Lancashire County Council will launch a new-look website of historic local photographs and postcards this month.



The Red Rose Collections image archive will be available to search people, places and events from Tuesday, 14 February and will replace the current Lancashire Lantern website.

This new website design aims to make the site even more user friendly, with improved functionality.

Over 30,000 photographs taken from library collections across the county will be available to view online when the website goes live. More images will be uploaded to the website over the coming months.

Photographs already on the site range from the earliest pictures of war ever taken, to a celebration of the most recent Preston Guild in 2012.

The website also includes options to search newspapers and local history resources provided by Lancashire Archives and libraries.

County Councillor Marcus Johnstone, Lancashire County Council's cabinet member for environment, planning and cultural services, said: "As the red rose is the symbol of Lancashire, we thought that it would be appropriate to launch the website on Valentine's Day.

"I'm grateful to both libraries staff and volunteers who have been digitising our old Lancashire photographs over the last 10 years. We now have a superb collection, with more to follow.

"The website already includes a photograph of the Crimean War taken in 1855 by Lancashire born photographer, Roger Fenton. This is thought to be the earliest photograph of war ever taken.

"The site really is fascinating. It also includes information such as the details of over 45,000 people listed in the 27 surviving Preston Guild Rolls from 1397 to1992, the Lancashire Police index of police officers who served in Lancashire from 1840 onwards, and an index of local newspapers archives held in libraries around Lancashire.

"It is certainly well worth a look."

You can access Red Rose Collections at redrosecollections.lancashire.gov.uk

Anyone who lives or works in Lancashire can join a Lancashire library, either online or by visiting in person. Membership is free and there are no age restrictions. For more information, go to www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries or call 0300 123 6703.