Everything is here, everything is near

Everything is here, everything is near was a extended residency within the Radburn designed “new town” community of North Bretton, Peterborough. Funded by Historic England, I, alongside writer/producer Alan Seiglow and historian Ian Waites, looked back to imagine forward. Archive images and quotes helped us all consider how progressive social, architectural and housing ambitions of Peterborough Development Corporation in the 1960/70/80s have played out.

In thinking on these things creatively we developed strong relationships with residents, produced new work and a publication showcasing much of the research and new work made. Every household received a copy along with a poster featuring a collected quote.

It was the end of January 2026 when I first visited Essendyke. A winter sun fought through the branches of bare ancient oaks lining the ‘road in’ from where many birds sang a joyful welcome. In fact it wasn’t just the birds. I was a newcomer, locals could tell, but they greeted me too with friendly voices. 

On subsequent visits, across several months, I’ve generously been told stories of Essendyke, Crofts Corner, Bretton Park… Be it the daily dog walkers, the long timers who came soon after construction completed or those arriving more recently, all have shared good memories as well as the challenges of living in a neighbourhood where cars were considered secondary and freedom, nature and community was foregrounded. 

In the late 60s the Peterborough Development Corporation was determined to do the best for the city, the best for its old and new communities, the best it could afford. We have, through this short project, seen the effects of those powerful ambitions. They reverberate along the pathways of the area. They echo through the actions and ideas of the individuals we’ve met. They live on in how you live.