TAKE a look at these fascinating unseen images of Jodrell Bank ahead of the opening of its new attraction later this week.

The Cheshire site is set to open its highly anticipated First Light Pavilion on June 4, as part of a major development supported by £12.5m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The striking new building will house a permanent exhibition on the pioneering story of Jodrell Bank, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with an immersive planetarium, temporary exhibitions gallery and café.

This addition will open up the inspiring history of the site by sharing the stories of its scientists and its ground-breaking feats of science and engineering.

Northwich Guardian: Three men looking on at colleagues working on a telescope at Jodrell Bank. Credit: Isabel HuntThree men looking on at colleagues working on a telescope at Jodrell Bank. Credit: Isabel Hunt

One such example is the story of Thomas Barry Wade, the father of The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s executive director, Isabel Hunt.

Having lived through the Second World War and then completed his National Service, Barry put his civil engineering degree from Sheffield University to use at his first civilian job – a trainee engineer at Jodrell Bank from 1951-1952.

During his time on the site, Barry and his colleagues worked on prototype versions of the famous Lovell Telescope.

Northwich Guardian: Jodrell Bank - early 1950s. Credit: Isabel HuntJodrell Bank - early 1950s. Credit: Isabel Hunt

Images passed down from his working days showcase his and his colleagues’ engineering skills and provide an insight into what the Jodrell Bank site looked like at the time. 

Barry not only shared treasured photographs with his family, but also shared his fond memories and stories.

One standout memory that Isabel recalls is that Barry and his colleagues had an interesting name for what is now the Lovell Telescope – the ‘Hat Box’ telescope.

Northwich Guardian: Men working on the site. Credit: Isabel HuntMen working on the site. Credit: Isabel Hunt

Sir Bernard Lovell had been seeking out a solution of how to balance the dish to create the structure of his now iconic telescope.

The story amongst the men on site was that Lovell had a ‘lightbulb moment’ on how to solve the engineering conundrum when he opened his hat box to get ready for work one day.

Isabel remarked: “I don’t know if that was true or not, but it was one of my father’s lasting memories from his time there.”

For more information, visit jodrellbank.net.