Frodsham & District Local History Group
Extensive Photographic Archive to be digitised for easy access.
Thanks to a £29,000 grant from Heritage Lottery Fund, Frodsham and District Local History Group’s collection of some 8,000 images dating from 1850 is to be digitised and the entire catalogue and a selection of 300 images will be accessible through the National Archives A2A website.
From an original desire by the Group to conserve and store the collection for future generations the project has grown considerably and will involve local teachers, school children and finally an exhibition.
Working closely with Paul Newman at Cheshire Record Office enabled the Frodsham project to become one of 16 similar projects organised by National Archives. The original images will eventually be properly stored at Cheshire Record Office where appropriate security and environmental conditions will ensure their long term preservation.
The extensive archive began when hundreds of images collected by local historian Joe Barker came into the possession of Frodsham & District Local History Group. Since then a vast number of historic photographs, prints, postcards and negatives have been given to the Group by local residents.
The collection provides a comprehensive photographic record of the area over time and has recently been used by Vale Royal Borough Council in the creation of the popular interpretation boards in the village, and also to help with accuracy in the successful restoration of Castle Park House.
Some of the grant will be used to second a teacher to develop learning materials linked to the National Curriculum at Key Stage 2 using the digitised images. This will enable local children to learn about the history and heritage of Frodsham through the photographic collection. The children’s work will be part of the final exhibition.
The grant also allows the purchase of a digital camera so that volunteers can capture the constantly changing environment of the area, the images to form part of the final exhibition which will interpret a selection of the photographs, setting them in a historical context bringing information about their local history to the community.
Mrs. Maggie Jones, Chairman of Frodsham & District Local History Group said, “At last with the Heritage Lottery grant we can go ahead with the long term preservation and conservation of our wonderful images and ensure that they will be available to a much wider audience.”
The group received a congratulatory letter from Mike Hall, M. P. for Weaver Vale giving his support and wishing the group well in its work on the Project.
President of the Group, Sir Alan Waterworth, K.C.V.O expressed his delight at the award of the grant.
“I would like to congratulate all those who have worked so hard to secure this Heritage Lottery funding which is going to make ‘Old Frodsham’, our vast and unique collection of photographs, available to people all over the world,” he said.
Thanks to generous donations from the public and various grants, enough money was raised to enable the Woodland Trust to purchase and maintain Frodsham Hill Wood. Work is currently being undertaken by the Trust to preserve and make safe several trees and footpaths.
The group was formed in 1980 and now has a membership of approximately 70.
Our interests range from the local history of Frodsham and District to the wider aspects of history reflected in the topics covered by our monthly meetings.
Over the years the group has published many books and pamphlets covering the local area. These are available at Castle Park Arts Centre.
MEETINGS
These take place on the first Monday of the month from September to July at 7.45 p.m. at Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham.
Annual Subscription is £3, - £4 for couples. Visitors are welcome - £1.50 per meeting.
Further information is available from -
Chairman: Mrs Maggie Jones - Telephone 01928 722556
Secretary: Mrs. Pam Hall - Telephone 01928 733783
frodsham@cheshirehistory.org.uk
2 “Frodsham in Prehistory” by John Adams.
3 “The Roman Road” by W. R. Hawkin.
4 “Medieval Frodsham” by W. R. Hawkin.
5 “A History of Castle Park” by W. R. Hawkin & N. Duncan.
6 “The Port of Frodsham” by W. R. Hawkin.
7 “The Chester Turnpike” by W. R. Hawkin.
8 “A Hill Afire!” by Neville Kiernan.
9 “The History of Schools in Frodsham” by Arthur R. Smith.
10 “Frodsham in the Civil War” by W. R. Hawkin.
12 “The Rev. William Charles Cotton” by Arthur R. Smith.
12 “Frodsham and the Railway” by W. R. Hawkin & Neville Kiernan.
13 “The Sutton Tunnel Accident 1851” by W. R. Hawkin.
14 “Frodsham Soul Caking Play” Bob Rogers.
1 5 “Two Frodsham Notables - Jos Martin & Jos Kydd” by A. R. Smith & Trevor Smith.
16 “Made in Frodsham - the Swan Motorcycle” by W. R. Hawkin.
17 “By-pass A56 Now! - The HAFRAC Campaign” by W. R. Hawkin.
1 8 “The Helsby Story - Part I – Beginnings” by W. R. Hawkin.
19 “The Helsby Story - Part 2 - Conquest & Plague” by W. R. Hawkin.
20 “The Helsby Story - Part 3 - John Wayne/Helsby” by W. R. Hawkin.
21 “The Helsby Story - Part 4 - Quarry Tramway” by W. R. Hawkin.
22 “Castle Park Arts Centre - Courtyard Gates” by W. R. Hawkin.
1 “Discovering Old Frodsham.” New Edition 2002. Price £1.50
2 “Discovering Castle Park.” Price £1
3 “Discovering Mersey View”. New Edition 2003 Price £1.50
4 “Discovering Old Helsby”. Price £1 All plus 45p P&P
Short interesting walks round Frodsham for children aged 7-1 1 and their families.
All books and pamphlets available from:- Castle Park Arts Centre, Castle Park, Frodsham in person
By post from - Mrs. Pam Hall, Hill Rise, Carriage Drive, Frodsham. WA6 6EA
One of our members has, in her personal keeping, two bound copies of the Frodsham Parish
Magazine containing Dec 1879, Nov 1880, Jan 1895 and Dec 1895. These can be viewed by arrangement – contact Mrs. Pam Hall.