Since it was founded in 1810 by Lewis Tregonwell, the Dorset resort of Bournemouth has developed to become a favourite destination for holidaymakers across the decades. Many people have happy recollections of summers spent there, but although the memories remain constant, the town has witnessed many changes, some good and some bad. In Lost Bournemouth, local author John Needham brings together 160 colour, black-and-white and sepia photographs from throughout last century to show what has changed and how the way of life has altered through the generations. The book will focus on certain areas of the town such as the seafront and the pier, and the cinemas, theatres and the Winter Gardens that entertained the many visitors and residents of the town that have now vanished. Even everyday street scenes show how Bournemouth has developed, while pictures of the magnificent Victoria Gardens, with its once great fountains that have been replaced with flower beds, reveal what has been consigned to the history books. There are countless changes to the town that have taken place and this book will bring back many memories, using images from the past and some from the present day. Lost Bournemouth shows the reader what has been forgotten and what has disappeared through time. It is an engrossing visual chronicle, providing a wealth of history and recollections for residents and visitors alike.

Bournemouth was originally a deserted heathland on England’s South Coast until the area was developed as a health resort in the early nineteenth century. The town grew rapidly in size and by 1900 Bournemouth was firmly established as a popular tourist destination and a fashionable home by the sea, with grand hotels, gardens, a concert hall and a host of other cultural and entertainment venues. During the Second World War Bournemouth was a direct target with aerial bombing raids destroying many homes and familiar buildings with a significant loss of life. The seafront was fortified, and the beach mined and covered with obstacles as it was a possible target of invasion, and many iron structures were dismantled for the war effort. Communities learned to deal with rationing, air raids and large numbers of evacuees. The war had a devastating effect on local communities through the loss of life, the destruction of familiar places, the movement of people and the hardships experienced at home but both were also a time of courage and fortitude in an effort to continue with everyday life. In this book, local historian author John Needham has captured the tribulations of the times in words and pictures, telling the stories of many local men, women and children during this trying period. Bournemouth at War pays tribute to the people of this town who served, died and lived through the Second World War, and how they managed to endure in the face of the horrors of war.

The sixties, seventies and eighties were decades of great change. Many towns and cities were redeveloped with projects that dramatically affected the character of the place. People’s shopping habits were altered as supermarkets took over from traditional stores and corner shops. Leisure habits were changing too, as cheap air travel led to the arrival of the foreign package holiday and a new range of leisure facilities were developed at home. Fashions, as ever, were changing in this period, reflecting radical changes in society and the ways in which we viewed ourselves. Transport also evolved, with a move away from the railway and buses, creating a strain on the roads leading to new road schemes. These changes in people’s habits and lifestyles were keenly felt in Bournemouth on the south coast of England. As the town grew in size, the traditional seaside resort also became a conference centre. Areas of the town and landmarks were redeveloped, sometimes controversially, and the town’s service and financial industries expanded alongside the wide range of cultural activities on offer. Local author John Needham recaptures it all in this fascinating portrayal of the town and its people over the course of these most nostalgic decades.

Each of my stories portray settings that seem as though they may have really happened, but could not possibly be so. Each and every concept is straight out of my head, and figments of my imagination. None of the content is real, even if I wanted or willed it to be. All of it is pure fantasy, as much as it would be nice that any of it is real. It is my strongest hope that I draw you in to imagine along with me for a while.

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone

Bournemouth in the 1950s & '60s offers a rare glimpse of life in the town during a fascinating period, which started with post-war austerity and ended with Britain becoming the music and fashion capital of the world. This volume - featuring a superb collection of colour images of Bournemouth's holiday heyday - focusses on Bournemouth as it is most fondly remembered: as a great seaside resort.