Warminster Through Time

by Andrew Pickering and Kathryn Dyer

Published 15 February 2013
Warminster's industrial and agricultural heyday was already past by the dawn of the age of the picture postcard. Its once important role in the Wiltshire woollen cloth industry was a distant memory, and its famous corn market was reduced. Warminster is portrayed by these early photographs as a bustling town; its eighteenth- and nineteenth-century prosperity is evident in a wide range of fine civic, commercial, communal and private properties. The absence of any great revival in Warminster's economic fortunes during the twentieth century is apparent in the paired images in this book, which show, for better or worse, how little the architectural fabric of the town, as it looked a century ago, has changed. Now, much expanded, Warminster continues as a busy, popular and well-placed county town, and one that is steeped in history.

The small town of Bruton is one of Somerset's hidden gems. With a history of settlement that stretches back to pre-Conquest times, its charming highways and alleyways ('bartons') have retained much of their ancient character. Although Bruton's industry is now very much a thing of the past, its even older association with education still, in part, defines the town today. This book focuses on the town's rich architectural heritage of schools, churches, businesses, and homes, and the tale of change and continuity they tell. Packed with archive and contemporary photographs, most previously unpublished, In & Around Bruton Though Time serves as both a useful guide to the visitor and as a valuable resource for those interested in finding out more about the town in which they live.

Cheddar Through Time

by Andrew Pickering and Nicola Foster

Published 15 August 2011
Now that the railway has gone and most visitors disembark from the car and coach bays above the world-famous caves, this book explores Cheddar past and present from the top of its dramatic gorge to the substantial reservoir beyond the bustling village below. While its caves have long served as the village's main attraction, there is a great deal more to discover here regarding a singular tale of mills and trains, churches and schools, strawberries and cheese.Packed with archive and contemporary photographs, many previously unpublished, Cheddar Through Time serves as both a practical guidebook for the visitor exploring this fascinating place for the first time, and a useful resource for those interested in finding out more about its rich history.

Located at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, the town of Frome has a rich and fascinating history. Centred around the River Frome, it is thought that the name of the town and river comes from the word ffraw, Old English for fine, fair or brisk, in describing the flow of the river. In April 2010, the Frome Horad was found, which included the largest hoard of Roman coins found in Britain. The site of the town was also settled by the Saxons, where a monastery was built by St Adhelm in 685. The manufacture of wool was established as the main industry of the town in the fifteenth century and led to major developments in the town. Other industries included a bell foundry that was started in 1684. This unique selection of old and new images will be essential reading for anyone who knows and loves this town.