Castle Vault
Through Minds that See the World Differently
The Projection
Curated by Beth Macey-Macleod, this projection explores how Southampton has changed and evolved over time. Inspired by historic maps and archive material – including the Southampton Terrier of 1454 – it traces the shifting layout of the city and its walls, revealing how boundaries, routes and spaces have been redefined across centuries.
Created with members of Southampton’s neurodivergent community, the projection weaves these historic layers into a metaphor for different ways of experiencing and making sense of the world.
* For the duration of City Reflections, Southampton City Council will open the Castle Vault to the public from 6–8pm each evening. No booking is required.
Find this show
Castle Vault, Western Esplanade, Southampton, SO14 2EQ
what3words:
///cared.trader.legend
The Castle Vault
This projection sits on a surviving section of Southampton’s medieval city walls, part of the defences built and developed from the early 1100s, when the town was growing into one of England’s most important ports. At that time, the shoreline lay much closer than it does today, and water once reached the base of the western walls near this location.
Directly behind the wall is the Castle Vault, the largest and one of the oldest vaults in Southampton. Built in the late 1100s as the King’s private wine cellar, the vault was designed to store large wine casks brought into the city through trade and royal levy. Its thick stone walls and barrel-vaulted roof kept the space naturally cool, making it ideal for preserving wine.
Over the centuries, the vault has had many lives, including use as an air-raid shelter during the Second World War.
Access Notes
The projection at the Castle Vault is viewed from outside, on the medieval city wall along Western Esplanade near Westquay. Viewing takes place outdoors and is step-free, though ground surfaces may be uneven in places.
Inside the Castle Vault, access is level and the entrance opens directly from a pedestrianised area south of Westquay. The door width is 1.35m at the narrowest point. The floor inside the vault is uneven and damp, and may be slippery in places.
Harbour Parade Car Park is the closest public car park to this location.
British Sign Language (BSL)
A British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter will be present at each projection location every evening from 6–8pm for the full duration of the projections.
Audio Description
Listen to an audio description of this projection, created to support blind and partially sighted visitors. Audio descriptions offer a spoken overview of the visual artwork and key moments within the projection.
audio description
Curator and Community Spotlight
Beth Macey-Macleod was the Community Curator for the Castle Vault, working with members of Southampton’s neurodivergent community on the theme of city maps and city walls.
Through collaborative discussion and creative exploration, the group reflected on historic maps, routes and boundaries alongside their own lived experiences of navigating the city. Their insights highlight how urban spaces can feel ordered, overwhelming, comforting or confusing depending on how people process information and move through the world.
This collaboration brings forward perspectives that are often overlooked, inviting audiences to see Southampton through minds that experience the world differently.
Beth
Macey-Macleod
Archive Spotlight
Name of spotlight item
Credits
Produced by:
Southampton Forward, in partnership with Southampton City Council
Creative Partners:
Double Take Projections and Light Up Trails
Supported by:
Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Collection Credits & Copyright:
Archive Material from Southampton Cultural Services
Paul Carter Photography
For images or other media from the collections held by Southampton Cultural Services, great care has been taken to identify all copyright holders correctly. Where copyright is unknown, or credited incorrectly, we welcome any information that might lead to the copyright holder. In cases of errors or omissions, please contact [email protected] so that we can ensure images are correctly credited in future.
Script & Narration:
Voiced by Beth Macey-Macleod alongside contributors from the neurodivergent community. The script was developed collaboratively through the project.
