Frome Museum is set to unveil part two of its exhibition exploring a grassroots community campaign to save the Trinity area from being demolished in the 1970s.
The exhibition entitled Saving Trinity – 50 years on – delves deeper into the community’s story to save the area from being demolished, covering the People’s Campaign from 1972 to 1977.
It is due to open on Wednesday 4th June and follows part one Trinity: the great clearance 1962–1968 on display until Tuesday 3rd June.
The new exhibition draws links to community resistance and campaigns prevalent in the town today including Saxonvale, which has become the first large-scale community-led development in the country, and also People for Packsaddle’s fight to save beloved green space from development.
Chair of Frome Museum Michael Maggs said, “In the 1960s, nearly half of Frome’s unique 17th century Trinity area was bulldozed and replaced by modern housing. With it went part of Frome’s history and character. Frome Museum is currently hosting an exhibition about that period, why it happened and the many streets and homes that were lost forever. If you haven’t seen it yet, come soon.
“In the 1970s, the people of Frome fought back against the planners to save what remained of this unique heritage asset. At the height of the battle, 50 years ago, a grass-roots community campaign forced the council to withdraw its plans and consider rehabilitating the surviving historic homes instead. Much of the area was saved and restored by 1985. That fascinating part of the story will be told in the second part of the exhibition, opening on 4th June.”
Frome Society of Local Study (FSLS) is publishing a book covering this crucial period in Frome’s history as a special edition of its regular yearbook. From 4th June, copies can be purchased from the museum, free to FSLS members.
Frome Museum is open on Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11am to 3pm, and until 5pm on Thursdays. It is also open on Independent Market Sundays. Entry to the exhibitions and galleries is free.
Pictured: The Open, off Selwood Road: preserved from the bulldozers by the Save Trinity campaign. Photo by Sue Latham
