay partners, said: "It is very exciting to see images and sounds of St Ives, collected over the years and saved for future generations, being made available to a very wide public. There is a great deal of interest in the town and its history and we are always looking to work in partnership with other organisations."
Walkabout St Ives is available for iPhone and iPad for £1.99. For more information visit walkaboutapp.co.uk
