Site interpretation

Jordans, Buckinghamshire

Simon Jenkins, in England’s Thousand Best Churches, describes Jordans Meeting House as ‘the Quaker Westminster Abbey’. Built in three months in the autumn of 1688, Jordans is one of the first Quaker meeting houses built after James II issued his Declaration of Indulgence in 1687, which allowed Quaker and other non-conformist groups to worship lawfully for the first time. Jordans is of international significance, being the burial place of William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. Abound were appointed by the trustees to enhance the visitor experience. To address the diverse audience, we produced a range of media, including:

• outdoor lecterns and graphic panels
• an introductory film and digital signage
• interpretation panels around the interior of the building
• a flexible hanging system for temporary exhibitions
• a multimedia guide for use on visitors’ own mobile devices

Abound have worked collaboratively with the client team, guiding them through the process, and have produced text and interpretation guidelines to help shape the exhibition content. Meanwhile, the design follows the Quaker house style, which reflects their values of simplicity, truthfulness, and inclusivity.