Time Warp to the Anglo-Saxon era

Visitors to Hartlepool's Historic Quay will be able to step back to Anglo Saxon times - thanks to the new Northumbria Heritage Virtual Reality exhibit, created through a partnership between Hartlepool Council and the University of Teesside's Virtual Reality Centre.

The Virtual Reality Exhibit will be launched at the Conference Suite, Hartlepool Historic Quay, Hartlepool on Tuesday, 13 June 2000 at 10.30am. The Media are welcome to attend.

The £1.1m time-travel project has attracted major financial support from the European Regional Development Fund and is predicted to start a Virtual Reality revolution for the region's tourism and heritage industry.

Visitors will sail in a coble boat leaving present-day Hartlepool, where a mist rises and envelops the traveller. Upon emerging from the mist you are 'virtually' transported back to 684 AD.

Apart from boosting the number of visitors to the Historic Quay, the new VR exhibit will help the region's heritage industry by demonstrating the potential of Virtual Reality. Future projects include a VR model of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which will act as a showpiece for the celebrations in Shildon to mark the 175th anniversary of the historic railway.

Janice Webster, Director of the University's VR Centre said: "The success of this project is due to the enthusiasm and collaboration of all concerned and the desire to use Virtual Reality to make our heritage real."

For more details contact Joanne Harris, Heritage Officer at the University of Teesside's VR Centre on 01642 384305, fax 01642 384310, e-mail j.l.harris@tees.ac.uk

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