A dedicated model-maker is helping to ignite memories of life in a different time.
A dedicated model-maker is helping to ignite memories of life in a different time.
Richard Crossley, 51, is meticulously putting together a miniature model of the Ship Yard area of North Walsham.
It takes him about 90 minutes to complete one of the 45 cardboard buildings needed for the display.
The Ship Yard area, behind the church, was demolished in the 1960s and is now the St Nicholas Court precinct.
Mr Crossley said: 'I have always liked building models and I'm interested in architecture that is no longer around.
'I thought that if I could recreate this area as a scale model, 4mm to 1ft, it would bring some black and white reference photos to life.
'I started off with an Ordnance Survey street map, and got access to about 50 old photos, mainly from the 1930s. Where I could I have made buildings accurate, but certain areas don't have so much detail.
'A lot of people remember that area. There were a lot of yards in North Walsham at that time. They were mainly named after pubs and there was a Ship Inn in that area.
'While some people remember those days with fondness there wasn't any electricity and just outside loos.'
Starting just before Christmas, Mr Crossley hopes to have the model finished by Easter.
It will be about one square metre in size and he will donate it to the North Walsham Information and Heritage Centre in Vicarage Street.
Mr Crossley, who works as a graphic designer, added: 'I have enjoyed it a lot. I would like to tackle other areas, so if anyone wants an area brought back to life, get in touch.'
He had access to many photographs from the North Walsham Archive Group, and he bought one online from Australia.
'It was an aerial shot of the town taken by a biplane in about 1930. I don't know how it ended up in Australia,' he said.
Mr Crossley and wife Paula run their own firm, Rocket Design, at their home in Yarmouth Road, North Walsham, and have two children, Maisie and Jim.
Mr Crossley has asked for anyone with any old photographs or memories of living in the area to e mail him at scalemodels67@gmail.com
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