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In this series of books, old picture postcards and other early illustrations are each matched with a modern view of the same scene, resulting in a fascinating series of comparisons. Each book is A5 landscape paperback in format with 96 pages and a minimum of 82 photographs.

It is hoped that there will be future books in the series on other communities in Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset – and the authors would be interested to hear from anyone with collections of old postcards.

CHANDLER’S FORD - YESTERDAY AND TODAY
by Barbara Hillier and Gerald Ponting, 1998, ISBN 0951742337

The first book in the series was the result of a collaboration with Barbara Hillier, concerning the suburban community in which Barbara has spent all her life, Chandler’s Ford. Published in 1998 by by Millers Dale Publications, it is now out of print after selling 2000 copies. See our new, more comprehensive book.

ROMSEY YESTERDAY AND TODAY
by Barbara Burbridge and Gerald Ponting, 1999
Published by MDP in association with LTVAS Group
ISBN 0951742345, £5.95

I then worked with Barbara Burbridge and other members of LTVAS (the Romsey local history society). The resulting book continues to be available, with over 2000 copies already sold.

BOURNEMOUTH YESTERDAY AND TODAY
by Anthony Light and Gerald Ponting, 2003
Charlewood Press, ISBN 0953395537, £6.95

As we had, at least for a while, exhausted the possibilities of Fordingbridge, Anthony Light and I turned our attentions to Bournemouth – and the third book in the series was issued in October 2003.

BREAMORE YESTERDAY AND TODAY
by Anthony Light and Gerald Ponting
Charlewood Press, 2005, ISBN 0953395545
48 pages, 73 photographs, 3 maps, £3.95

The fourth book, while still relying on both old and new photographs, is a slimmer volume and based on a slightly different concept. It provides a general history and guide book to the largely unspoilt Hampshire village where the two authors were brought up.

BOURNEMOUTH

Generally speaking, English seaside resorts grew up from existing small towns or fishing villages. Bournemouth, however, developed in a previously uninhabited and remote area of heathland. Probably, few of today’s holiday-makers realise that such a large and thriving town simply did not exist as little as two hundred years ago, the very first holiday home being built in 1812.

Later, in the Victorian era, little souvenir books of engraved views were sold to the increasing number of visitors. In Edwardian times, large numbers of picture postcards were published. In this new book, each old picture derived from these sources is placed opposite a specially-taken modern view of the same scene.