CINE films recorded almost a century ago in Teesdale were the inspiration for a new exhibition at the Fitzhugh Library, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, for this year’s heritage open days.
The films were recorded by former Darlington resident, Frederic Carl Birkbeck, a keen fisherman, in 1932, and donated to the Fitzhugh Library by his daughter Irene a year ago.
Volunteer Kath Maddison said: “We took the films to the North East film archive at Teesside University to see if we could get them converted to DVD. They said it would take about a year.
“But they got some good news with funding and the films are now in DVD format.”
The black and white films, titled Glimpses of Teesdale and A Ramble To Mickle Fell – provide a rare view of the dale almost a 100 years ago.
Ms Maddison added: “The one that started the display idea was A Ramble to Mickle Fell as it includes Grains O’Beck pub in Lunedale.”
Fellow volunteer Derek Sims decided to dig through some of the visitor books, which had been kindly donated to the library along with a treasure trove of historic photographs, sales particulars and show posts by Margaret Dent.
Mr Sims said: “Curiosity got the better of me and I went looking to see if Frederic had signed the visitor book. It was a slow process as the oldest book dates back to 1902. He had several times, along with his father, brother and possibly his fiancé.”
The exhibition, A Ramble Through Teesdale, links people, places and events starting with Frederic Carl Birkbeck and Grains O’Beck, Everest explorer and photographer Bentley Beetham, who was a teacher at Barnard Castle School, through to fellow master and artist Douglas Pittuck.
Ms Maddison said: “We have got dates to when Frederic went with his friends and his family to make the films and we will also set up a computer so anyone wishing to see them can watch, but they are available on the internet through the North East Film Archive.
“While Derek was researching, he also found Bentley Beetham was a regular visitor to Grains O’Beck.
“Following his first visit to Grains O’Beck after the Everest expedition in 1924 Bentley wrote: ‘After six months in the Himalaya, Mickle Fell has lost none of its charms’, which we just thought was lovely.
“Given it’s the 100th anniversary of that expedition we thought it was quite apt to have Bentley in the display.”
The exhibition will include photographs, news clippings, books, sale and show posters from sheep shows as well as historic maps, visitor books and original works of art.
The Fitzhugh Library will be open daily from Friday, September 6 until Tuesday, September 10 as part of this year’s heritage open days between 10am and 3pm.
The display will remain on show afterwards when the library reverts to its normal opening times of Monday and Tuesday between 10.30am and 2.30pm, excluding bank holidays.
