A FACEBOOK page which explores the history of Dursley has proved a success – with hundreds of members signing up and old friends finding each other through the site.

Sarah Naish started the Old Dursley (Gloucestershire) page last year and more than 800 people have become members since then.

Sarah, who lives in Stroud but is in the process of moving back home to Dursley, created the group in June year after setting out to find an old photograph herself.

“I was looking for an old photo myself and just assumed that there would already be something out there like that,” she said.

“There wasn’t, but it gave me the idea that it was something people would be interested in.”

Though it started out as a means of sharing pictures, the page has become a platform for much more: conversation of times gone by, clarifications on old photographs and reconciliations between old friends.

Sarah said: “People have met up with people they haven’t seen in 30 or 40 years. That seems to happen quite a lot.

“It’s the only technology that some older people are using. I’ve had some of those users speak to me and say they feel 10 years younger.

“It’s reached the stage now where I had to make my husband an administrator as well because it’s just become so busy.”

The group covers as far back as the 1930s and as recently as the 1980s.

As well as exploring the history of the town, the group was also created with a more contemporary agenda in mind.

“Using pictures and time lapse videos on the site, it is easy to see the destruction that has been wrought on Dursley by the town planners over the years – these make compelling and thought provoking viewing," Sarah said.

For more photos of Dursley in times past and to get involved with the fast-growing online community, search for Old Dursley (Gloucestershire) on Facebook.

If you recognise any of the faces in these pictures get in touch and let us know.