A TREASURED collection of photographs chronicling everyday life in a cluster of North-East mining communities has been digitalised for future generations to enjoy.

History enthusiastic Matthew “Eddie” Pike spent years collecting old photographs of the Trimdons in County Durham, amassing almost 800 images before his death in May.

He was keen for the collection to be available to fellow Trimdon residents for years to come and entrusted the photographs to Trimdon Station Community Centre.

The Northern Echo: Front Street in Trimdon Grange in 1915
Front Street in Trimdon Grange in 1915

The Northern Echo: Danny Fidiam outside his shop in Rodwell Street, Trimdon Colliery, in the 1950s
Danny Fidiam outside his shop in Rodwell Street, Trimdon Colliery, in the 1950s

The Northern Echo: The wedding reception of Mr and Mrs Seymour at the Comrades Club in 1936
The wedding reception of Mr and Mrs Seymour at the Comrades Club in 1936

The Northern Echo: Katherine (Kitty) and Richard (Dick) Kell opened the now Foundry Fish Shop in 1933
Katherine (Kitty) and Richard (Dick) Kell opened the now Foundry Fish Shop in 1933

The Northern Echo: The line to the old pit in Trimdon Station. The railway opened for goods in 1837 and passengers in 1846. It closed to passengers in 1964 but remained open for coal until Trimdon Grange pit closed in 1968
The line to the old pit in Trimdon Station. The railway opened for goods in 1837 and passengers in 1846. It closed to passengers in 1964 but remained open for coal until Trimdon Grange pit closed in 1968

The images, which span from the late 19th century to the 1990s, provide a visual history of Trimdon Village, Trimdon Grange, Trimdon Colliery, Trimdon Station and Deaf Hill, portraying residents at work and leisure.

Football team photographs, school pictures and family portraits and celebrations can also be found.

An exhibition is planned for next year and over the last few months Trimdon Station resident Ken Craggs has been busy scanning each image to create a digital archive on his website, trimdontimes.co.uk

Derek Bradley, manager of Trimdon Station Community Centre, said: “It’s wonderful to have the photographs here, especially as that is what Eddie wanted. The fact we have created a digital archive will make them easy to access.

“I’m not from Trimdon but I feel very much part of this community through my work at the centre. It’s important to celebrate and preserve the heritage of the area.”

Mr Craggs, who was born and bred in Trimdon Station, said it had been interesting looking through the photographs and seeing how each community had changed over the years.

“There are lots of places I recognise from my childhood,” he said. “I started Trimdon Times 13 years ago as a place to share old photographs so I have come full circle.”

The digital archive will be launched on Friday, October 16 and CDs have also been created and will be available at the library and the community centre’s IT suite.

Mr Bradley said: “We are appealing for anyone with old photographs of the Trimdons and Deaf Hill to get in touch as we would love to add them to the collection.”

To find out more, contact Mr Bradley on 01429-882200 or call into the community centre in Station Road East.