Historic Sodbury workhouse banner discovered at Yate community centre (From Gazette Series)

Sodbury Union Workhouse banner found in Ridgewood Community Centre rafters

3:00pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Alexandra Womack

A BANNER bearing the hopeful phrase 'may the sun of prosperity shine on their future path' has been discovered in the roof of a historic Yate building.

The canvas slogan was found in the rafters of Ridgewood Community Centre, which was previously known as the Sodbury Union Workhouse.

The four feet banner is believed to have been hung outside the centre as inspiration to those living at the workhouse during Victorian times.

It was discovered by general assistant Alan Goodfield whilst he was checking the building.

“We had no idea it was there,” said Ridgewood manager Anne-Marie Cook. “It was just lying along the rafters wrapped up in paper which fell apart as soon as we touched it.

“The banner is really lovely. It would have been blue and gold but it has faded a bit.”

She added: “The words are lovely and still fitting for the community use of the centre now.”

The banner was found at the same time as Yate Heritage Centre is staging a display on the workhouse and the poor and unemployed people who lived there.

As well as the banner, old switchboard headphones in their original boxes and old batteries were found.

Staff at the Ridgewood centre are now considering creating their own artefacts rooms to hold the historic items.