THE heroic post World War Two struggle of an entire community fighting for its housing is revealed in a thought-provoking exhibition to be launched in Windermere this month.

A Heritage Lottery Fund supported exhibition called 'From Calgarth to Windermere' is set in the aftermath of the war and tells the remarkable story of what happened to a stranded wartime community when its houses were earmarked for "gradual destruction".

By mid-1945, the enormous Short Sunderland Flying Boat factory, on the shores of Windermere, had closed and its giant hangars stood proud but redundant.

The exhibition tells the fascinating story of the factory's former workforce, many of who still lived on Calgarth Estate near Troutbeck Bridge, and how they eventually secured housing on farmland on the outskirts of Windermere in the early 1950s after extra funding came from the government - but not before a long and divisive debate.

Located on the first floor of Windermere Library at the home of Another Space/Lake District Holocaust Project, it reveals what happened to the 'lost' village of Calgarth Estate and how it was replaced by a new housing scheme called Droomer Estate.

Trevor Avery, organiser and director of Another Space, said: "It is an amazing story that gets more fascinating the more you look into it. Given the tragedy of war it is obvious to see why historically the aftermath would be neglected. Whole communities were disrupted at home in the service of King and Country as well as in the overseas armed services.

"There are fascinating stories of post-war rebuilding and regeneration around the country but the story of the estates at Calgarth and then Droomer is unique.

"Local children from Lakes School have contributed enormously to the project and brought their own energy to a far from run of the mill archive story."

There will be the large scale original architects plan for Calgarth Estate and Droomer Estate, documents from archives, newspaper clippings and a special projection on permanent show of over 400 photographs from the flying boat factory, Calgarth Estate and Droomer Estate.

The exhibition is also supported by the Cumbria Community Foundation.

A special opening is being held on Saturday June 20 between 10am and 1pm.

Opening times are 9.30am-5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, as well as 10am-1pm on Saturdays.

For details contact Trevor Avery on 07876433490 or email hello@anotherspace.org.uk.