Zubr to develop 'Kenilworth Revealed'
We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Kenilworth Town Council, who have tasked us with developing a pioneering visitor experience to transform the town centre with cutting-edge augmented reality technology. The “Kenilworth Revealed” project will digitally reconstruct St. Mary’s Abbey, offering visitors an immersive glimpse into the Abbey as it stood in 1500.
Built in 1124 under the patronage of Geoffrey de Clinton, St. Mary’s Abbey was an architectural marvel that flourished for centuries before its dissolution by King Henry VIII in 1538. Today, only remnants of the gatehouse and guest hall remain. The Kenilworth Revealed experience will bridge the past and present by using interactive AR to bring the Abbey back to life, blending real-world surroundings with high-fidelity digital content.
We’re eager to develop a really exciting AR experience that will support the town’s tourism and local businesses, promoting Kenilworth as a vibrant and historic destination with an educational augmented reality offering that no one will be able to resist!
Bringing history to life with AR
As a leading AR/VR studio with a decade of experience, we are the perfect partners for this ambitious reconstruction. Having worked on world-renowned heritage sites, including the Athens Acropolis and Carrickfergus Castle, we’re confident we will deliver an experience that is both educational and engaging.
Using advanced 3D modeling and AR technology, Kenilworth Revealed will allow visitors to explore St. Mary’s Abbey as it once stood. Features of the experience include:
- Authentic Digital Reconstruction – A historically accurate 3D recreation of the Abbey.
- Immersive Audio – Gregorian chants and ambient sounds of daily life.
- Live-Action Reenactments – Real actors portraying the canons of St. Mary’s Abbey, engaging in daily tasks and religious services.
We are excited that the project is now underway and look forward to its launch in the autumn. This initiative will encourage greater footfall to Abbey Fields and provide a fantastic opportunity for both residents and visitors to engage with Kenilworth’s history in an entirely new way.
Councillor James Kennedy, Leader of Kenilworth Council
The vision for Kenilworth
Professor Alan Chalmers, Mayor of Kenilworth and leader of the Kenilworth Revealed project, commented: “We have already started collecting a wealth of historical reference material about the Abbey, all of which will help Zubr craft a historically accurate reconstruction of the site and its surroundings. The Town Council Steering Committee includes local residents, the Kenilworth Archaeology and History Society, Warwick District Council and English Heritage.”
Councillor James Kennedy, Leader of Kenilworth Council, added: “We are excited that the project is now underway and look forward to its launch in the autumn. This initiative will encourage greater footfall to Abbey Fields and provide a fantastic opportunity for both residents and visitors to engage with Kenilworth’s history in an entirely new way.”
Research is underway
Zubr Producer Amy Stewart shared our enthusiasm: “We’re delighted to be working with Kenilworth Town Council to reconstruct St Mary’s Abbey and its surroundings as they would have appeared in the 1500s. The Abbey Fields have such a rich history but today it’s hard to disentangle the late medieval site from the Victorian cemetery. The Zubr team will use augmented reality, 3D modelling and 3D capturing techniques to reveal these hidden layers, helping visitors travel in time and discover a new perspective of this beloved area. The AR experiences will be a powerful draw: encouraging greater footfall to the Abbey Fields and local businesses and providing valuable insight into the lives of the city’s previous residents.”
The project is now in full development, with completion expected in October later this year. Visitors to Kenilworth can look forward to stepping back in time and experiencing the grandeur of St. Mary’s Abbey like never before.
The project is funded from an HS2 Business & Local Economy Fund (BLEF) award and contributions from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Warwick District Council.
