Peterborough’s history in pictures goes hi-tech

It wasn’t so many years ago that if you wanted to find an old photo of your hometown or city – it was a case of trawling through endless slides at the local library.

Now however, most things can be found at the touch of a button thanks to the Internet. So, it seemed fitting for city-based IT communications specialist – Remark Group – to support a local website dedicated to unlocking the key to Peterborough’s pictorial past!

Called simply peterboroughimages.co.uk - the website is home to hundreds of archive images of the city, and has grown into providing local people, newcomers to the area and Peterborough schools with a valued learning and information tool.

The website was set up originally in 2005 by professional wedding photographer Paul Young, who moved to Peterborough in 1976.

Paul has developed the website from his home office over the years, with an increasing number of people now sending in their images of Peterborough – some from as far away as Australia.

Closer to home, it has captured the imagination of Remark Group director Michelle McCallum – herself a Peterborian – who’s company has teamed up with Paul to sponsor the site to secure its immediate future.
Michelle said: “I have been so impressed by the content and depth of information from this website that I was delighted through Remark Group to support it through sponsorship, particularly as I have business and personal roots in Peterborough.

“It is a great educational and fun tool, even just to browse through to see what certain parts of the city used to look like – a wonderful insight.”

Paul said: “I’m delighted to have the support of Remark Group – a Peterborough-based company with an interest in the city, its past, present and of course its future.

“As a professional photographer, I was always fascinated by old photographs of the city and in particular trying to identify locations as they look today and comparing the two.

“Over the years, I have been inundated with old images kindly donated by viewers of the original site and I found many more old images of my own.

“The site is there to educate and entertain Peterborians - current and former - who have maybe forgotten how the city used to be, or maybe never even knew of some of its past.

“I have had feedback from a number of primary schools who have used the site in classwork - which particularly pleases me - and I've heard from many an exiled Peterborian from as far away as Australia who have enjoyed viewing their old haunts and who have added invaluable information to the site.”

To view the site or to offer images for use, visit peterboroughimages.co.uk.