Grantham Museum is inviting local people to step back into Grantham’s industrial past this September with a special weekend celebrating the history, machinery and people of Aveling Barford.
The Aveling Barford Industrial Weekend, taking place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, from 10am to 4pm, will bring the story of one of Grantham’s most significant engineering companies to life at Grantham Museum and on St Peter’s Hill.
Visitors will have the opportunity to see Aveling Barford machinery up close, discover how the machines were designed and built, and learn more about the people and communities connected to the company.
The outdoor machinery display will be complemented by displays inside Grantham Museum, featuring Aveling Barford-related objects, photographs and stories from the museum’s collection.
But the museum is also hoping that local people will help tell the story.
Do you have an Aveling Barford memory?
The museum is particularly keen to hear from former Aveling Barford employees, their families and anyone with memories of the company.
People are being encouraged to bring along photographs, letters, documents, memorabilia and personal stories connected to Aveling Barford.
Perhaps you remember working at the factory, have photographs of family members who worked there, remember the machinery and the people who built it, or simply recall the important role Aveling Barford played in everyday life in Grantham.
These memories can help the museum build a richer picture of the company and ensure that the stories of the people behind Grantham’s engineering heritage are preserved for future generations.
Viv Reichelt, Chair, Grantham Museum, “Aveling Barford is such an important part of Grantham’s industrial heritage, and we’re delighted to be able to bring some of that history to life for visitors through this special weekend. For many local families, the company was much more than a factory — it was part of the fabric of the town, providing employment, skills and memories for generations.
We’re particularly thankful to Ben Hobster for supporting the event and bringing along his Aveling Barford machinery for visitors to see. Having these machines here, alongside our museum displays and the stories and memories of local people, will really help people connect with the engineering heritage of Grantham. We hope the weekend will be a wonderful opportunity for former employees, their families, enthusiasts and the wider community to come together, share memories and celebrate this important part of our town’s story.”
The weekend is expected to appeal to a wide audience, from lifelong Grantham residents and former Aveling Barford employees to families, engineering enthusiasts, local history enthusiasts and anyone interested in the story of the town.
The event forms part of ‘A New Century’, a project supported by National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which is helping Grantham Museum explore and share the town’s changing history.
The Aveling Barford Industrial Weekend takes place at Grantham Museum, St Peter’s Hill, Grantham, NG31 6PY, on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September, from 10am to 4pm.
For more information about Grantham Museum and the “A New Century” project, visit www.granthammuseum.org.uk
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