Rural Britain (Then & Now) [Hardcover]

Roger Hunt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 8, 2004 | Series: Then & Now

In 1860, Francis Frith began to take photographs of popular tourist destinations round Britain so holidaymakers could take home souvenirs of their visit. Over the next 50 years he and his team of photographers took thousands of photographs for Victorian tourists to paste into their albums. From churches to windmills, castles to carts, nothing was missed by the camera, and the resulting archive is not only a record of a century of social change, but a glimpse into Britain's past. Through this remarkable collection of pictures, the story of the countryside unfolds. Brought up to date by contemporary photographs, Rural Britain Then & Now tells the fascinating story of rural life and will be enjoyed by lovers of the countryside past and present.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Roger Hunt is the author of Villages of England, (Harper Collins) and Hidden Depths, an archaeological exploration of Surrey's past. A regular contributor to a wide range of magazines, he has written extensively on British buildings, property and history and has a particular Interest in vernacular buildings and the materials and techniques used in their construction.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Cassell Illustrated (September 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844030431
• ISBN-13: 978-1844030439
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,786,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book for anyone interested in the British countryside and historical photography, November 12, 2010

By 

Cathy G. Cole (Phoenix, AZ USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rural Britain Then & Now: A Celebration of the British Countryside Featuring Photographs from the Francis Frith Collection (Paperback)

First Line: Britain was born out of the countryside; from hills and fields, streams and mountains, moors and downs, fens and forests: places where nature's architecture and man's industry have, over millennia, combined.

1859 marked the beginning of Francis Frith & Co.-- the world's first specialist photographic publisher. In 1860 Frith embarked on a monumental project: to photograph every town and village in the United Kingdom. Today anyone with an interest in British history and photography is in for a treat when they visit the Francis Frith website... where it's almost impossible not to make a purchase.

When I saw that this book was available, I had to snap up a copy because, to me, the best part of Britain is its countryside-- its fields and villages-- and page by page, photograph by photograph, I was led on a marvelous journey throughout rural England.

The before and after photos are wonderful, but there is a lot to be learned from the text as well. The origin of pubs, popular sports, how the farmers and villagers lived together, worked together, and played together.

This book is such a rich source of material that I know I'll be referring to it again and again. If you have the slightest interest in British history or historical photography, you'll get a lot of enjoyment from Rural Britain Then & Now, too.