Photographer captures the changing face of Lynemouth coastline

As part of an exciting project to explore, record and share Lynemouth's heritage, an exhibition of striking images by photographer Iain Duncan has opened at a Northumberland museum.
Lynemouth Layerscape at Woodhorn MuseumLynemouth Layerscape at Woodhorn Museum
Lynemouth Layerscape at Woodhorn Museum

This new body of photographic work by Northumberland-based Duncan was inspired by the unique and ever-changing coastline of Lynemouth Bay and his exhibition at Woodhorn Museum provides an intriguing glimpse into the natural, industrial, cultural and domestic heritage of Lynemouth.

The village, just north of Woodhorn Museum, is closely connected to coalmining heritage and related industries including Lynemouth Power Station and former Alcan Aluminium Smelter.

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As part of various historical waste management and coastal erosion strategies, waste material of various sorts was deposited along part of Lynemouth’s coast.

This material is now in the process of being eroded by the tides, revealing the history of deposition through the many and various layers exposed.

Iain Duncan has been inspired to document this process observing the revelation of intriguing artefacts from parts of colliery machinery, discarded clothing and even a child’s toy truck.

Bricks of bewildering variety and colour, often beautifully rounded, litter the foreshore. Each evocative remnant tells a story, but is only revealed for a short time before being washed away.

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Thanks to the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Woodhorn Museum is now working in partnership with community members, groups and schools to discover and share the real and imagined stories behind these captivating photographs.

Lynemouth Layerscape will be on display at Woodhorn until July 2

For more information about this exhibition and Woodhorn visit the website ww.experiencewoodhorn.com or find Woodhorn on Facebook.