MARY TAVY residents and anyone interested in the history of the village is being invited to two heritage days this weekend, with a collection of artefacts on display.

Everything from maps, photographs, a fascinating sale book from a huge property auction of 1981 and a hand-written war book detailing people and properties able to help with providing goods and services in case of invasion during WW2 as well as many other things will be on display on Saturday and Sunday (April 16 and 17) in the Reading Room.

There are thousands of photographs held digitally, including the photographs taken by former Tavistock Times photographer Jim Thorington from the mid 1960s to the late 90s, so the social history of that period is very well represented.

There is also information about mining, as Mary Tavy was a very important mining area, mainly during the 19th century. The population grew from 376 in 1801 to 1,552 in 1841 — an increase of over 500% in 40 years.

Organised and hosted by the Mary Tavy Jubilee Group, it is hoped that visitors may be able to put names to some of the faces in the photographs and add information about places and dates. It is also hoped that people will be able to bring items they hold, to be photographed or scanned to add to the archive.

The Jubilee Group is also hoping to sign up a few people to help with cataloguing the archive, a project which is just getting underway.

The Reading Room was built in 1910 for recreational and educational purposes and is itself a significant part of Mary Tavy heritage. It is in Bal Lane, near the turnings to Warren Road and The Oaks.

The heritage days will be open from 10am to 4pm. There is no charge for entry although donations are welcome.

For more information contact the Mary Tavy Jubilee Group on 0845 5193812, email [email protected] or visit www.mtjubileegroup.co.uk