Through Time – serie

Renowned for their illustrious ceramic manufacturing heritage, the Staffordshire Potteries originally centred upon six towns: Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke-upon-Trent, Fenton and Longton. The modern city of Stoke-on-Trent was created from these six towns and around fifty villages. In The Potteries Through Time, author Mervyn Edwards presents a nostalgic visual chronicle of the towns and villages in the Potteries across the decades.In his previous Through Time books, Mervyn Edwards focused upon each of the six towns individually. This latest volume explores the hills and hollows between the centres whilst also offering new archive photographs of the main towns. We find shabby backstreets cowering in the shadow of enormous coal tips – the Potteries’ own ‘black hills’ – and there are industrial hotspots and busy suburbs. Then there are the proud old chapels and pubs and the even prouder people that patronised them. Stoke-on-Trent was not a pretty place, but as the proverb tells us, ‘where there is muck there is brass’, and the fascinating landscape came to be captured by all manner of writers, artists and photographers.This collection of archive photographs is an engaging book that charts changing times and the shifting identity of the Potteries. It will be of immense interest to local residents, visitors and all those with links to the area.

Dorset has always been an important railway county, catering for holidaymakers heading to the resorts of Bournemouth, Swanage and Weymouth. As part of the mid-nineteenth-century desire for railways to reach many parts of the country, a line from Southampton reached the county town of Dorchester in 1847. This was to become part of the London & South Western Railway. The Great Western Railway arrived in the county in 1857 with a line from Yeovil to Weymouth built to Brunel’s broad-gauge standard. Another name associated with the county was the Somerset & Dorset Railway, which opened between Bath and Poole in 1870. Development of the various lines are covered – their heyday was the 1950s when they were used by holidaymakers heading for the sunny south coast. Then came the Beeching closures, but also the electrification of the main line to Weymouth. The various routes within the county are covered by a wide selection of photographs, many of which have not been published before.

Kent has an impressive collection of castles, over sixty including the scanty ruins and earthwork remains of now vanished ones, as well as the more celebrated castles, such as Leeds, Rochester and Dover. Because of their picturesque and dramatic appearance they have often been the subject of antique prints, and early photographs and in Castles of Kent Through Time author John Guy draws on his extensive collection of historical images of Kent castles to produce an illustrated history through the ages, charting the castles’ changing fortunes over the decades. Many are now ruined, when once they were homes and fortresses. Others, like Allington, have been transformed from ruins back into habitable and very comfortable homes, while others, such as Dover, have been in continuous military use right across the centuries from the Iron Age through to the Second World War. Just a few, like Westenhanger, which once was a completely overgrown ruin, have since been rescued and brought back into use.This fascinating selection of old and new images of the castles of Kent shows how castles, which are often perceived as static elements of the historic landscape, are, in fact, ever changing. It will be essential reading for all those who are interested in the history of the county.

The area of North Staffordshire combines urban and rural areas, from Stoke-on-Trent and the Potteries, the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme, the moorland and Peak District towns and villages to the border with Cheshire and Derbyshire.In spite of the many changes that have occurred in North Staffordshire, its towns and villages have retained their identity, with historical buildings alongside the new. This fascinating selection of old and new images of North Staffordshire will be essential reading for all those who know the area.

Wimborne Minster is a market town in Dorset. The settlement grew up around its minster, from which it takes its name and which was originally an Anglo-Saxon foundation. The town is known for its large number of buildings from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries but today is being extended beyond its historic centre to accommodate new housing.In spite of the many changes that have occurred in Wimborne the town has retained its identity and much of its historical buildings. This fascinating selection of old and new images of Wimborne will be essential reading for all those who know the town and the area.

The North Staffordshire Coalfield is concentrated around the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme areas, with a small outlying area around Leek and Cheadle. During the Industrial Revolution coal from the area fired the Potteries’ ceramics and iron industries.At its peak, fifty pits were working in the area but as the coal industry declined nationally, pits gradually merged or closed in the post-war years. Closures accelerated following the Miners’ Strike in the 1980s and the last deep mine, Silverdale, closed in 1998. Today, most of the sites have been reclaimed, including a nature reserve at Chatterley Whitfield.This fascinating selection of old and new images of the North Staffordshire Coalfield will be essential reading for all those who know the area or have family members who worked in the local coal mining industry.

Bexhill-on-Sea, often simply called Bexhill, is a seaside resort located on the south coast of England in East Sussex. The town was transformed by the arrival of the railways in the mid-nineteenth century. Once a haunt of smugglers, Bexhill became popular, attracting many to live by the sea or visit the town. The 7th Earl De La Warr developed Bexhill as a fashionable resort, building new streets and grand houses and hotels, and later generations continued this work, most famously with the 1930s’ De La Warr Pavilion. Today, the town retains a quiet and dignified appeal for its many visitors and residents.In spite of the many changes that have occurred in Bexhill-on-Sea, the town has retained its identity, with historical buildings alongside the new. This fascinating selection of old and new images of Bexhill-on-Sea will be essential reading for all those who know the area.

Liverpool’s growth and prosperity throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries was reflected in the rise of its shops as much as any other aspect of city life. In this book, local historian Daniel K. Longman compares historic images of commercial premises throughout Liverpool with their modern-day counterparts. These pictures reveal an intriguing history of shops across the city and offer a fascinating insight into changing architectural styles and fashions through the decades. These comparisons reveal a rich heritage of traditional architraves, elaborate lettering, and ornate doorways alongside an aesthetic movement towards somewhat more simpler styles, minimalism, and modernisation. This book also reveals how much of Liverpool’s built heritage has survived despite extensive changes in this nostalgic look back at some of the city’s most interesting and impressive shopping destinations.This enthralling selection of old and new images of Liverpool shopfronts shows how our shops reflect the changing lifestyles of people through the years as well as the changing architectural face of the city. It will be essential reading for all those who are interested in the history of Liverpool and the surrounding area.

Edinburgh Old Town is the ancient centre of the city of Edinburgh. Many historic buildings still stand in the Old Town, on the Royal Mile which runs from Holyrood Palace to the Castle and in the surrounding area, alongside newer construction. Edinburgh Old Town Through Time explores the rich history and vibrant culture of Edinburgh’s Old Town through a collection of then-and-now images which reveal how the area has evolved, showcasing its historic architecture, bustling streets, and the lives of its inhabitants. Discover the stories behind famous landmarks, hidden gems, and the everyday scenes that shaped this unique place. Whether you’re a history buff, a lover of architecture, or simply curious about Edinburgh, this visual exploration connects the past and present of the Old Town.In spite of the many changes that have occurred in Edinburgh Old Town, the area has retained its identity, with historical buildings alongside the new. This fascinating selection of old and new images of Edinburgh Old Town will be essential reading for all those who know the area.

This is a photographic journey along the North Norfolk coast from the shingle banks at Weybourne to the crumbling cliffs at Mundesley. It's a dramatic tour that includes breathtaking cliff top walks and miles of beautiful sea-washed beaches. At the heart are Sheringham and Cromer, once small fishing villages, reinvented by powerful landowners in the nineteenth century as seaside resorts with vast Victorian hotels, now sadly mostly lost. There are West and East Runton, so popular with caravanners, to the one time millionaires' sanctuary of Overstrand. It ends at Mundesley with its reminders of former glories. It is an area rich in history of fishermen and lifeboats and man's struggle with the sea. It is a story of Victorian romance in 'Poppyland' and of holidays and heydays.

Ripon's story comes alive on this tour around the city. Evidence of life here hundreds of millions of years ago, with 'Ripon' at the edge of a tropical sea, can be observed at Quarry Moor; bronze age henges are to be found to the north and east of the city; Celts and Anglo-Saxons settled between the rivers. The King of Northumbria granted land for the establishment of a monastery in the seventh century and the famous St Wilfrid's monastery acquired international renown. As a result, the church gained control of thousands of acres of land, with the grant of a judicial franchise or liberty that lasted to the sixteenth-century Reformation. These influences are all to be seen. Like many historic market towns, Ripon owes much of its street pattern, its local government, its economic development and some would say its problems to earlier times. This book will help draw them out for you.

Nantwich occupies a pleasant position on the banks of the River Weaver and at least as far back as the Domesday Book has been one of the most important towns in Cheshire. The oldest and most ancient of the Three Wiches it has had several names over the years, a few being; Warmundestrou, Wich Malbank, Helath Wen, Namptwyche or simply Nantwich. The town is second only to Chester for the number of listed buildings and accordingly is a place of great antiquity. Paul Hurley has taken old photographs and used them as a guide to photograph the scenes as they are today. The oldest is that of the Market Hall when it was in the Town Square in the 1860s through to High Street in the 1970s. Use the book as a guide to take you through this quite unique town and see just how things have changed over the years; buildings, infrastructure, people and vehicles all are featured.

Lundy Island lies far out in the Bristol Channel, between the coasts of North Devon and South Wales. Its position makes it a natural fortress and an attractive refuge since man first inhabited this rocky but fertile outcrop throughout its piratical history up to the present day. Now owned by the National Trust it is a haven for wildlife both above and beneath the waves; cared for and managed by the Landmark Trust. This book explores the island using photographs, many of which have never or rarely been published before, looking at the buildings, the land and the very life and soul of this popular destination for birdwatchers, holiday makers or those simply seeking quiet and solitude. It will be of great interest to those who have come to know and love this beautiful island haven, just three miles long by half a mile wide.

Peeblesshire and its attractive county town are situated in Upper Tweeddale, an area of great beauty and tranquillity. Tucked into the Borders Hills, with the River Tweed at its heart, Peebles has much to offer both tourists and residents, including walking, fishing and cycling or simply strolling along the river banks or exploring the charming high street. The city of Edinburgh is a mere 22 miles north but Peebles retains its market town identity and is very much part of The Borders. Peebles was created a Royal Burgh in 1367 by David II. Some remnants of its past are easily seen such as the thirteenth century Neidpath Castle, dramatically towering above a meander in the gorge; others remain only as traces, like the east port of the sixteenth-century town wall. This collection of photographs portrays some of the changes that have taken place to Peebles and its environs as the town has developed and grown.

Very few buildings that stood in the centre of Plymouth before the War still remain. The city was devastated by enemy bombing especially during 1941. Many of the old, narrow, congested streets were destroyed completely, changing the face of Plymouth forever. After the War, a new modern City Centre was built with first class stores and spacious streets. Vast changes have also occurred in the areas surrounding the centre. Some areas are now totally unrecognizable but often a bit of old wall, post or fence will be exactly the same as it was a hundred years ago making it easier to work out where an old building, factory or farmhouse might have once stood. This book will prove appealing to both people who are interested in the history of the city and also to those who are interested in how the area has changed over the years.

A border town for most of its history, Stockport owes its origins to a prehistoric ford and the fortified rocky outcrop that overlooked it. Early industry included the dyeing and bleaching of cloth, hatting, silk spinning and, later, cotton. Some of its medieval past has been hidden by rapid expansion during the early part of the Industrial Revolution, but much still remains if you know where to look. Stockport's market area, cobbled brows, historic buildings, thoroughfares, shopping centres and parks all add to the broad range of interest within these pages. The book is designed to make readers think again about a town they thought they knew - a town that has continued to change for over 750 years. It will encourage you to make your own journey into Stockport's hidden past.

Despite the close connection between Barking and Dagenham now, there was an obvious difference in how the two places developed. Built in the seventh century, Barking's abbey elevated the town into significance, while Dagenham, until quite recently, was only a small rural village. By the nineteenth century, Barking was an industrial town, its wealth growing around the town quay, while Dagenham was still focused on farming. Dagenham changed dramatically after the First World War when the Becontree estate, the largest council estate in the world at the time, engulfed the small village. Along with the new houses came new industries on the banks of the Thames and in other smaller industrial estates. As Barking spread eastward and the Becontree estate spread to the west, the space between the two towns began to disappear and Barking and Dagenham merged. However, as the pictures in this book show, among the modern buildings there are still signs of the past, when both towns were separate entities.

The town of Halifax is full of magnificent buildings designed by famous architects such as Sir Charles Barry, John Carr, Sir George Gilbert Scott and other buildings designed by the town's own talented architects. The town has altered quite dramatically during the last 150 years. Some of the earlier views dating from the Victorian period would be unrecognisable without more recent pictures to compare against. Changes to transport from the days of horse and carts, to trams and motorisation have brought other more noticeable changes in terms of traffic schemes and street signs in abundance and of course, the 'one way systems'. Halifax Through Time brings these changes to life contrasting the 'old' and 'new' and if the reader was so inclined, by following the structured sequence of photographs, provides a fascinating reference for a stroll around the town.

In Cheltenham Through Time, authors Roger Beacham and Lynne Cleaver show some of the different sides of this Spa town, where along with the Regency splendour is a much poorer side often hidden in other volumes. The historical photographs are mainly taken from a newspaper publication, the Cheltenham Chronicle and Gloucestershire Graphic, published weekly between 1901 and April 1942 when the wartime shortage of paper forced it to cease. The stories behind the images bring to life some of the everyday places and scenes we take for granted as we go about the town. Through the pages of this book the reader is invited to observe Cheltenham as it is today and using old photographs marvel at the many changes that have transformed the area through time, making it essential reading for anyone who is familiar with this jewel of the Cotswolds.

Prior to the nineteenth century, Bradford was very much a backwater. After that it was to become the metropolis of the worsted industry and enjoyed a prosperity scarcely equalled by any other portion of the kingdom. It was said at the time that the real energy of Yorkshire centred in Bradford. The times of growth were astounding and in 1897, when the town received its city status, Bradford truly was magnificent.Wherever you go in Bradford you cannot escape its rich industrial past. Many of the old mills remain, either converted to housing or awaiting demolition. Bradford Through Time goes to show us in many ways what we have lost, many of the older images display a way of life that appears rich and energetic with a real pride. You may be forgiven for thinking in some cases that we have gone backwards and not forwards in time.

Bournemouth Through Time is a wonderful collection of old and new photographs of Bournemouth. The older images are printed alongside a contemporary full colour photograph, which illustrates the same scene. The contrasting illustrations show how the area has changed and developed during the last 100 years. The photographs illustrate shops, schools, garages, churches, houses and street scenes.As you browse through the photographs, you will notice the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads and the number of residents, how shops and other businesses have evolved and the changes and developments in modes of transportation and the architecture of the area.

Redcar, Marske & Saltburn Through Time is a wonderful collection of old and new photographs of this historic area of Yorkshire. The older images are printed alongside a contemporary full colour photograph, which illustrates the same scene. The contrasting illustrations show how the area has changed and developed during the last 100 years. The photographs illustrate shops, schools, garages, churches, houses and street scenes, each photograph is captioned and the book has an introduction which gives a brief overview of the history of the area. As you browse through the photographs, you will notice the increase in the number of vehicles on the roads and the number of residents, how shops and other businesses have evolved and the changes and developments in modes of transportation and the architecture of the area.

Dunfermline is an ancient royal burgh which has played an important role in the history of Scotland. With its medieval abbey and attached royal palace, it was for long a seat of royalty. The royals with a close association with Dunfermline included the saintly Queen Margaret and King Robert the Bruce, and Charles I was born there. When handloom weaving gave way to the power loom and the factory system. the auld grey toun underwent a veritable revolution. In the twentieth century, the town has undergone further significant change. In the early part of that century it benefited from the generous benefactions of its most famous son Andrew Carnegie. Thanks to its proximity to booming Edinburgh, the auld grey toun has grown in size and population. The images in Dunfermline Through Time illustrate some of the many ways that social and industrial change has transformed the auld royal burgh.

Bournemouth Airport was first opened as RAF Hurn on 1 August 1941, one of the bases established by the RAF to counter the Luftwaffe presence across the Channel in northern France. RAF Hurn would go on to serve as a base for the development of radar in aircraft and as a base for bombers and fighter-bombers supporting the D-Day invasion of France. BOAC operated civilian services from Hurn as early as January 1942, flying at first just to Cairo but later to Madrid, Lisbon and Ireland, and between the end the war and 1 June 1946 Hurn was Britain’s main international airport.After the departure of BOAC, Hurn was used as an industrial centre by companies such as Airwork, de Havilland and Vickers-Armstrongs, as well as playing host from 1948 until 2011 to the College of Air Traffic Control. Bournemouth Airport today serves airlines such as Ryanair and various charter services. In this book, Mike Phipp takes a look at the history of Bournemouth Airport from its early years to the present day.

Taking his cue from this series’ title of ‘Through Time’, life-long Harrow resident and historian Don Walter here attempts something slightly different from the standard book of quick ‘then and now’ snapshots of his home-town. Calling upon his considerable treasure trove of old, occasionally rare, pictures as well as the invaluable knowledge gained in writing around a dozen local history books, he seeks – wherever possible – to show the actual development of the town from a largely agricultural community with its heart on Harrow Hill to today’s sprawling London Borough.Though he leaves little doubt about his own feelings on many of the changes depicted, readers can still enjoy the undoubted pleasure of making up their own minds on whether the gains of the twenty-first century truly outweigh the losses of a more characterful, individualistic past. En route, they can also look forward to learning much that is new, surprising and entertaining about a largely unique place – one which the author is still proud to call his home.

Yorkshire remains the largest county in England, and to those born within its boundaries it is unquestionably the greatest; whether this pride is justified or not, it would surely be difficult to find a county with more claims to the visitor's interest. These include the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. One of the grandest areas of unspoiled country in the whole of England, the Dales are mountains and moorland, as well as peaceful villages, waterfalls and awe-inspiring caverns.The North York Moors, another of the loveliest parts of England, is bounded by the splendour of the Yorkshire coast. The area is rich in history; many monuments, glorious cathedrals, magnificent houses, castles and some of the most beautiful ruins in England bear eloquent witness to the county's often tumultuous past. In this work, the author shares his fascination and love of his native county.

Thornton, on the outskirts of Bradford, was actually the birthplace of the Brontes, not the West Riding moorland village of Haworth. Patrick Bronte came here in 1815, with a wife and two young children and left for Haworth five years later with six children, the last four being the most significant in the Bronte story. This fascinating area is brought to life here in Alan Whitworth's book. The Parsonage on Market Street in which the Bronte children were born and lived, is now a private residence and not open to the public. As for the rest of this village, a great deal still remains that would be familiar to the Brontes, the same steep cobbled streets which they trod are little changed, and many of the houses would have been visited by Patrick on his parochial duties.

The ancient town of Brecon was originally enclosed within the walls of a Norman castle. Today it has evolved into a pleasant market town in a unique setting in the heart of National Parkland. Here you can visit the promenade, take to the waters of the beautiful River Usk or stroll along narrow streets with the most wonderful of names, see relics from Brecon's once thriving Flannel Industry, and wonder at the magnificent Cathedral and the peace of the Priory Groves.With an abundance of rare and some quite ancient photographs together with modern interpretations in beautiful colour Brecon Through Time has so much to offer visitors and residents. This town, with its history and military background, is unique in the whole of Wales. Connect with its warmth and charm, its inhabitants and its hidden gems. You never know, you may even meet a real time traveller!

Two ancient areas, very different but inextricably linked by the past. Bermondsey, a name established in Saxon times had its rural abbey, farm and tanning pits. Rotherhithe, translating as a bovine landing stage, had its shipbuilding, rope works and eighteenth century maritime connections. Both places have magical tales to tell, some of which are briefly narrated in this book. There are beautiful churches, old forgotten monuments, cockney days out and tragic accounts of war.It was to Bermondsey that people flocked to find a cure for the plague, believing that vapours from the tan pits would thwart the disease. It was Rotherhithe where the first underwater tunnel, built by the Brunels, was dug out. The Second World War re-shaped the landscape and now regeneration is forming a new one. This is a book of contrasts and surprises, with around fifty pictures that have rarely seen the light of day.