FROM the days when timber was the main business in Timber Street to Chippenham Library's opening in 1973 in the same street and everything in between, an exhibition at the library reveals its long history.

It has been put together by two members of the library's staff to mark Local History Month.

Sue Tuersley and Sarah Warbey have researched and compiled a display summarising the colourful history of the street in which the library is situated - opposite the bus station and close to the site of the former music venue Goldiggers.

Julie Davis, the County Local Studies Librarian based at the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre in Chippenham, has co-ordinated Local History Month throughout libraries in Wiltshire.

Ms Warbey said: “We chose Timber Street as obviously that is where the library is based.

"We used Ancestry (which is free to use via the library computers) to look at the censuses from past years to see if we could find any interesting people to feature.

"In the past the street has had residences as diverse as a bakehouse, cinema and the wharf, as well as local MP Samuel Fludyer living where the library is currently situated.

"We have a great selection of local history books both in the library and at the History Centre so were able to utilise those for most of our research.

"We were able to find maps provided by Know Your Place West of England. We also have a space for people to leave their own memories of Timber Street, so please come in and see us.”

Goldiggers is one obvious recent building in the street which holds secrets of the past such as the bus station being site of the now disappeared spur to the Wilts & Berks Canal was built in 1798.

The exhibition will be in the library all throughout May.