Whaley Bridge’s window into the past

A Whaley Bridge community centre has provided a window into the past by launching a heritage room with an archive of more than 2,000 old photos.
Town council chairman Martin Thomas congratulates George Hill on the new photo archive room at the Footsteps Centre, Whaley BridgeTown council chairman Martin Thomas congratulates George Hill on the new photo archive room at the Footsteps Centre, Whaley Bridge
Town council chairman Martin Thomas congratulates George Hill on the new photo archive room at the Footsteps Centre, Whaley Bridge

The collection at Footsteps, on Market Street, has been curated by town resident George Hill and his daughter Alison.

George used to run a shoe shop from the same premises until his retirement now over a decade ago.

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The idea of a heritage room was first raised at the Footsteps annual general meeting as a way of diversifying the use of the top floor computer room, for which demand has been in decline.

The facility, the first facility of its kind in Whaley Bridge, opened on Monday.

Some of the photographs are exhibited on the walls of the room and the rest are available through the PCs. There will also be a volunteer on hand to assist.

Visitors can browse the photos at their leisure, while drinking a cup of coffee, and print off copies for a small charge. Postcards are also available for purchase.

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The room, which is run by the Whaley Bridge Community Trust, is open from 10am to 12pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays and 10am to 4pm on Thursdays and Fridays.

Footsteps was set up as a community drop-in centre by Whaley Bridge churches and volunteers with grants from the Countryside Agency and the Big Lottery Fund. The heritage room was funded in house, but grants may be sought to obtain further exhibition materials. Donations and suggestions for future exhibitions are welcome.