THE much-anticipated launch of a vibrant and unique three-year project to digitise around 10,000 unseen black and white images from the extensive James Ravilious and Roger Deakins photographic archives and make these publicly available on a new searchable website will kick off with a number of drop-in events starting next month.

The project, entitled "Hidden Histories of Rural North Devon: Opening Up the Beaford Archive", which includes images from across the North and Mid Devon area, including some from the Crediton area, is being funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The first drop-in will take place in the Community Centre, High Bickington, from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, April 9.

Local drop-ins include Dolton Village Hall from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, May 7; Hatherleigh Community Centre from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, June 25 and at Chulmleigh Town Hall from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday, July 30.

A host of volunteering opportunities are on offer to assist with the digitisation, cataloguing, and preservation of the images, as well as the collection of oral histories from people with special insights into the photographs.

Locals and visitors alike are invited to attend the free events across the region to celebrate the launch of the project.

Formerly unseen images from the Archive collections will be on display, shedding new light on our local heritage, and allowing attendees to have a first glimpse at a small sample of the 3,000 plus contact sheets that will be published online later this year.

"Hidden Histories of Rural North Devon: Opening up the Beaford Archive" has been further supported by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Elmgrant Trust, Fullabrook CIC, Leader 5 Torridge and North Devon, and the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Alan Quick