Chester House Estate is a nationally significant heritage site in North Northamptonshire, with evidence of thousands of years of human activity.

Before opening to the public, the Estate was undergoing a major transformation from a largely derelict site into a new heritage, learning and visitor destination. One to One Development Trust worked closely with the small on-site management team during a crucial period in the Estate’s development, helping communicate the ambition, complexity and public value of the project as it moved towards opening.

Our role went beyond documenting the restoration. Through film, website content and digital storytelling, we helped shape and communicate the emerging public identity of Chester House Estate before its future was fully visible on the ground.

The work required sensitivity, imagination and close collaboration. Chester House was not yet known as a visitor destination, and much of the challenge was to help people understand its significance, its ambition and its potential. The films and website translated a complex regeneration project into a clear and engaging public story, connecting archaeology, landscape, buildings, community use, education, events and long-term vision.

The storytelling focused not only on what was being restored, but on what the Estate could become: a place for learning, discovery, gathering, heritage, wellbeing and public enjoyment.

By working alongside the team as the project developed, we were able to capture key stages of change, build anticipation ahead of opening, and support public understanding of the Estate’s value. The films played an active role in driving awareness and confidence in the Estate’s development. They helped make progress visible, gave stakeholders and funders a clear sense of momentum, and supported the case for continued investment in a large-scale heritage regeneration project.