Shildon’s historic Railway Institute, almost as old as the railway itself, celebrated this year’s upcoming two-hundredth anniversary of the opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway by staging a free public exhibition at the weekend which focused on Shildon’s people.
The exhibition showed how important they were to the success of the four railway companies that had engineering and railway operating divisions in the town between 1825 and 1984.
The special one-off event was opened at noon on Friday 27 June by the Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, Dame Sue Snowdon, in the presence of two classes from Timothy Hackworth Primary School, who were treated to an opening speech before exploring what was on show.
Dame Sue also stayed to greet a class from Thornhill Primary. The exhibition remained open until 10pm each day, right through until Sunday.
Entitled Shildon: Blood, Muscle and Bone, the exhibition, curated jointly by the Institute committee and volunteers, Shildon Heritage Alliance, local volunteers from the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and local history enthusiasts, Alan Ellwood and Paul Tweddle, also shone a reflective light other aspects of everyday life in Shildon across the generations.
From education to faith, sport, music, employment, the war years and many celebrations held throughout the years, all were celebrated.
Additional exhibits, adding to the overall atmosphere, were contributed by Shildon Town Council and Locomotion.
Fifty-two of the photographs in the exhibition had been enhanced and blown up on huge wall displays, complimenting a collection of larger visuals already created for last year’s exhibition on the Shildon Works.
The main hall at the Institute, usually the scene of parties, dancing and concerts, was on this occasion quite literally packed to the rafters with thousands of faces of Shildon folk from across the generations.
Almost everyone who visited found old friends or family members from times gone by among the sea of faces.
For some it was quite an emotional reunion with faces they had not seen for many years, and for others it was a reminder of times gone by as they came face to face with their younger selves.
As well as photographs there were many other items, documents, letters, postcards, objects, musical programmes, books and models that revealed different aspects of Shildon life across the generations, which combined to form a remarkable spectacle.
A spokesperson for the exhibition organising committee told the Crier: “We specifically wanted to mark the railway bicentenary with an event that had a unique Shildon flavour to it.
“Museums across the region this year will be showing people a lot about the technology story, and about the Stephensons, and the Pease family.
“When the railway opened, Shildon didn’t have sufficient wealth or influence for the town’s name to feature in the name of the railway company.
“But the town gave the railway companies something else that they depended greatly upon for success – the blood, bone and muscle of people that operated the railway in the early years, and those who built and repaired locomotives, and later thousands of wagons.
“Their blood still flows through the lines of Shildon families today. It is something we knew we should celebrate.”
As well as local visitors, the exhibition attracted folk from far flung places including London and Newcastle.
The Railway Institute asked the Crier to help convey a special thanks to the Shildon folk who went along to enjoy the exhibition and the team’s hard work.
Shildon & District's local community newspaper.
