Rare photographs of Wiltshire in 1930s published in new book

Britain in the 1930s, written by historians Steven Brindle and Maureen Hill and published by Atlantic Publishing, features more than 600 previously unseen black-and-white photographs capturing everyday moments and sweeping change across Wiltshire and the rest of the region.

The photographs show a region in transition, evolving from rural isolation to a booming destination for domestic tourism.

Through more than 900 extraordinary black and white images, this remarkable book reveals a Britain on the cusp of enormous change – a world that would soon be transformed forever by the Second World War.

Scenes include a bustling livestock market in Salisbury, Lord Weymouth supervising in Gough’s Caves at Cheddar Gorge, and the finish of the RAC’s first 1,000-mile rally in Torquay.

Devon’s Tinside Lido appears packed on a hot summer’s day, while St Ives artist John Anthony Park is pictured painting on the quayside.

The book paints a picture of contrast: while economic depression and unemployment hit industrial communities hard, other areas saw rising prosperity, suburban growth and the rise of consumer culture.

For the South West, the decade also marked the arrival of urban workers seeking affordable coastal holidays.

Coastal resorts like Torquay, Newquay and St Ives expanded with Art Deco-style pavilions, lidos and entertainment venues, while inland, grassland farming helped cement the region’s reputation for cream, butter and cheese.

Much of rural Britain still appeared unchanged from previous centuries, with village greens, medieval churches and market squares dotting the landscape.

The photographs reveal a world where horses and carts still shared roads with motorcars, and where picturesque villages, market towns and centuries-old buildings remained at the heart of British identity.

Horses and carts could still be seen sharing the road with motorcars.

The photographs come from the archive of Associated Newspapers, supported by contributions from Getty Images, including the Hulton Library and the Keystone Collection.

Distinguished photographers featured include James Dixon-Scott, Anthony Frank Kersting, Will F. Taylor and Leo Herbert Felton.

Britain in the 1930s is a 616-page photographic chronicle of a nation on the cusp of modernity, reflecting JB Priestley's vision of "three Englands"—the ancient, the industrial, and the suburban.

The book will be published in hardback on November 5, 2026, priced at £50.