THE unique character of each Tameside area will be explored in a new exhibition in Ashton-under-Lyne to celebrate the local authority’s 50th anniversary.
The year of 1974 was famous for kung fu, the start of Roller-mania, platform shoes, flares… and the founding of the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside.
Now, Portland Basin Museum is examining the borough’s nine constituent parts and the decade in which the borough was born.
The exhibition called ‘The Nine Towns of Tameside’ opens for the first time on Saturday, November 23.
It focuses on notable buildings and landmarks, reveals some quirky and unusual facts, and explains how Tameside’s towns, villages and predecessor authorities got their names and what their coats of arms represent.
Visitors will also be able to discover about famous people associated with the borough, as well as some of the local movers and shakers throughout history.
Among these items is an opening-ceremony jacket for the recent Paris Olympics loaned by Ashton diver Anthony Harding, who won a bronze medal in the synchronised 3m springboard.
The exhibition also invites people to check out a funky array of fashions, toys and technology from the 1970s, including the famous Atari games console.
Councillor Leanne Feeley, Tameside Council’s executive member for lifelong learning and culture, said: “I’m most impressed by the way such a breadth of objects from the museum’s collections, and images stored in our archives, have been used to create such a fascinating and absorbing exhibition.
“While it will clearly appeal to all those who have an interest in local history, I know it will also be enjoyed by anyone who wants to learn more about Tameside, its towns and villages, and indeed the pre-internet days of the mid-1970s when music and fashion were so different.”
The exhibition runs until July 2025 and admission is free.