Peter Byrom

The city of Chester grew up around one of the largest Roman fortresses in the country. Its cathedral and Norman castle are evidence of Chester’s importance in the Middle Ages. During the Industrial Revolution the arrival of canals and railways brought increasing prosperity to Chester, resulting in a further boom in building, and in the twentieth century the town expanded beyond the city walls. Today the city attracts many visitors to its numerous ancient buildings, not least the Rows, two-storey shops in the distinctive black-and-white architecture of the town, and the preserved circuit of city walls, and it is a thriving commercial centre for the area. Chester: The Postcard Collection takes the reader on an evocative journey into Chester’s past through a selection of old postcards that offer a fascinating window into the history of this city in Cheshire.

Beautiful postcards capture old Lytham St Annes in all its glory.

Fleetwood and Thornton Cleveleys are well known for their proximity to the coast. Developed during the Victorian era, Fleetwood retains a lot of this style, with remnants of its once vibrant life as a deep-sea fishing port. As a popular resort, today it acts as a quiet contrast to busier nearby towns, and is home to the Mount, a 7-acre park offering views across Morcambe Bay. Thornton Cleveleys, like Fleetwood, is also a prominent seaside town. The wonderful promenade, the Jubilee Gardens and the relaxing boating lake are just a few of the attractions this picturesque area has to offer, aside from the peaceful estuary and the historic Marsh Mill. Lancashire enthusiast Peter Byrom delves into the history of these areas, through a collection of remarkable old and new photographs.

This fascinating collection of old and new photographs of Lytham, Fairhaven and Ansdell provides a wonderfully nostalgic look at these towns on Lancashire's Fylde coast. In their heyday these towns, famous for their gardens, mansions, spacious streets and luxurious hotels, attracted some of the wealthiest people in the country. Businessmen commuted daily into Manchester, retired industrialists played golf and the rich sent their children to be educated here. This was also a coast of many contrasts and extremes; as the resorts also welcomed some of the poorest people in the country. Each year, charities brought thousands of children from the slums of the industrial towns of the north here to holiday camps and homes. This book will appeal to all who know and love this area, whether it be as a home or as a place they come back to year after year.

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which St Annes has changed and developed over the last century.