A NEW book linking the past and present of Lymm through photographs is now on sale.

Lymm Heritage Centre has taken to the internet to promote its latest project.

Double Take is a new take on local history books.

Lymm Photographic Society first approached the heritage centre with the idea of a joint project in early 2019. The result is a book that sets pictures of people and places in old Lymm alongside modern equivalents, organised and taken the by the Photographic Society.

“It’s been quite a challenge” said the project’s instigator, Carol Sparkes who is involved in both groups.

“The Heritage Centre threw down the gauntlet with more than 40 images that included everything from brass bands and butchers to boy scouts and bishops.”

Project completion was made even more difficult with Covid-19 lockdown in March. “Reproducing a scene with the Bishop of Chester outside St Peter’s Church, Oughtrington was possibly the most demanding” Carol said.

“But when the current bishop was found to be unavailable Father Michael Burgess contacted a previous bishop, Frank Sergeant, who was happy to oblige.”

“This was never meant to be a Covid related project.” explained Heritage Centre chair, Alan Williams “but it has inevitably had an impact and gives another dimension to the book.”

As well as the photographs themselves the book is packed with stories and reminiscences, many of them gathered from the popular Lymm Memories facebook group.

The book has already been selling well via the Centre’s online shop lymmheritageshop.co.uk

It is also now on sale at Lymm Post Office and, from December 3, at The Heritage Centre itself and local gift shop Ruby & Harry’s.

All profits from the book and all the other products sold by the Heritage Centre shop go to the Centre charity to help to sustain it through these difficult times.