A new photographic exhibition, This Is Winter, opens at the House of Manannan in Peel on Saturday 5 October.
This Is Winter reveals a snapshot of 1000 images selected from thousands of negatives which make up the extraordinary Manx Press Pictures archive now held by Manx National Heritage.
We’re normally used to seeing archive images of the Isle of Man during the summer months, This Is Winter celebrates the flipside of the year. Discover what life was like on the Island during the long winter months, from sink holes appearing in a Douglas street to snowstorms, controversial Christmas turkeys, drinks parties and pantomimes, all captured on camera by Manx Press Pictures.
Manx Press Pictures was owned and run by Island resident, Bill Peters. Peters was contracted to supply images for the Isle of Man Examiner and the Isle of Man Times. In 1964 he was joined by John Maddrell and between them they created a fabulous photographic legacy.
The photographs on display all date from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s and a further 1000 This Is Winter images will be launched via Manx National Heritage’s iMuseum website when the exhibition opens.
Katie King, exhibition curator said;
“After the success of our 2017 This Is Summer project we thought it might be fun to examine Island life during the winter months. What happens when the deck chairs are packed away and the hotels close for the ‘season’.
Having a delve in the archives has revealed some fascinating stories – from outrage caused by the anti-birching campaign, to an OAP revolution and a kerfuffle caused by imported turkeys.
We also have a wonderful selection of retro Father Christmas photos for everyone to enjoy come December. The exhibition and the launch of a further 1,000 images to iMuseum is sure to bring back some memories. ”
To see all the digitised Manx Press Pictures images please visit www.imuseum.im
This Is Winter runs from 5 October 2019 to 1 March 2020 at the House of Manannan, Peel – open daily 10am – 5pm.
Image caption – Father Christmas besieged by an excited crowd of youngsters on arrival at the Co-Op. store in Duke Street, Douglas, 1958