Press play on the Sounds of the South West 

From sea shanties and local dialects to personal memories, the rich history of our region is now ready to be played. Hear it come to life online in newly available recordings. Discover the south-west’s diverse audio history on the new Sounds of the South West website.

Sounds of the South West is a National Heritage Lottery funded project, led by Bristol Archives but involving archives across the region, including Gloucestershire Archives, to digitise, preserve and share 8,000 historic recordings over the next three years. With the audio originally recorded on formats now at a high risk of deterioration, this work is vital to ensure the recordings can be listened to by generations to come. 

The new website offers an introduction to the project and the fascinating collections being preserved. Over the coming months, selected recordings will be made available online, giving everyone a chance to hear the voices, music and stories that have shaped the South West’s past.  

To get listening, visit Home - Sounds of the South West