Lost Cheltenham

The Gloucestershire spa town of Cheltenham is famous for its Cotswold location, Regency architecture and horse racing. However, there are many more facets to the story of Cheltenham once you look beneath its Regency exterior.Using more than 100 images from the last 150 years, ’Lost Cheltenham’ reveals how much the town has changed through the decades. The pictures show what has been lost and consigned to memory, but also reflects how the town has been reinvented and highlights some of the lasting features that hint at times gone by. Discover the buildings, streets, churches, factories, houses, shops, theatres, cinemas, parks and public spaces, schools and other places that have disappeared from the town. Also featured are the people, events, organisations, transport and jobs that were once an important part of the community.The authors, Rebecca Sillence and Fred Coster, have compiled an engaging selection of black-and-white and colour images, which reflect the changing face of Cheltenham. Many of the town’s buildings, jobs and street scenes were only lost in the 1960s and 1970s, so the subjects will be well within living memory. Images from the post-war era will also spark a host of memories for readers. Among the places featured are the Black and White coach station, shops including The Famous and Dale Forty, Whitbred Flowers Brewery and The Winter Gardens. The inclusion of pictures right up to the present day provides an engrossing visual chronicle of change and contrast.

Rebecca lives in Cheltenham with her husband and works for her local library service, primarily in the local and family history department. Born and educated in Gloucester, she grew up in Churchdown and has a passion for the history of the people and places of Gloucestershire. She is enthusiastic about encouraging people to explore their heritage and has recently embarked on setting up Regency Research, her own private genealogy and local history research business.Fred Coster works for his local library service. He is also a keen photographer and has worked professionally in film and digital mediums. He enjoys digitally restoring photos and is passionate about historic images and old photographic techniques.