History officially came alive this weekend as the highly anticipated Our Heritage in the Pavilion exhibition celebrated its grand opening, writes Sue Reece. The brand-new heritage centre, located inside the beautifully restored and repurposed pavilion, marks a massive milestone for the community, preserving decades of local memories and stories for generations to come.
To officially launch the public exhibition, a very special ribbon-cutting ceremony took place, headlined by the figures who embody Chilton’s social history. Stepping up to do the honours were lifetime residents, famously known as the “lads” from the iconic Chilton photograph.
Benny Hewitt, Derek Slater and Barry Shaw reunited to officially declare the pavilion open. The historic black-and-white photograph—which captures the group of lads sitting on the wall outside the old Regal Cinema—has long been a symbol of Chilton’s tight-knit youth culture. The image has gained a new wave of local fame after recently being printed onto custom commemorative t-shirts, making the trio’s appearance all the more poignant.
Before the public rush, a special private preview evening was held to honour the funders, sponsors, volunteers, local contractors and trustees whose tireless dedication helped to make the project a reality. The evening was a moving tribute to those who laid the foundations for the exhibition. Among the guests were the families of the late Brian Turner, who generously donated Brian’s extensive personal archive to the pavilion, Norman Allaker, Sam Hartnell and Clipper Dunn. Deeply rooted local families were well represented across the event, including those of footballing legend Charlie Wayman and his brother Frank, multiple generations coming together to celebrate their shared history and see their family legacies beautifully preserved.
The response from residents has been amazing with over 500 visitors through the doors over the opening weekend to get a first glimpse of the transformed space. Attendees spent hours exploring the various offerings of the new site: visitors praising the structural updates that have brought the historic community building back to life; Locals eagerly searched through archival records, tracing family trees, identifying old faces in group photos, and looking back at the town’s industrial and social evolution. The brand-new café area proved highly popular, serving as the perfect backdrop for guests to sit down, enjoy a refreshing drink, and catch up.
Beyond the physical archives, the opening served as a living history event. The atmosphere inside the pavilion was electric with nostalgia, as hundreds of long-time residents met up with old friends they hadn’t seen in years. Voices filled the room as stories were shared and laughs were echoed. The community spirit was palpable as several visitors even brought in some of their own old family photographs and historic keepsakes to contribute directly to the growing archive collection.
Plan Your Visit
“Our Heritage in the Pavilion” has already cemented itself as a vital cornerstone for the town. Whether you are looking to research your family roots, catch up with neighbours, or simply enjoy a quiet coffee, the pavilion team is ready to welcome you.
The Pavilion Exhibition Centre will initially be open during the following hours:
Thursdays: 3pm–7pm
Saturdays & Sundays: 10am–4pm
With the hope to extend these opening hours in the future as they expand their numbers of passionate volunteers.
If you are interested in getting involved or planning a visit, be sure to pop along during opening hours or contact Cllrsreece[@]chiltondurham-tc[.]gov[.]uk for further information.
Sue Reece
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
