The Caerphilly county borough’s museum, The Winding House in New Tredegar is appealing to local people to help with its new exhibition.
The exhibition, ‘The Pictures and ‘The Stute’ – Nights out in the Valleys’, will focus on the golden era of entertainment, exploring local dance halls, Institutes (‘the ‘stute’) and the Picture House.
Local people are being encouraged to come forward if they have any stories to share, or any photographs or objects which they would be willing to loan or even donate for the exhibition.
Many towns and villages across Caerphilly county borough used to have its own cinema, dance hall or miners’ institute, which would be busy on Saturday nights as local people sought entertainment after a hard week at work.
Big name stars like Roy Orbison, The Drifter and Tommy Cooper would draw crowds to the Double Diamond Club in Caerphilly, while local cinemas would show a variety of films throughout the week.
Workmen’s Halls such as the Newbridge Memorial Hall and Institute were also the setting for nights out.
The Winding House would be delighted if people would like to share their memories of those times, not just photographs, but objects relating to entertainment in the past such as programmes, theatre tickets, old records and even any glad rags from Saturday nights out!
The exhibition will open on the Spring Bank Holiday, Monday 30th May and will continue for 12 months.
The last exhibition at the Winding House on sport was very well supported, with over 7,000 visitors so far. The success of that exhibition wouldn’t have been possible without the generous loans and donations of many personal family items.
If you would like to loan any objects or photographs for the exhibition – or if you have stories or memories of entertainment in the past you would like to share – please contact Emma at the Winding House on 01443 822 666 or email [email protected]
For further information on the Winding House, please visit www.windinghouse.co.uk
