Colchester

Colchester is the oldest recorded town in Britain, with a history dating back to before Roman times. The roots of the modern town, however, lie in the nineteenth century, a period which coincides with the development of photography. This fascinating collection of over 200 pictures offers a unique glimpse of Colchester and its suburbs from the 1860s up to recent decades.

The photographs are drawn from a variety of sources, including local collections, official archives and the author’s private collection. The great majority have not been published before.

As well as charting the evolution of Colchester’s buildings and infrastructure, there are valuable and intriguing insights into the life and work of the town’s people. Schooldays, industry, transport, the impact of two world wars and special events such as Coronations and Jubilees are all included here. These varied images are accompanied throughout by interesting and well researched captions, which provide a wealth of background information to the pictures.

This compilation provides a unique overview of the last 140 years of the town’s history. It will serve as a nostalgic reminder to those who remember Colchester as it used to be, and for newcomers it will provide a valuable guide to the town’s past.