Railway poster exhibition at Lion Salt Works Museum in Northwich

Revisit the golden age of travel at a special exhibition at the Lion Salt Works Museum

Lostock Gralam - Lion Salt Works Museum (Image: Archant)

Bright, colourful and graphically eye-catching, travel posters of the 1930s were designed to entice and promote trips to those with a little wanderlust. The golden age of the travel poster was over by the 1960s, when photographic imagery began to be used more than graphically designed ones, and of course with the introduction of holiday brochures and then the internet, they became obsolete.

However, for an exhibition at the Lion Salt Works Museum, 1930s-style railway posters have been given a makeover to depict some of our favourite Cheshire attractions and towns and villages off the Mid-Cheshire line.

From August 8th until September 3rd, visitors will be able to view 14 colourful designs which have been produced by the Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership and designed by artist Nicky Thompson of Chester-based Lemondrop Creative. The intention of the posters is to evoke the ‘golden age’ of British travel and encourage holiday-makers in the North West and beyond to embrace the spirit of adventure and explore the sites of the region by rail. As well as being showcased in the exhibition, each station included will also feature its bright new poster.

‘The railway posters of the 1930s hailed a new era of train travel. This imaginative campaign featuring 14 railway stops on the Mid-Cheshire Railway line hopes to trigger a similar reaction,’ said Councillor Louise Gittins, member for communities and wellbeing at Cheshire West and Chester Council. ‘This is a marvellous initiative and an excellent way of showcasing the beautiful attractions of the region.’

Chester (Image: Archant)

The railway posters feature both general scenes of cities such as Chester and Manchester, and also capture interesting sites near rail stops, such as the Lion Salt Works Museum at Lostock Gralam. Northwich’s stop is illustrated by the Anderton Boat Lift. Other posters include Delamere, Knutsford, Hale, Altrincham and Chester Zoo. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to buy their own copies to take home, with posters available in A3 and A2 size for £5 and £10 respectively, and postcards sets.

‘The posters draw on the work of Frank Henry Mason, one of the most influential poster designers of this era. In their day, these posters with their strikingly bold colours and experimental flat design were quite different and new,’ said artist Nicky Thompson.

‘What is unarguable is that they were highly effective in creating an aspirational sense of adventure that drew city-dwellers to explore the countryside. I’m an Ellesmere Port lad, and as a Cheshire resident, it has been a total pleasure to produce the artwork for these posters. I hope everyone enjoys them.’

Railway Posters: Gateway to the Past runs from August 8th -September 3rd at the Lion Salt Works Museum, Northwich. For full details visit: www.events.westcheshiremuseums.co.uk/lion-salt-works

Northwich (Image: Archant)