Ashford Visual Recollections

Description

See the changing face of Ashford, Kent, in this new title from well-known local author Steve R Salter.

Focusing on the period covering the 1950s, ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, the reader is taken on a journey from pre-change to post-change, using a well-devised balance of both colour and black and white images from the author’s extensive archive on the town, including many recently acquired and never printed before.

The images depict life in Ashford and its immediate surrounding during uncertain times for many, and many of the intense changes to the town are clearly illustrated. The focus is on ‘living memory’, and will bring a tear to the eye of those who witnessed and experienced these changes.

The book covers a wide spectrum of subjects, including former traders, shops and features of the town, long lost streets and memorable events in its recent history.

The book includes clear and informative captions and also recently discovered imagery that has lay undiscovered for years.

About the Author

Steve Salter is an acknowledged authority on the History of Ashford. With over 32 years of experience, he has already compiled and published 7 hugely successful titles about the town. His interest in the town started at the age of 10 after receiving praise for a school project, after which he proceeded to photograph the town and collect substantially unrivaled imagery depicting Ashford over the decades. Today his personal archive totals over 200,000 images of the town and surrounding villages. His knowledge and expertise has led him to assist both local authority and national organisations such as Historic England and The Planning Inspectorate. In recent years, he has represented the town of Ashford for a number of mayoral events upon the request of reigning mayors and even travelled in the mayoral car!
Ashford born and bred, Steve is a keen photographer and has already spent time digitising a large percentage of his archive with the aid of recently donated equipment. He has a particular interest in planning issues and enforcement, compulsory purchase and also local maps and aerial photography. Through his intense passion of saving the town s heritage, in recent times, he has also been involved in saving a local heritage asset by submitting his representations officially. For a number of years, Steve has compiled the ever-popular Remember When page for the Kentish Express newspaper, part of the KM Group.

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