Author Mark puts old Hartford in the picture (From Northwich Guardian)

Author Mark puts old Hartford in the picture

8:40am Wednesday 16th December 2009

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A NOSTALGIC book, featuring more than 170 photographs of old Hartford, Whitegate and Vale Royal, is on the shelves.

Mark Bevan, former Northwich Guardian editor, has amassed the photographs over many years.

He has written the book to take readers on a journey, from the historic founding of Vale Royal Abbey through to 20th century Hartford and Whitegate.

Hartford, Whitegate and Vale Royal debunks a few myths and legends, and contains a variety of stories, including the links between the abbey grange, George Washington and the American War of Independence, Napoleon’s coronation sword and Whitegate, Field Marshall Montgomery and Hartford, and the local hostelry that may have inspired Charles Dickens.

It also features photographs of the construction of Hartford’s blue bridge and Northwich Bypass and the long-demolished Pettypool House.

The staff of ICI Salt Division in the 1950s, Birtwisle’s smithy and Birtwisle’s garage, in Hartford, Price’s store and Gerrard’s fruit cart are also featured in this pictorial history.

Hartford, Whitegate and Vale Royal is available in local shops or on CC Publishing’s website at cc-publishing.co.uk.

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