AN EXHIBITION is set to honour a family that has been at the heart of Botley for more than 100 years.

The Howse family began farming on land that is now Elms Parade shops during the First World War, before the current set up was constructed in 1937.

An exhibition, giving residents the chance to bring their own memories and photos of West Way, will begin on Saturday and run for a week.

The exhibition’s final day will coincide with the annual West Way festival.

Exhibition creator Martin Harris said: “It’s partly to do with the West Way festival later this month, we thought it would be nice to have local history exhibition.

“My main aim is for it to be a tribute to the Howse family, if it hadn’t been for them there might not be any shops there.”

Local farmer Stephen Howse, who built the shops on his farmland, is commemorated by a plaque near the post office.

When the shops took their first deliveries in 1937, goods rolled up in a horse and cart.

The West Way shopping centre was then constructed in the late 1960s and is expected to be redeveloped later this year. The local history enthusiast from Botley hoped the exhibition would get people reminiscing about the area.

He said: “We want people to bring their own photos and share memories.”

Stephen Howse’s grandson Arthur was born in October 1937 a month after Elms Parade opened.

The 77-year-old lived in a flat above the shops for the first 28 years of his life and urged people to share their recollections of the shops and surrounding area.

He said: “The shops were built for Botley, grandfather sold the majority of his farmland and used the money to create the shops.

“I have very fond memories of Elms Parade and hope other people do too and will share them at the exhibition.”

In recent years the Howse family’s land has come under threat from a proposed £100 million redevelopment of the West Way shopping centre which included the demolition and compulsory purchase of Elms Parade.

Plans submitted by Doric and Mace were rejected by Vale of White Horse District Council and a smaller development will now include the preservation of the row of shops.