The hidden years of North Devon’s history will come alive through the memories and images preserved by local people. By exploring the Beaford Old Archive alongside the Ravilious and Deakins collections, we hope to uncover connections, continuity, and transformation over time.
Local Stories from the Old Archive
Here are glimpses into the everyday life of 1880s -1940s Atherington preserved in the Beaford Old Archive. These images, often overlooked, capture the spirit, resilience, and transformation of the community during the Lost Decades.
Do you recognise a face, a place, or a story in these photographs? We’d love to hear from you.
To help us make the most of your contribution, you can browse the information we already have here: [Download PDF]. This helps us add new context and fill in the gaps.
If you can offer anything extra: a name, location, date, or memory, please include the image reference number (beginning BOA) when you share it with us using the form [here].
Threads Across Time
These threads trace a visual conversation between the Old Archive and the celebrated collections of James Ravilious and Roger Deakins. Each pairing reveals how the landscape, people, and daily life of Atherington have evolved, connecting past and present in striking ways.
We’re now looking to fill in the missing decades. If you have photographs taken in or around Atherington between 1945 and 1971 that echo these themes we’d love to see them. Contact us [here] to discuss sharing your images at an event near you.
You’re also invited to explore the images above and within the Ravilious and Deakins archives to discover more recurring threads and themes. If you find something that resonates, share your image selections and stories with us [here].
All images are from Beaford Archive: The Lost Decades, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (Public Domain – CC0 1.0)
Through the memories and imagery of our community partners, The Lost Decades project reconnects us all with the hidden chapters of North Devon’s visual history.
Beaford Archive:The Lost Decades is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players they support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Their vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, their industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. They believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past
With thanks to Dartington North Devon Foundation for their continued support.