A FASCINATING glimpse of agricultural life in the Lim Valley over the past couple of centuries will go on show in a three-day exhibition.

The exhibition, Farming in the Lim Valley, opens at Uplyme Village Hall on Thursday, May 29 and runs until Saturday, May 31.

Exploring the changing face of farms once prominent in and around Lyme Regis and Uplyme, the exhibition from Lyme Regis Museum will feature photographs, maps, documents and words, capturing memories of farming and agriculture over the last 150 years or so.

To date, 60 farms and small holdings have been discovered, many of which will be described in the exhibition, and 2,000 photographs, documents and maps have been copied, a selection from which will occupy more than 70 exhibition boards.

The major project was created by retired veterinary surgeon Graham Davies and ex-fisherman Ken Gollop who spent hundreds of hours researching and setting up the exhibition.

Mr Davies, a volunteer researcher at the museum, has spent much of the past year visiting farms and small holdings in the local area, recording farm and family histories, making copies of photos and documents, and photographing the current farming scene.

Mr Gollop's local knowledge has been invaluable for Mr Davies' researches and his experience in putting together museum exhibitions has been vital. He is a trustee and volunteer at the museum.

Originally intended as the museum's winter exhibition, the project has grown beyond expectations and will be the first time a museum exhibition has moved beyond its walls.

Entry to the exhibition is free and is open between 11am and 5pm on the Thursday, from 10am to 8pm on Friday, and between 10am and 4pm on Saturday.

It will also include a photographic record of the changing seasonal activities at Shapwick Grange farm in 2007.