Has the Surrey Hills landscape succeeded in keeping its charm?
Donald Ashley Birkinshaw had a passion for the countryside and for photography and his evocative scenes of post-war Surrey are part nostalgic, part reassuringly familiar. The landscape is emptier and less manicured than today.
Chiddingfold circa 1950
Coldharbour circa 1950
Ewhurst circa 1950
Frensham circa 1950
Hascombe circa 1950
Haslemere circa 1950
Leith Hill circa 1950
Peaslake circa 1950
Shalford circa 1950
Wonersh circa 1950
The 2008 view of the same landscapes and buildings show how much the car has intruded with all its accompanying paraphernalia of road signs and markings. More trees, less open space but the countryside and villages are still beautiful.
These before and after images show that very little has changed over the last 50 years.
Chiddingfold 2008
Coldharbour 2008
Ewhurst 2008
Frensham 2008
Hascombe 2008
Haslemere 2008
Leith Hill 2008
Peaslake 2008
Shalford 2008
Wonersh 2008
