AN exhibition of Hannah Hauxwell items has been extended to at least Christmas due to popular demand.
The exhibition at the Fitzhugh Library, in Middleton-in-Teesdale, was only planned this summer to coincide with Heritage Open Days but there have been so many visitors that it will carry on.
Ms Hauxwell, who was made famous through an ITV documentary series in the 1970s that covered her solitary farming lifestyle in Baldersdale, left many of her belongings to the volunteer-run resource library after her death last year.
These include documents held by her family for generations, such as school books, greetings cards, publications and certificates. There is even a gas mask kept by her mother during the war years.
Many of these are on display during the exhibition.
Library volunteer Cath Maddison said: “We had 141 people in the five days [of the Heritage Open Days event] and since then we have had a steady stream of people coming in. What we are trying to emphasise is this is not just Hannah, it is Hannah’s heritage. We have things that date back to her great-grandad. We have stuff about the world war – there are letters from family in London writing about the bombing. It is a complete slice of British life, particularly dale life.”
Some of the items date back as early as the 1830s and provide a fascinating insight into the upper dale. Ms Maddison said many people who had popped in to have a quick look at the exhibition have ended up stayed for hours engrossed in the material and artefacts. The library, which is located above The Village Bookshop, is open every Monday and Tuesday, except bank holidays, from 10.30am and 2.30pm.
The exhibition is free, but donations are welcome.
