Hyndburn Park Primary School is the second school in Accrington this year to learn about the history on their doorstep through a bespoke film. Developed and produced as part of the Heritage Lottery funded Town Square project, the film, “Amazing Accrington” uses a combination of film shot in July 2016, archive images and animation to bring to life Accrington’s rich heritage, famous people and achievements.
The film begins with the contribution to the global textile industry of Frederick Gatty, and the children take centre stage in Gatty Park, Frederick’s former home, just five minutes’ walk from the school. Here they’re shown playing with fabric dyed in the colours which Frederick Gatty helped to invent – Turkey Red and Khaki.
Hyndburn Park’s Deputy Headteacher, Saiqa Tabsim, said: “We have been really excited to be a part of the Amazing Accrington project. The film is AWESOME! Our children thoroughly enjoyed taking part. The cameraman really captured how happy and smiley our children are.”
The film is supported by additional digital resources, session plans, and activity suggestions which support the school’s Geography and History curriculum.
Jess Ormerod, the school’s LKS2 team leader said:
“The teachers in the team have been very impressed with the quality of the film and just how much our children stand to learn about their town from it. We’ll be using the film and resources next half term in conjunction with a History topic on WW1, and we also have a unit of work called ‘There’s no place like home,’ which will benefit greatly from the resources. The Year 3/4 teaching team are really excited and looking forward to sharing Amazing Accrington with the children, parents and staff.”
From Gatty Park, the film charts the changes in the Accrington landscape over the last 500 years, before showcasing other famous Accrington achievers such as textile printer Robert “Parsley” Peel, Ron Hill, runner and textile chemist, and John Rex Whinfield, the inventor of Terylene. Viewers are then taken into the town centre along Blackburn Road, looking at more recent changes from the 1960s right up to the present day. Finally, children are invited to consider what changes they would like to see in the town.
Saiqa Tabsim, Deputy Headteacher, summed up the film’s legacy:
“Working on this project has been a great team effort and a real pleasure to be a part of. Ultimately, through this project, the children will have a much deeper understanding of their local area and the town in which they live.”
Cllr Clare Cleary, Cabinet Member for Accrington Town Centre, said; “it’s so good to see the pupils will be learning about the history of Accrington. These are exciting times as the restoration of the Town Square is now well underway. The restored town square will commemorate the sacrifice and bravery of the Accrington Pals and will be the centrepiece of a project which will also see the restoration of some of Accrington’s key historic retail and commercial buildings in the town centre.”
