Reminisce at Facades of the Fifties

Release date: 02.06.08
Ref: BBC/PR/11/R&D/08

If you lived in Berwick in the 1950s or have ever wondered what the town looked like then don’t miss out on Facades of the Fifties which is taking place this weekend.

Over Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 June exhibitions and events will be taking place spotlighting the town as it was over 50 years ago.

Taking place at the Guild Hall, Berwick-upon-Tweed between 10am and 4pm on Saturday and 11am and 4pm on Sunday there will be a photographic exhibition of Berwick shop fronts taken in 1959 showing what businesses existed at the time.

Artefacts from the era will also be on display and a number of old films taken in Berwick in the 1950s will be show including Fred Stott’s cine films of the Queen’s visit, Richard Dimbleby’s film 1950 and the tercentenary visit of the Coldstream Guards 1950. There will also be a local history bookstall and refreshments will be available.

Borough Archivist Linda Bankier said:
“Come alone to Facade of the Fifties and discover what Berwick-upon-Tweed was like over fifty years ago. You’ll be amazed at how different Marygate and the other shopping streets looked compared to today. There’s only a handful of businesses still operating today which were around at the time.”

The event is free and has been organised by Berwick-upon-Tweed Record Office and Berwick Borough Museum and Art Gallery.