The Barons Hall in 1917 at Brancepeth Castle, when it was used as a hospital during the First World War
VILLAGERS have been awarded lottery funding to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.
Brancepeth Archives and History Group has received a grant of £8,600 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to commemorate the centenary of the conflict.
During the war, Brancepeth Castle, near Durham City, served as a hospital for wounded soldiers.
As part of the village’s commemorations, the castle will host an exhibition which will give local people a better understanding of what wartime life was like for residents.
Members are now searching for photographs, documents, letters and keepsakes to illustrate how local people came together and the sacrifices families made.
Archives group secretary Vivienne Lowe said: “The events will enable people from the village and surrounding area to come together to preserve the memories and heritage of those who lived through the First World War.
“We will be encouraging and facilitating research by local people of all ages into a variety of aspects of life at the time and the impact of the war, including the history of the men who died and how they are commemorated by a memorial.We will also revisit the hospital wards which were set up in the castle with the help of the then owners.”
Work on collecting information and how to undertake research will begin with a talk in the village hall by staff from the Durham County Records Office, and lead to a two-year programme of lectures, displays and exhibitions which will be recorded in the village’s computerised archives and two booklets.
