Model maker Colin recreates Colne in 1914 (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Model maker Colin recreates Colne in 1914

4:18pm Friday 8th March 2013 in News By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

MODEL maker Colin Bean has taken a trip back to 1914.

But he doesn’t claim to have stuck to the history books while painstakingly piecing together a model of how Colne town centre looked 99 years ago.

Instead, his eight-foot-wide models, which are on display at the town’s library, are “part fact, part fib”.

Enthusiast Colin, 72, spent 12 months carefully building the town centre model, along with one of Malkin Castle.

The retired TV engineer has been making models of the town for years and has previously created scenes from the Waterside area, including a wintry scene and a fake railway station, and a wartime Colne masterpiece.

He said: “It has been a hobby of mine for a long time, I just love the town and I love creating these models.

“These ones took about a year to build, which is a fairly quick build. Some models can take two years to complete.

“There is not much known about Malkin Tower but I did research Colne in 1914 but I always describe the models as fact and fib. Some of it is fictitious and from my imagination.”

The inspiration for the creation of a Malkin Tower model came from last year’s 400th anniversary of the Pendle Witch Trials, while he decided to recreate Old Market Street in 1914 because it was the start of the war and the suffragette movement.

Included in the street scene is the Colne Corner Surgery which has a special resonance for Colin.

He said: “I put Colne Corner Surgery in as a dedication for what they did to me. They treated me for prostate cancer and they were fantastic and at the moment everything is OK as a result.”

The exhibition of Colin’s work, made from a variety of materials, will remain at Colne Library until August alongside pictures of old Colne.

He said: “The feedback has been really good so far. I was at the library on Wednesday and two people were looking at the models and saying they should win awards which is nice to hear.

“I make all the models at my house so once I’ve finished a project it is a bit quiet, but I’m sure I will start on something else soon.”