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The city of Southampton, lying on the South Coast in Hampshire, has seen massive changes over the years. Its favored location on the natural harbor of Southampton Water enabled it to develop as a major port and it saw particularly rapid growth in Victorian times with the development of the docks and related shipbuilding industries. Significant areas of the city were destroyed in World War II and many people lost their lives as it became a target for aerial bombing raids. Postwar rebuilding of Southampton was essential, but although in the process more of city’s historical structures were lost, today it is vibrant and thriving metropolis and alongside the people who live and work in the city it draws visitors from around the world as the home port of many of the world’s largest cruise ships. In Southampton: The Postcard Collection, the authors have drawn on a remarkable selection of old postcards to give a pictorial record of how much the city, including its surrounding suburbs, and the community which lives and works in the city, have changed over the last century. Although many of landmarks have remained the same over the years the photographs show the city and its inhabitants adapting and evolving with many buildings being replaced and the pattern of life in the city changing for many too. This fascinating collection of images will be of interest to those who have lived in Southampton or know it well.
