MORE than 16,000 pictures detailing the heritage of a former Thornaby industrial company are to be made accessible online for the first time thanks to a £32,000 grant.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant will be invested into a project headed by libraries across Stockton borough, which aims to conserve and digitise historic images from Head Wrightson.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

Heavy load from the archives

The collection, donated by the company’s photographer Alan Simpson in 2012, details the work carried out between 1958 and 1978.

It includes hundreds of images of employees and social events, which are accompanied by descriptions, names and dates.

Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund the project will recruit and train volunteers to conserve, digitise and make these images available online.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

One of the archive

Councillor Norma Wilburn, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, said: “Thanks to the generous support from the National Lottery players we are thrilled to launch such a unique project which will capture our region’s industrial heritage and help people reminisce.

“Volunteers will play an important role in providing a fascinating visual insight into the culture of the company. I can’t wait to see this project develop and hope it brings back memories for those who lived and worked through these exciting years.”