Website Created To Document Garden Village Centenary Year

A website has been created to commemorate Garden Village’s centenary anniversary.

Gardenvillage100.co.uk was designed by Vicar Richard Hainsworth, from St. Margarets Church in Garden Village, who volunteered to create a website to document the centenary events.

Developments for the village began at the start of the 20th century with the intention to provide affordable housing to those who worked in the coal and iron industry.

Vicar Hainsworth said: “There was debate about the centenary year. Do they go from when the first house was built or when the first stone was laid down?

“However it has been here since before the first world was so we are in the right time frame.”

Planning for the website began last year, however production did not officially begin until January of this year.

Vicar Hainsworth said: “There are so many different events being held and with the website, they can all be shared over social media.”

Over the course of the two weeks a number of events will be held around the village to commemorate the occassion, including a parade, a fete, concerts from local school choirs and a treasure hunt.

The celebratory events will begin on June 30 with an opening service at Bethel Presbyterian Church.

In the Garden Village Institute there will be a special an art and history exhibition, which will feature artwork from local artists and Garden Village photos from 100 years ago. The photos will be showcased next to their modern equivelant, which were taken by Vicar Hainsworth.

A photo book full of images from the area has been designed by Cllr Andy Williams, and will be available for purchase from tomorrow.

Local schools are also involved in events with Wats Dyke and Rhosnesni School choirs performing a concert at St Margarets Church and Community Hall on July 7.

Vicar Hainsworth said: “The schools are all very excited about it all. Wat’s Dyke Primary School has been doing a lot of local history lessons, and Acton and Rhosnesni have also been very involved.”

For more information on the centenary year or for information on how to get involved with the celebrations, then please visit: http://www.gardenvillage100.co.uk/