Penrith and District Camera Club during the Millennium year 2000 undertook a project to show changes in the built environment of Penrith. To do this they took colour pictures as near as possible to the locations of photographs taken around 1900. Recognising that the Millennium images are held by Penrith Museum as part of its archival records. They decided on a new initiative to record the rapid further changes in the built environment currently evolving. This led the club to launch in 2008 the Penrith Contemporary Archives Group.
The Archive Group is based upon the voluntary commitment of some fifteen members of the Camera Club. Each Archive Group member is allocated to a particular area of the Penrith and its immediate surroundings. Members use their high-calibre cameras and related photographic equipment, as well as their time, on behalf of the project.
The Contemporary Archives Group is assisted by a grant from Cumbria County Council. Their first exhibition is of collected material that has so far amassed of some hundreds of photographs. Those on display have been selected to demonstrate changes in many locations within Penrith. The panels of pictures with explanatory text are cameos of change in particular locations.
While the New Squares and Booths projects are perhaps most evident for the local population and those living in the hinterland of Penrith, as well as visitors, there are many other developments which have appeared, or are in progress, since the Millennium and examples of these are pictured in the exhibition with appropriate descriptions.
The 'Penrith changing' exhibition is intended to be the first of a series of exhibitions that will be exhibited from time to time as the Archives Group continues its important project to record Penrith and its evolution. Many will have mixed feelings about change, some welcome any change, some abhor what they regard as desecration of the long history of the town and ancient tradition and appearance.
The members of the Archives Group deserve thanks for their efforts in their work and in preparing the exhibition. Also included in the ‘Penrith changing’ exhibition in the display cabinets are a number of historical cameras, some of which are similar to those used for earlier records. There is also displayed is an album entitled ‘Historic Penrith’, loaned by a Camera Club member, Alistair Urquhart, with photographs taken in the 1980s.
Reproductions of some of the 1900s photographs are also on display in other cabinets. It is hoped that the exhibition will be of interest to all, from Penrith resident, regular Museum visitors, holiday makers, pupils from local schools and other organisations. They will find much of interest and there is scope for many projects and initiatives on the same broad theme. Viewing is free and those visiting will enjoy other exhibits on display in the Museum.
Exhibition runs from Wednesday 7 September to Sunday 9 October 2011.
Museum Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 10am - 4pm.
The museum's opening hours are the same as Penrith Tourist Information Centre.
Loan, donate or bequeath to Penrith and Eden Museum
Should you wish to loan, donate or bequeath any objects to the Museum the curators will only be to happy to receive them.
Museum Curators
Penrith and Eden Museum curators are available to answer questions on current and future exhibitions as well as any other questions concerning the museum and its collections:
- Contact: Dr Sydney T Chapman or Mrs Judith Clarke, MA AMA, Joint Curators,
- Address: Penrith Museum, Robinson School, Penrith CA11 7PT
- Telephone: 01768 865105
- Email: museum@eden.gov.uk
