Front Street, Wheatley Hill
RESIDENTS of an east Durham community can now step back in time and see how their village has developed over the past century thanks to the hard work of local enthusiasts and support from their local wind farm.
Wheatley Hill History Club successfully applied for funding from the High Haswell Wind Farm Community Fund to update their website with history of the local area during the First World War.
This is a part of a larger project to mark the start of the war, to be launched next year.
Wheatley Hill History Club is the first group to benefit from High Haswell Community Fund, established with the development of the High Haswell Wind Farm.
The donation will support the development of an interactive map of the village, allowing website visitors to click on different areas of the map to see the streets, the houses, and the people during war time.
The club, which started in 1995, has published seven local history books but hopes that the updated and interactive website will help them reach a younger audience.
Club chairwoman Margaret Hedley said: “We are thrilled to receive this funding from the High Haswell Community Fund to commemorate the beginning of the First World War and the impact it had on Wheatley Hill.
“We hope to engage more local people to learn more about the rich history of the village.”
Operator REG Windpower donates £16,000 per year to support good causes in the local community.
County Durham Community Foundation administers the fund, and a panel of local people decide which applications are most deserving of support.
To learn more about the history of Wheatley Hill, visitwheatley-hill.org.uk or follow them on facebook.com/wheatley.hillhistory and on Twitter @WHHC1.
The next meeting to award grants from the High Haswell Community Fund is on January 14.
Anyone with an idea which could be eligible for support, should visit County Durham Community Foundation website at cdcf.org.uk.
