Celebrating memories of Teesside’s industrial heritage

Teesside’s rich industrial heritage will be celebrated in an exhibition being unveiled in a gallery steeped in the region’s history of ironworks and steel-making.

The Memories of Industrial Teesside exhibition is a collaboration between Teesside University’s History department, the Teesside Industrial Memories Project (TIMP), the North East Film Archive and Python Properties.

The exhibition of photographs and archive footage is at the Heritage Gallery, based in a historic industrial building on Middlesbrough Road which was once the home of the Cargo Fleet Iron Co Ltd and British Steel in Middlesbrough.

The Cargo Fleet Offices building which houses the Heritage Gallery was reopened in 2011 after being restored by Python Properties.

Photographs in the exhibition are from three publications produced by TIMP, which formed in 2004 to collect personal recollections of working in Teesside’s heavy industries.

The archive footage comes from the North East Film Archive, housed in the Constantine Building at Teesside University.

Exhibition curator Dr Natasha Vall, from Teesside University’s Centre for Regional and Local Historical Research, said: 'The Centre’s historians were first involved in helping TIMP put together a book celebrating life at ICI Billingham and we continue to work together in communicating and documenting our significant industrial heritage.

'The exhibition provides a vivid portrait of the reality of working life in the world-leading centre of heavy industry. The exhibition also coincides with the anniversary of 40 years of History being taught at Teesside University.'

The Memories of Industrial Teesside exhibition is open from May 10 to May 24, 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

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