(have a small plot of land at all times)

A collaboration between Matt Fratson and Joe Foster

Enclosure will trace the development of Hull as a city through underexplored layers of history, with a focus on the enclosure of common land beginning in the 12th century through to the establishment of rural parishes, farmland and meadows, and eventually the urban built environment.

We foresee a deep and winding practical case study that reflects where we have been historically and nationally in terms of land rights, and where we are now in a society dominated by privatisation - including that of data and access to knowledge.

In 2027, a series of walks and gatherings will aim to unlock our perceptions of the word ‘heritage’, and the extent to which people consider their own personal and family histories as belonging to the story of a place. Exploring the parallels between art and archaeology through creative interpretation, we’ll work with people in 5 key areas of the city where remnants and vestiges of historical land use can be seen through maps and archival material from Hull History Centre, and physical objects excavated from the ground in collaboration with Humber Field Archaeology. We will be asking the question of how we might stop a city from forgetting it’s own past.