.

Damaged and Treasured Photographs.

After participating in a few Family History events during 2005, it became increasingly obvious that there is a growing market for restoration of photographs both old and new.We were approached by a number of people who asked if we could provide this service at a reasonable cost – and the answer was yes, we can.

The result was a number of very happy people, especially an American gentleman who has since recommended us to his friends, and a few coppers in our funds.We offer this restoration service for damaged and faded photographs, and can produce a new photograph and return your original undamaged with a quick turn around at a reasonable cost.

The Church Of St. John The Apostle.

In March 2002 the Society was loaned a very old and tattered photograph of St John’s Church, Shildon which was taken around 1870 (identified by dates and positions of headstones)which shows the Church in its original form, before the widening of the building and the rebuilding of the bell tower.
The photograph has been completely restored by the Society using computer technology to produce a photograph as good as the original was when new.
The person who was kind enough to loan us the photograph was given a copy of the new one as well as having the original returned.

This is the only known photograph in existance showing the original Church building – now preserved for future generations of Shildonians.

More photographs have come to light recently including one of Byerley Road taken in 1905 before Timothy Hackworth School and the Friends Meeting House were built.