A FASCINATING collection of pictures capturing the history of Holmes Chapel has been compiled to preserve the heritage of the village.
The precious archive of more than 800 images will be unveiled at an exhibition in Holmes Chapel Library om Tuesday, November 9 and Saturday, November 13, from 10am to 12 noon.
Group of children around 1910
Residents can bring along old photographs to be scanned and uploaded.
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The archive is the culmination of three years’ work by the Local History Group of the Holmes Chapel and District U3A.
Servicemen at the military hospital at The Hermitage
John Clowes, who led the project, said: “Photographs can bring the history of a place and its people vividly to life.
"Now that all our images are on phones and computers and rarely printed, there is a very real risk that the photographic story of our village, both present and future, could be lost as computers and phones are replaced.
May Day parade 1906
"My colleagues, Val White, Bryan Taylor and the late Alan Perrin set out to create a permanent home for a wide range of photographic images showing how life in Holmes Chapel has changed over the years.
David Elks and family 1916
"Alan Perrin was instrumental in providing the specification for the archive, but sadly died before the work was completed."
The archive is available free online and was created by village website designer Matt Whalley.
The wedding of Gertrude Millward and James Thomas
Photographs have been organised in topics so people can search for specific images on topics such as agriculture, buildings, education, events, green spaces, industry, newspaper clips, people, street scenes and transport.
May Day carriage 1920
Val White, leader of the Local History Group said: “We hope that the community will find the archive a great resource and fun to explore.
Shops on The Square around 1910
"We hope people will also add images which they think will be of interest in the future."
Maypole dancing 1910
Members plan to give talks on some of the interesting photographs in the coming months and explain how to use the website.
Pryce and Haydn Williams at Williams Grocers in 1999
Val added: "It is hoped that this may be of interest to other local groups who may also have photographs to share.”
The living archive will grow as more events become history in the making.
To see the pictures visit holmeschapelphotos.co.uk
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