A HISTORIAN and author has released a new book detailing Chippenham’s history through a series of remarkable old photos, taken from postcards and archives.

Chris Breach, from Lacock, spent many years researching the local area and has produced a book full of 180 pictures to show Chippenham’s streets throughout centuries of change.

The book, Chippenham From Old Photographs, shows how the town’s population has rapidly risen in recent decades as new housing suburbs have spread out around the historic centre.

The North Wiltshire town still has many of its old buildings shown in the book, such as the 15th century Yelde Hall and other buildings that decorate Market Place.

The book features descriptive captions underneath each photograph, helping the reader to learn more about the town’s rich history with well-researched facts.

Perhaps one of the most interesting developments shown in the book is the transformation of Market Place. As was traditional in the early 1900s, Market Place was filled with livestock auctions and produce stalls.

It has been published by Amberley Books, and has been described as ‘a welcome addition to Amberley’s From Old Photographs series’.

The publisher said: “In Chippenham From Old Photographs author Chris Breach has drawn on a remarkable selection of old photographs to give a pictorial record of how much the town and the community has changed over the last century.

“Although many of the landmarks have remained the same over the years, the photographs show the town adapting and evolving with many other buildings being replaced and the pattern of life in the town changing for many too.

“This fascinating collection of images will be of interest to those who have lived in Chippenham or know it well as well as the many visitors to the area.”

The book can be bought online for £14.99 on amberley-books.com/chippenham-from-old-photographs.html.

It is also available on Kindle, Kobo and iBook.