Shaftesbury

Thomas Hardy once described Shaftesbury as ''A city of a dream''. In this collection, local author Eric Olsen attempts to lend substance to the receding past ans ever-changing appearance of this picturesque town with over 200 rare archive photographs and expertly researched captions. Within these covers. the twentieth-century stage of developments stage of development in this town''s rich heritage is illustrated with fascinating images. The book shows Shaftesbury as it once was - places such as the High Street, Park Walk, Gold Hill and St James. as well as various churches, schools and public houses. Besides the town''s changing landscape, people and events are also featured, including sports teams, class photographs, carnivals in the 1930s and 1950s, the Viking Visit of 1949 and the Coronation celebrations in 1953. Shastonians of all ages will receive a lot of pleasure from this book. Those who have a long-standing acquaintance with the town will have memories who are not as familiar will gain an insight into Shaftesbury''s past.