Photographs capturing everyday life in Wensleydale during the 1940s will go on display in Leyburn next month.
The Garden Rooms at Tennants will host an exhibition of work by Leeds photographer Harold Bryce Thomson, featuring images of village and farming life, local people and familiar Dales landmarks.
Entitled Harold Bryce Thomson: Photographing Wensleydale, the free exhibition will run from October 6 to November 1.
Thomson, who lived from 1896 to 1981, developed a close connection with Wensleydale during the Second World War after three of his children were evacuated to Redmire.
He and his family became regular visitors during and after the war and developed friendships with artist Fred Lawson and other artists associated with Castle Bolton.
Although Thomson worked as a trichologist, photography became an important part of his life and reflected his interests in history, Yorkshire and the people and places around him.
The majority of photographs in the exhibition were taken in and around Wensleydale during the 1940s.
As well as scenes of farming and village life, the collection includes portraits, photographs of Thomson’s children and images of local landmarks, providing a record of the area during a period of significant social change.
Thomson went on to become president of Leeds Camera Club and was a member of the Royal Photographic Society. He also exhibited his work and gave lectures on photography.
The exhibition has been created from a much larger archive of around 480 glass slides taken by Thomson.
Following the exhibition, the archive itself is due to go under the hammer at Tennants Auctioneers.
The collection will be offered in the Books, Maps & Manuscripts Sale on November 25 with an estimate of £300 to £500, plus buyer’s premium.
Harold Bryce Thomson: Photographing Wensleydale will be free to visit and open daily at The Garden Rooms at Tennants in Leyburn.
Further information is available from The Garden Rooms at Tennants.
