The British high street has always formed an integral part of our villages, towns and cities; for centuries, it has been at the centre of our everyday lives. However, the way we shop, travel around, work and play at the heart of our communities has evolved with our changing lifestyles, from the days of horse and carriage to the demise of our local independent shops.

Drawing on a stunning collection of archive images from all over Britain, the dramatic transformations on our high streets from the days of Queen Victoria to the post-war years are explored and showcased here, painting a compelling and vivid picture of daily life as it used to be and transporting the reader back to a long-lost age.