A major revamp of a Huddersfield museum is under way.
Volunteer members at Colne Valley Museum have almost completed the massive task of packing up the many collections and archives so that the building work for their Heritage Lottery Fund project Sustaining the Dream can commence.
And in doing so they have unearthed something of a mystery.
Now they want Examiner readers’ help in trying to decide who, what and where is depicted on a photo.
Sorting out and packing up the contents of the Edwardian clog-maker’s shop at the museum proved a challenge when literally hundreds of boxes of clog clasps, toe plates and heel plates – each carefully wrapped in paper – all had to be assessed.
The museum volunteers still demonstrate clog-making but realised they had a huge surplus of equipment, so this has been passed onto a clog maker in a National History museum in Wales.
But whilst sorting out all the tools and documents relating to clog-making the volunteers came across a photograph – which has ‘Walkleys’ pencilled on the back but no other information.
Anne Lord, a member of the Collection Team said, “We have been given a lot of old clog making tools and equipment from the Walkley family, who have long been associated with the museum.
We know Frank Walkley had premises in Huddersfield, after his war service in the late 1940s, but have no idea where/when this photograph was taken.
“A clog placed centrally on the floor in the picture suggests it may have been used for publicity purposes, but this is only guesswork. Another clue is the pair of crutches leaning against the wall – presumably one of the cloggers was disabled in some way. Does anyone know who it might have been?
“We hope an Examiner reader may be able to help. If anyone has any information could they please email me on annelord@colnevalleymuseum.org.uk or leave a message with their contact details on our answer phone and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
The Museum was told in February they had a confirmed grant of £719,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for their “Sustaining the Dream” project.
The community heritage project is run entirely by its volunteer members and the intention is to renovate and refurbish the four weavers’ cottages which house the Museum and create a period bedroom, so that an entire 19th century weavers’ cottage, with a living kitchen, wash cellar and a loom chamber, can be explored by visitors to this hidden gem.
