A PRIMARY school has taken part in a cinematic project to allow children to learn about their links to Accrington’s history through film.

Pupils at Woodnook Primary School have been learning about the heritage on their doorstep through a bespoke film titled ‘Amazing Accrington’.

The project puts the spotlight on the school and its connection with a well-known figure in the town’s history.

The Hudson Street school looked specifically at Thomas Hargreaves, owner of Broad Oak Calico Print Works, Accrington’s largest employer in industrial times

It was developed and produced as part of the Heritage Lottery funded town square project and uses a combination of film shot at the school and nearby Oak Hill Park during July 2017.

It also uses archive images and animation to bring to life Accrington’s history and the school is the third to take part in the project.

Class teacher Joanne Fisher said: “The children were really excited to recreate the photograph and take part in the film.

“Focusing on Thomas Hargreaves and the Broad Oak Print Works has helped them to understand that Accrington had a huge role and influence in industry worldwide.”

Pupils in the class also enjoyed taking part in the project and said ‘they loved taking part and it looked very good’.

The film begins with an old class photograph taken at Woodnook School almost a century ago, and discovered by class teacher Mrs Fisher amongst some old school records.

Once the exact spot where the photograph had been taken was identified, children and staff re-enacted the pose which is gradually superimposed onto the historic image in the film.

The children then moved to look at nearby Oak Hill Park, the former home of Mr Hargreaves, to see his influence on the area.

They were then invited to consider other street names in the town which are all that remain of the former Broad Oak Print Works site.

The project visited the school to chart the changes in the Accrington landscape over the last 500 years and invite children to think about what changes they would like to see in the future.

Cllr Clare Cleary, cabinet member for Accrington Town Centre on Hyndburn Council, said she was pleased to see pupils were getting the chance to learn about the area’s heritage.

Cllr Cleary said: “It’s so good to see the pupils will be learning about the history of Accrington.

“These are exciting times as the restoration of the town square is now well underway.”