Browse photos of 8,750 UK towns and villages taken between 1860 and 1970.
The Francis Frith Collection is a nationally important archive that records the changing face of Britain since 1860.
Browse photos of 8,750 UK towns and villages taken between 1860 and 1970.
The Francis Frith Collection is a nationally important archive that records the changing face of Britain since 1860.
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Share Your Memories - Join in!
To date, the visitors to this website have shared 86,774 memories of 7,677 UK towns & villages.
From just a few words, to rich, insightful stories of the past, each one is a fabulous record of local life. Read memories our website visitors have shared of their favourite UK places - we hope you'll join in too and add your own memories triggered by our special photos.
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The Great British Pier
Since the mid-1800s, the seaside pier has been at the heart of the traditional British family holiday: memories of promenading fashionably along the boardwalk glancing down at the rushing, cold sea below, or playing the slot machines in the pleasure palace; or enjoying the sights and sounds of the funfair, and indulging in sticks of peppermint rock, candy floss and fish and chips.
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Who was Francis Frith?
Born into a Quaker family in 1822 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Francis Frith was a remarkable person. The story of his life and the photographic archive that is now his legacy is fascinating beyond compare. After almost being lost to bulldozers forever, the photographs his company created are an amazing and unique step back in time and now, with the wonders of modern technology, the current company and now custodian of this original archive has created this web site to showcase his and other photographers' work and allow you to purchase your own version of a truly wonderful piece of history.
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