Over 40,000 unique images from the Peak District National Park’s archives are to be catalogued, and many made public online for the first time.
The mammoth task has been made possible thanks to funding of £45,000 achieved through an Archives Revealed grant, which is a funding partnership of The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Archives.
The project, Landscapes Unlocked, will reveal a fascinating history of the National Park throughout the 20th century to the present day, and is a collaboration between the Peak District National Park Foundation, the Peak District National Park Authority and the Derbyshire County Council Record Office.
It will provide a fascinating visual record of the National Park’s development and the people who have lived, worked and visited over the decades, revealed through 35mm slides, black and white negatives and photographic prints.
The images will be made accessible for research, education and public engagement, and will support learning about environmental and social change, providing invaluable resources for future generations.
Landscapes Unlocked is particularly timely, as 2026 marks the 75th anniversary of the Peak District’s designation as the UK’s first national park.
Peak District Foundation director Roisin Joyce says: “We are delighted that the story of the National Park will be opened up to the public thanks to this grant from Archives Revealed. The collection tells us about the changes to people and nature in our national park, giving us an insight into wide-ranging themes including rural customs, farming practices, industry, archaeology and tourism. Importantly, this image collection also has huge potential to help us better understand landscape change, a vital research area in the face of climate change.
“We look forward to opening up the collection and drawing out stories to share with communities inside and beyond the boundaries of the national park.”
For more information visit: https://www.peakdistrictfoundation.org.uk/
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