The Bay Tales Book
Introduction to the Book
Photograph by Ania Grom –Yoncali |
Bay Tales is a collection of stories that record and celebrate many aspects of life in and around Morecambe Bay. All sorts of people with a connection to this special area of conservation have written stories about what The Bay means to them. Some of the stories emerged from workshops held in a variety of locations; others came from visitors to Lanternhouse in Ulverston who recorded their words which were later transcribed; still more were attracted by word of mouth.
The story tellers are of different ages and backgrounds and their words
reflect a wide variety of interests and experiences over many years.
Memories of childhood and work feature strongly, enjoyment of the beauty
of the landscape and its wild life is a recurring theme, and a great
respect for the power and treachery of the tides frequently emerges.
Each tale has its own particularity but together they create a fascinating
patchwork that conveys a real sense of place.
 Photograph by Ania Grom –Yoncali |
Bay Tales is part of Longline, Welfare State International’s three year project, a community artwork that explores the mythology, ecology, people and industries of Morecambe Bay.
Longline has generated performances, installations, photographs, lectures, exhibitions, songs and poetry that will culminate in the spring of 2006 with a Carnival Opera. Some of the personal stories from Bay Tales have already been used as source material for these different art works but we hope that they will stand alone in the book as an intimate record of a unique place, based on the truth of people’s own contrasting experiences rather than assumption or stereotype.
Special thanks to the Arts Council of England and the Heritage Lottery for the financial support without which Bay Tales would not have been possible.
Credits
Project Director: Gilly Adams
Photographer: Ania Grom-Yoncali
Book Design: Ania Grom-Yoncali, Steve Sharp
Illustrator: John Fox
Story Gathers: Gilly Adams, Sue
Gill, Linda Graham
The Bay Tales book is published in a limited edition of 100 and has been made available to the storytellers and libraries and centres in the Morecambe Bay area. It is not for sale.