An incredible collection of postcards depicting rural scenes from 100 years ago has been unearthed to reveal a fascinating snapshot of a more innocent time.
The postcards show the quiet life in villages in south-west England in the early 20th century.
At a time when the automobile was in still in its infancy, it is no surprise to see many of the streets virtually empty in many of the pictures.
One image shows a deserted Dunster in Somerset with a small girl perched on a brick wall in the foreground and a horse and cart trundling past the village’s iconic seating shelter.
Today the historic village attracts thousands of tourists a year and there is a car park next to the shelter.
Although the horse and cart and the bicycle was the transport of choice for locals, one picture does show a motorised charabanc piled high with smartly-dressed men and women clearly off on a day out.
Among the postcard is one taken of the high street in Wellington, Somerset. The road is scarcely full for such a central location, and is full of manure from the horse-drawn carriages
More than 25 people pose for a photograph while sat in a mass-person vehicle. On the side of the car, it is specified that the max speed of the vehicle is 12mph
A photograph shows tourists visiting the Cheddar Gorge, near the small village of Cheddar, Somerset. Britain’s oldest complete skeleton was discovered at the site in 1903
Young girls in full costume pose ahead of a performance of ‘The Talk of the Town’ in Bath, Somerset. The black and white cards were amassed by an elderly gentleman from Somerset who is now selling them for up to £5,000
Farmers attempt to heard a group of cows down a quiet village road in Crowcombe, Somerset, as neighbours and a youg boy (far left) watch on in interest
Most of the roads pictured lay empty in the postcards, as the horse and cart and the bicycle were the transport of choice for locals in that time
The Salvation Army band based in Wellington pose for a group photograph with their instruments ahead of one of the biggest meets of the day
Rough seas are shown lapping onto the seafront in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset. In 1911, a concrete wall was built along the seafront, and after the Second World War further additions were made using the remains of a Mulberry harbour
Another postcard shows the incredibly well-turned out members of the Salvation Army band of Wellington, Somerset. One rural scene that has hardly changed over the years is the gathering of the local fox hunt.
One postcard shows smartly-dressed huntsmen and their hounds gathered in Wellington town centre in front of crowds of locals in 1911.
The postcards, collected over a lifetime by one man, is being sold by Chaterhouse Auctioneers of Sherborne, Dorset, for up to £5,000.
Auctioneers Richard Bromell said: ‘People tend to like old postcards that remind them of their childhood or places where they grew up or visited.
‘It is a fascinating snapshot of social history. In most scenes the streets are empty of cars and people are just walking in the roads.
‘It couldn’t be further from today when there would be cars parked either side of the road and people walking on pavements staring at their smart phones.’
Mr Bromell said he found the thousands of postcards in about 40 old shoe boxes the elderly collector had stored them in over the years.
They are being sold in 10 lots on December 15.
Schoolchildren gather in Church Street, Curry Rivel, a tiny parish outside of Somerset, to have their photograph taken during the morning break
Bridge Street in Bristol is adorned with decorations ahead of the weekend market. The photo, taken on July 9, 1908, was among thousands found in old shoe boxes
First meet of Sir John Amory’s staghounds at Wellington, pictured on February 15, 1911. A large crowd has gathered to see off the huntsmen and their beagles
A group of young women pose for a team photograph ahead of a match against local rivals. Do you know any of the women photographed? Send an email to alexander.robertson@mailonline.co.uk