My hometown

Just thought you Guys might like to see a few photos of my hometown... with a a difference!

I've only managed to add a few pages so far, but I've plenty more to do.

Historic Stowmarket (http://steve-cooper.members.beeb.net/Historic/Homex.html)

Please let me know what you think... :)

Quite amazing,

The difference that cars have made, although efforts have been made to keep the 'olde worlde' bit, the buildings are much the same above eye level, trees still there, layouts alike. The big change is traffic lights, road signs, large pavements and painted lines. The old photo's people were happy to wander in the street the present the pavement is large enough to limit the cars.

Please keep us posted to the updates as and when.

Simon

Will do, Simon. And Thanks! :)

It's been really fascinating to do, too.
I've got an old town map (1860) which I'm trying to scale up to a modern OS map. That should be interesting, too.

Excellent work Sparky, that's my favourite way to look at historical streetscape photos, with a contemporary shot from the same spot, angle etc. You can get a real idea of the effects of the passing of time. I'm amazed by how little your town has changed over the years.

Last night i had dinner in a restaurant that features many large photos of local landmarks from 1860-1930, virtually nothing in these photos remains. The locations, all familiar to me, weren't even recognisable. I guess, change is likely to be greater and faster in a younger country.

Cool site, bloke!

Only one question though - the modern day piccies weren't shot from the center of the road like the old ones. Why ? :)

'Cos I was scared of getting run over!! ;)

Well done, Sparky. The blue traffic lights at Ipswich Road are amazing as well. ;)

Sparky, what a lovely town. You've done a great job.
When I was a kid, I had a book called "New York Then and Now", the comparitive pictures were a great delight. I coomend your efforts , Bravo.

Thanks for the kind words guys!

I have uploaded the 'olde world' 1866 town map, but I'm having trouble finding a suitable current-configuration map to go with it.

I got chatting to an old fella (I mean OLD! He must be 95 y/o!) at the library today, I told him what I was up to, and he's agreed to let me borrow an old copy of the Stowmarket Town Gazette, where the cover story is the uproar after the council announced the town square statue was to be removed. We'll see! ;)

I'm going to try and interview him (in a discreet, casual kinda way!) about his experiences in the town. Might work, might not. I'll give it a try. :)

Sparky, I only just recently had the time to visit your website and to say I love it is an understatement.
It's beautiful. I really like this kind of nostalgia.
If you're like me, you're not just comparing the pictures but you're looking at every door and window to see what has changed.

Unfortunately I can't do this 'Then & Now' thing at my home town, because almost all of the 'Then' is gone.
A couple of years ago we had a mayor, nicknamed 'John the Demolition Contractor' who teared down all the old buildings in our town to replace them with...well, you know, supermarkets, offices and petrol stations.
Even the house where I was born and grew up is gone.

I now live in a very 'clean' and modern city but I sometimes do long back to those old squares and small streets where I used to play.

Anyway, you did a fine job and I'm waiting for that interview to read.

Oh the memories of my old home town as well. Well at least I lived there for 6 years (left in 1991).
Has the bypass made a lot of difference - seems to be a lot quieter than I remember it.
But as long as the Oriental Fountain is still there (best Chinese restaurant in Suffolk) then I'm happy.

Thanks for that Gerard - I'll do my best! ;)

Les, the by-pass (still called the 'new road' by the locals!) was devastating for the towns tradespeople. It's so quiet. The plans were to make the town centre pedestrian only, but they wouldn't hear of it. Instead, we have a one way system through Bury street, 'No right turn' from Milton Road into Bury Street (a major pain in the bum) and 'No left turn' out of Bury street into Tavern Street (an even bigger pain!)

Mind you, I can't begin to imagine how awful it must have been to have the A45 going through Stowmarket town centre. I've got a photo of that somewhere too! Absolute Bedlam!

Don't worry about the Oriental Fountain: That'll be there for years yet. (Mind you, they were closed down for a while by the Public Health Dept. a few months back! :eek: Don't eat the chicken!! :laugh: )