Southampton Reflections

Southampton has been a major port on England’s South Coast since the medieval era and sections of the ancient city walls remain today. In the nineteenth century the town expanded further following the formation of the Southampton Docks Company, building of a railway connection with London and the growth of shipbuilding and other related industries. Devastated by aerial bombardment in the Second World War, much of Southampton had to be rebuilt in the decades afterwards. Development continues to the present day, including new housing, leisure and retail areas along the waterfront. Southampton Reflections features an exciting collection of historic and modern pictures that are individually merged to reveal how the area has changed over the decades. Each of the 180 pictures in this book combines a recent color view of Southampton with the matching sepia archive scene. Through the split-image effect, readers can see how streets, buildings and everyday life have transformed with the passing of time. Local authors Ben Waring, Peter Wardall and Rod Andrews present this fascinating visual chronicle that ingeniously reflects past and present glimpses of Southampton. This book will be of interest to residents, visitors, local historians and all those with links to the area.