INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED artist Stuart Semple is bringing his Marvellous Memory Machine to Bournemouth town centre from Friday May 14.

It is a major new project aimed at preserving local memories and takes the form of a Victorian bating hut.

Stuart is working in collaboration with Bobby’s, the resurrected iconic former Debenhams department store, as part of a shared longer-term commitment towards local history, community, arts and culture within the region.

The hut is set to tour the local area as soon as Covid restrictions allow and it will first appear in Bournemouth town centre May 14-28.

Members of the public can interact with it online from today and people with memories of Bournemouth are invited to visit marvellousmemorymachine.com where they can record their video stories, with the option for them to be shared on social media.

Locals are invited to visit the Memory Machine in person in The Square from Friday and to take a moment to add their memories of the town. Shortly after this initial residency, the artwork will tour the local community, from schools to care homes.

Stuart said: "There are so many incredible local stories. I’m fascinated by all the old photographs that are circulating online. I hope that my art project will result in a video archive of local memories and it’ll be a way to build a bridge between the older and younger generations."

Stuart was born in Bournemouth and is a former student of Bournemouth and Poole College.