Almost since its invention, the art of photography has thrived in Berwick. The town’s first photographic studio opened in 1849, sparking a tradition which would go on to capture the likenesses of generations of inhabitants of Berwick, Tweedmouth and Spittal.

During the 19th century, travelling photographers, working from mobile studios would stop in the town. Although many of these were fleeting, William De Lan and his three daughters, who were also photographers, eventually made Berwick their home.

The picturesqueness of the town and the surrounding area made it a popular spot for amateur photographers to practice their hobby, perhaps inadvertently preserving our past through their lenses.

As technology changed, photography became even more embedded in the lives of our predecessors. Photographs began to appear in newspapers, could be sent abroad in the form of a postcard or with the click of a shutter on an inexpensive personal camera, capture a candid moment for posterity.

This major exhibition features over 100 images of Berwick and is a journey of exploration into how the town and its people have been captured by the changing photographer’s lens over the past 150 years.

The Light of Days Past has been developed in partnership with Berwick Record Office and curated by Cameron Robertson.