Pressing on with heritage centre (From Gazette Series)

Pressing on with heritage centre

DURSLEY'S new heritage centre will be open by the end of January.

Last week a hand-operated press, which dates back to the late 1800s, was moved from the Gazette office to Jacob's House, where it will be a part of an exhibition charting the town's history.

Gerry Pierce, a town trust member, said: "We have the keys to the building now so we can do something with it. Until know it has belonged to the builders but it has come to us now.

"I am extremely pleased as it has been a long time coming. We have been collecting things that we think are appropriate to show Dursley's history. We are keeping them a secret so it will be more interesting when we open the blinds and unveil it when it is ready.

He added: "I am very pleased that we have the press in place. It is unique and it is a beautiful piece of Victorian engineering."

The press had been retained by former Bailey Newspaper Group chairman Peter Bailey when the company was sold and had been on display in the Reliance House foyer.