The Francis Frith Collection

05/02/2026

in 1953 sweets were taken ‘off ration’ in Britain, 8 years after the Second World War had ended, to the delight of millions of happy children!

Photo of Ashdown Forest, the Providore, Broadstone Warren c1955, from The Francis Frith Collection

13/01/2026

From the heart of the village to the heart of the harvest, the images in The Francis Frith Collection provide a fascinating documentary record of rural life and social and economic change in Britain’s countryside over the last 150 years, showing how country life and landscapes have altered over time. We hope you enjoy this nostalgic selection of vintage photographs from the Collection celebrating the countryside and rural life in the past.

From the heart of the village to the heart of the harvest, the images in The Francis Frith Collection provide a fascinating documentary record of rural life and social and economic change in Britain’s countryside over the last 150 years.

14/10/2025

(14th October), in 1066 one of the most famous battles in English history took place in East Sussex, when the Anglo-Saxon forces of King Harold Godwinson fought the army of Duke William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings. After crossing the Channel, Duke William disembarked his forces near Pevensey, which was then on the coast and not a mile inland as it is today. After laying the area waste for about 2 weeks, William and his forces marched to meet King Harold and his army on a hill about 6 miles north-west of Hastings. The Normans had the victory, and William, ‘the Conqueror’, became King William I. King William later founded Battle Abbey on the site of the combat, in gratitude for his victory and to atone for the slaughter, and the town of Battle grew up around it. The original Norman gatehouse of the Benedictine abbey was replaced with the magnificent gatehouse seen in this view in 1338. The abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538. The former abbot’s house is now Battle Abbey School, whilst the other abbey buildings and ruins are in the care of English Heritage, with an exhibition about the battle and audio tours of the battlefield site where Anglo-Saxon England ended and the Norman Conquest of Britain began.

Photo of Battle, the Abbey Gatehouse 1927, from The Francis Frith Collection

10/10/2025

in 1928, the year this photo was taken, the Tyne Bridge at Newcastle-upon-Tyne was opened by King George V. Linking Newcastle and Gateshead, its famous parabolic arch was Britain’s largest steel arch when it was built, and is one of the iconic views of Newcastle. Happy 97th Birthday to the Tyne Bridge!

Photo of Newcastle upon Tyne, the Quayside 1928, from The Francis Frith Collection

11/09/2025

We continue our celebration of the 200th anniversary of the railways this September with this selection shunning today's hectic, bustling commuter scenes in favour of nostalgic archive photos of quiet train station platforms of the early part of last century.

A selection of archive photos of life on railway platforms in the early part of the last century to continue our celebration of the 200th anniversary of the railways

01/09/2025

September 2025 is the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway, when Britain and the world changed forever. Join us on a nostalgic journey back in time to the golden age of steam!

26/08/2025

Today marks the 66th anniversary of the launch by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) of the diminutive Mini car, which was unveiled on 26th August 1959 and went on to become one of the best-selling and best-loved British cars in history. We mark this anniversary with a selection of nostalgic photographs from The Francis Frith Collection showing this iconic car in its 1960s heyday. Have fun finding the Mini cars in these views!

We mark the 66th anniversary of the launch of the Mini with a selection of nostalgic photographs from The Francis Frith Collection showing this iconic car in its 1960s heyday. Have fun finding the Mini cars in these views!

23/07/2025

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16/07/2025

The seaside pier has been at the heart of the traditional British family holiday since the mid-1800s. The memories of promenading fashionably along the boardwalk glancing down at the rushing, cold sea below, or playing the slot machines in the pleasure palace; or enjoying the sights and sounds of the funfair, and indulging in sticks of peppermint rock, candy floss and fish and chips.

Since the mid-1800s, the seaside pier has been at the heart of the traditional British family holiday: memories of promenading fashionably along the boardwalk glancing down at the rushing, cold sea below, or playing the slot machines in the pleasure palace; or enjoying the sights and sounds of the f...

15/07/2025

Today is St Swithun’s Day, named after a former Bishop of Wi******er who was known for his lack of pomp and ostentation. When he died in AD862 he was buried in the graveyard of Wi******er Cathedral at his own request, saying that he wanted the rain to fall on him, but over a century later, his remains were moved from their original resting-place to his shrine inside the cathedral. After this was done, there was a period of rain that lasted 40 days; it was believed that the saint was displeased with his bones being moved and had protested by 'weeping'. There is an old saying that if it rains on St Swithun’s Day, it will continue to rain for the next 40 days.
St Swithun’s Day, if thou dost rain
For forty days it will remain.
St Swithun’s Day, if thou be fair
For forty days, ‘twill rain no mair.

Let's hope it doesn’t rain today!

Wi******er’s huge cathedral that stands today was begun in 1079 and consecrated in 1093, but the building was consistently altered up till the 16th century. Inside the cathedral is a stunning 12th-century black marble font, carved with scenes from the life of St Nicholas. There are also magnificent 14th-century carved stalls and a beautiful 15th-century reredos, as well as other treasures such as the Wi******er Bible in the Cathedral Library, which dates from the 12th century and is probably the finest illustrated book in England.

Photo of Wi******er, the Cathedral 1911, from The Francis Frith Collection

10/07/2025

Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts! These lovely wickerwork beach chairs-cum-shelters were all the rage at Rhyl in 1913.

Photo of Rhyl, the Beach and the Pier 1913, from The Francis Frith Collection

04/07/2025

A busy day on the beach at Llandudno in north Wales captured by a Frith photographer in 1890. Here we see a typical Victorian beach scene, with an almost complete absence of skin exposed to the sun and everyone wearing some sort of hat. You have to feel sorry for those poor boys in their suits and boots, who must have been melting in the heat!

Photo of Llandudno, on the Beach 1890, from The Francis Frith Collection