Altrincham Heritage

A key project has been the digitising of photographs, post cards, negatives, ephemera, plans, maps and publications, many of which are unique. The items have kindly been loaned by local people and Societies, ranging from a few precious snapshots, through to significant boxed collections, such as those of Douglas Rendell, Basil D. Morrison and Ian Gee. The majority of images have been professionally digitised by House of Images as high-resolution TIFFs for large scale reproduction, with browsing JPEG versions. Where relevant, the back as well as the front of an item has been scanned, in order to provide clues as to the date and subject, or because of its own historic merit. Born-digital images have also been donated, which will provide snapshots in time for the future.
 

All of this ensures the preservation of the material for future generations, and with the agreement of the owners, can be shared widely via exhibitions, publications, talks and the internet.

(2010 to the present)

Young artists aged between 10 and 16 from G-Force in Timperley, took their inspiration from past photographs of the area and created a fine array of artworks, giving colourful twists to the original images. These were put on public display at Queenie Mumbles Cafe in Goose Green, Altrincham in an exhibition curated by their art teacher Hazel Berrisford.

(April to December 2010)

Enlargements of colour postcards dating from the early 1900s were put on show in an empty shop window on George Street, Altrincham. They depicted the people, transport and shops of the town in former times.

(October to December 2010)

A full-sized papier-mâché model of Lady Penelope, Countess of Stamford in Edwardian dress was featured at Altrincham Library. It was covered in a decollage of black and white historic photos and maps of the time. The model was made by youngsters from the G-Force community group guided by artist and teacher, Hazel Berrisford. It was accompanied by a display of photos from the Altrincham Area Image Archive called ‘The Home-Coming’, depicting the grand return of the Stamford family to Dunham Massey Hall in August 1906.

(October to November 2010)

Capturing the memories and thoughts of keen and engaging observers of their times through oral history recordings, is a project which will be ongoing. The ‘Voices of the Altrincham Area’ (VOTAA) recordings will be lodged with the Greater Manchester Sound Archive. Volunteers were trained in the skill of successful interviewing by the North West Sound Archive in Clitheroe, sadly wound up in 2015.

In addition, a collection of cassette tapes recorded in 1980 of interviews with local Altrincham people, born between 1885 and 1905, has kindly been loaned to the project and digitised.

(2010 to the present)

Printed versions of the historic Plans and maps and selected photographs have been laid out on tables for the public to explore on several occasions, including the NSPCC Bowdon Open Gardens; Bowdon Conservation Group AGMs; a visit from Leicester English Local History Course at Bowdon Church; Altrincham History Society and Bowdon History Society talks and Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society AGMs and talks. Additionally, stands displaying the material and information about the Heritage of the Altrincham Area projects, took place at events like Trafford 50+ and Trafford Local Studies’ Road Show and Local and Family History Fair.

(2010 to the present)

Photos from the Alrincham Area Archive have also featured in several Heritage Statements submitted as part of Planning applications, helping to set the scene or aid in the much welcomed restoration, refurbishment and reuse of historic buildings. Examples include St. Anne’s Home (1837 – 1899) and the Grade II Listed Station Buildings (1905) and Altrincham Market House (1879).

(2010 to the present)

Volunteer National Trust guide and local historian David Eastwood, has undertaken free guided walks of the town centre. As they proved so popular, Manchester Guided Tours now provide regular themed walks in the town and surrounding areas.

(2012 to the present)

Whether just a few select photos or an entire illustrated talk or slide show, the Altrincham Area Image Archive has shared its collection widely at local venues and events.

(2010 to the present)

As founder members of its parent organisation Civic Voice, Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society took part in the first ever National Civic Day in June 2011. Market gazebos were set up on Shaws Road in Altrincham town centre, with the historic plans and information on new building developments on display. Civic Society members undertook a questionaire on how to improve the town from the viewpoint of shoppers and visitors. The success has been repeated each year since, with various themes including ‘Sharing Our Streets’ in 2012 and the ‘Culture of Altrincham and Bowdon’ in 2013.

(June 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015)

The prize-giving for the successful exhibition of artwork based on historic images took place at the Greenhouse vegetarian restaurant on Oxford Rd, Altrincham. There had been 244 votes cast by people for their favourite individual artwork from the exhibition. The overall winner was Hannah Thacker, with her painting ‘Stamford New Road – Vista to the Clock’.

(June 2011)

In June 2010, founder of community arts organisation Art with a Heart, Karen Wroe, helped revitalise the town by setting up displays in the old Chisnalls cafe on Shaws Road in Altrincham, owned by Trafford Council. After a small taster heritage display in October, a much larger exhibition took place with free entry, featuring sepia and colour historic photographs; local bottles and china and all the printed historic maps and Plans.

(December 2012)

Young visitors to the Heritage exhibition and at other venues, had the chance to design their own shield, featuring the things that were important to them or they felt symbolised their lives or aspirations. The activity came out of the creation of Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society’s logo by Native Studios, which features a shield displaying its key campaigns.

(December 2012 to March 2014)

In May 2013, Art with a Heart moved into a spacious new exhibition space with free entry on Norman’s Place in Altrincham, owned by Neil Myerson. The ‘Heritage of the Altrincham Area’ section had a wall area, display cabinets and a large table for visitors to peruse local history books and the maps and plans. Slide shows and historic artefacts complemented each art exhibition, for example ‘Working with Wood’ had a display about the cabinet makers of Altrincham and ‘Celebrating Textiles’ had a slide show of fashions over the decades.

(May 2013 to March 2014)

As part of the Altrincham Arts Festival which took over empty shop premises, professional photographer Geoff Crossley set up a studio to take free portraits of visitors and shoppers. He asked the sitter to record their thoughts about the point in time the photo was taken. A selection of historic portrait photos was also on display.

(October 2013)

In June 2014, a further relocation by Art with a Heart, the organisation which inspires the community through art and heritage took place to the central location of the old SuperDrug store. The Heritage section of Plans, maps and books moved too and now also features changing displays from the likes of South Manchester Archaeological Group (STAG), the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester and photographers of the local scene. There is also a selection of historic artefacts. It is open Wednesdays to Sundays, 10am to 5pm, with free entry and easy access.

(2014 to 2016)

The Altrincham Area Image Archive has supplied images for Trafford Council’s five recently published Conservation Area Appraisals which make up Altrincham (The Old Market Place; Stamford New Road; George Street; Goose Green and The Downs). The up-to-date and detailed Conservation Area Appraisals, with contributions from local Civic and Conservation groups, will ensure better understanding, appreciation and protection of these vulnerable areas. The associated Management Plans have been out for public consultation.

(2014 to the present)

Artist Stella Corrall was provided with historic images and maps for inspiration and content for her artwork in the waiting area at the new hospital on Railway Street. It was the result of public engagement which brought out the theme of community and a sense of place. 

(2015)

This handy, well-illustrated and informative booklet, written by local historians Judith Miller and Sue Nichols, provides a history and tour for residents and visitors. A map of the historic pathways is on the back cover. It is available freely from the Bowdon Church, the Parish Centre, nearby businesses, Altrincham Library and Art with a Heart. A digital version can be found on the Local History Publications page.  

(2016)

In 2016, the popular and award-winning art and heritage centre staffed by dedicated volunteers, moved to 24 Stamford New Road, opposite the transport Interchange. Along with art and craft activities, the Altrincham Heritage maps, plans, local history library and displays of historic items could be explored. In June 2018, the move was made to Chapel House on New Street and due to that site being due for redevelopment, just before the first Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020, 123 George Street became the new home of Art with a Heart.

(2016 to the present)

As part of the Hidden Studios initiative, photographer Geoff Crossley took photos of the town centre matching the locations exactly with historic views from the AAIA. He then deftly merged them together to create one image. They appeared throughout the town including Art with a Heart, where there was also a complementary display of the original images. A larger format image is on permanent display inside the highly successful Market House.

(July 2016)

The likely closure of Saint John’s for repurposing, which was predicted to be at the end of 2016, prompted the digitisation of the church’s archive of photographic material, which was kindly loaned to us by the vicar and pro-active churchwardens. As a result, a detailed exhibition covering the 150 years of the church’s history was held within it, created by Stephen Birchall, with an accompanying brief guide to the features written by Sue Nichols. Digital versions of these can be found on the Local History Publications page. In addition, the Facebook page of Saint John’s features many of the photos. 

(August to December 2016)

Altrincham Heritage’s concept and design for this website were brought to life initially by B60 and subsequently by Compass Computers, Kidderminster. The palette has been inspired by the paint colours revealed and reinstated during the refurbishment of Altrincham’s historic Market House in 2014, revitalised as a highly successful food, drink, market and entertainment venue.

A small but dedicated team of volunteers gradually prepared the vast amount of content for the complex website, then had the task of uploading it all.

(2010 to the present)