This series of archive images evocatively recreates the Camden and Kentish Towns of the past. The majority of the photographs, postcards and ephemera are from private collections, presented here for the first time in a single volume.

Using images of people, streets and houses, shops and local businesses, Camden Town and Kentish Town shows the transformation of this area of north-west London from open fields into busy urban districts. Today’s multi-cultural neighbourhoods close to the centre of town were once the rural destination for London’s day trippers seeking the amusements provided by many of the pubs on the main roads.

The area’s varied industries are documented, such as Brinsmead’s pianos and Rowney’s paints, as are the transport links that made such an impact on the landscape: the canal and the many railway lines that criss-crossed the area.

For residents as well as visitors to the area, Camden Town and Kentish Town will provide a rare insight into its vibrant and evolving history.