These fascinating pictures show how little rural life in a tiny Somerset village has changed – with the 16th century Cat Head Inn still going strong today.
Situated on the River Parrett, Chiselborough is five miles west of Yeovil and has a population of just 275 people.
Villagers have now collected 600 photos including of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of 1935, of the 1954 fancy dress competition and the oldest resident Freddie Bailey.
The 16th century Cat Head Inn has barely changed since the picture on the left was taken in the 1800s
The village is situated on the River Parrett, Chiselborough is five miles west of Yeovil and has a population of just 275 people. This drawing of the village church in 1848 shows how life there has remained much the same
Villagers are collecting hundreds of images from the 1800s and 1900s to document the history of the village
The images, which date back to the 1860s, highlight many notable events in Chiselborough’s history. One of the local farms is shown in 1986 and today
One of the historical events captured was the village’s Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1935
This fascinating picture shows the Chiselborough fancy dress competition in 1954 – with local children dressed up as everything from nurses to cowboys
The pictures have been collected by Tony and June Perry, who have been married for 47 years, and celebrate the village’s people, traditions and landmarks. They will go on display at an exhibition at the village hall over the weekend.
The images, which date back to the 1860s, highlight many notable events in Chiselborough’s history including the renovation of the village’s 12th century church in 1971.
The village’s oldest resident is pictured during the war and nowadays – he is now aged 83
Pictured left, Freddie Bailey – who is now the oldest resident – at the age of two. Right, he is pictured during the war
The pictures have been collected by Tony and June Perry, who have been married for 47 years, and celebrate the village’s people, traditions and landmarks. Here is the Shepherds Cottage compared between the early 1900s and today
The pictures will go on display at an exhibition at the village hall over the weekend. The village’s church hall is seen in the 1970s and in modern times
The images are being collected by Tony and June Perry who wish to document the village’s history
Mr Perry, 70, a former aircraft engineer, said: ‘Over the last 40 years the people of Chiselborough have collected nearly 600 pictures of the village, its people, its celebrations, its socials, its farming and its buildings.
‘The people of Chiselborough have always liked to enjoy themselves with dances and socials, carnivals, outings and gatherings in the hall and pub.
The school corner and church are seen in the last century and now. Tony Perry, 70, a former aircraft engineer who is collecting the images, said: ‘Over the last 40 years the people of Chiselborough have collected nearly 600 pictures of the village, its people, its celebrations, its socials, its farming and its buildings’
One of the houses even still has flowers outside – although the gardens are far more diverse than in the past
Cow stalls owned by a man named Joseph Harrison have now been turned into a bungalow. The picture on the left is taken at the farm before the war
‘Nothing changes, just the clothes they wore from the greys, blacks and browns of the 20s to the multi-coloured 80s.
‘Sadly there are not many true Chiselborough people left who were born and still live in Chiselborough.
Villagers who have stayed in Chiselborough for their whole lives are pictured outside the local church in the modern day
This 1900s photograph shows children at the local school dressed in their immaculate uniforms
‘Names like Langdon, Bailey, Greenham, Hallet and Holland will soon disappear.
‘Their young have flown and soon their grandchildren and great-grandchildren will divorce themselves even further from their roots in Chiselborough.’
Mr Perry’s wife, Former go-kart overall maker June, 70, has lived in the village all her life.