Almost 200 Memories Received For Display In Dementia Friendly Facility

An appeal to the people of Warrington to share their old photos and stories to feature in a new health and wellbeing facility has generated almost 200 responses.

Culture Warrington's archives team has received 193 new pieces to add to their collections, including photographs, newspaper clippings and letters.

Some of the memories will be displayed in Great Sankey Neighbourhood Hub - one of the region's first dementia-friendly facilities - when it opens to the public this winter.

Philip Jeffs, archives and heritage officer at Culture Warrington, said: "The items we have received paint a fantastic picture of the development of west Warrington between the 1860s and 1980s.

"Amongst the images and memories gathered, we have obtained a great set of colour postcards showing 'Dreamland' - a minute-model village built outside Mr Monks' shop and bungalow on Liverpool Road in Great Sankey, now gone, but fondly remembered by generations of local children.

"We've also been able to capture memories and photographs of the Burtonwood Peace Camp from 1982 and many shops and cafes in the area, which no longer exist.

"The project has also allowed us to add new details to many of the images of west Warrington already in our collections. This was done through a combination of research in the archives and talking to local people."

The new hub, which will be run by LiveWire, will provide health and wellbeing facilities for residents living in the area, which has Warrington's fastest ageing population.

The charity has received a grant from Arts Council England to work with the community to display the memorable pictures and pieces of art throughout the building to assist with navigation.

They've trained up a team of volunteers to record peoples' memories and are appealing for residents to come forward who want to have their memories recorded digitally to add to the museum's collections.

Philip, added: "It doesn't matter if they were born in 1932 or 1982 or whether they want to talk about major events like the Second World War or just their memories of their own home whilst they growing up - we want more peoples' memories.

"Any memories are welcome, but we would love to hear about changes in the area - whether that be the arrival of the Americans during World War Two or the building of new housing estates in the 1970s."

To get involved, please contact Philip Jeffs, archives and heritage officer at Culture Warrington by writing to him at Warrington Museum & Art Gallery, Central Library & Museum, Cultural Quarter, Warrington, WA1 1JB, calling 01925 443023 or emailing pjeffs@culturewarrington.org