A WEST Devon village is seeking as much help as it can muster to capture all its yesterdays for present day perusal and the delight of future generations.
In June, to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the newly formed Chillaton Archive Group is organising the first local history exhibition for many years to be held in the village.
It is hoped to be able to provide a fascinating insight of village life, 50 years ago and beyond.
The organisers would like to hear from any villager, past or present who has any photographs, press clippings, local folklore or stories of both the Queen's Coronation and Silver Jubilee showing how they were celebrated in the village.
Times photographer James Bird, who is secretary of the Chillaton Archive Group, said: 'Throughout the exhibition we will show how things were in the village and surrounding hamlets 50 years ago and beyond.
'With photographs, artefacts and stories we hope to build a picture of Chillaton in days gone by. It has been felt for many years now that some form of local social history or archive system, should be implemented to record stories and information concerning the local area,' he said.
At one time the village of Chilaton boasted a brass foundry, bakery, blacksmith, grocery shop, post office and mill. During Victorian times £4-million of manganese — used to harden steel — was extracted from the hillsides around Chillaton.
Times have changed and in the changing left a mass of fascinating history in its wake.
'The name Chillaton means cold river valley,' says James. 'And the hamlet of Quither derives its name from the Saxon period — the translation meaning a "Dung Pit". Thankfully things in that area have improved greatly since the dark ages!'
If you can help in any way to rediscover the past of Chillaton please contact the group's chairman Steve Walters on (01822) 860421 or James Bird on (01822) 860340.