Hythe

This intriguing selection of over 200 photographs brings to life the ancient Cinque Port of Hythe, in Kent. For centuries the town has been in the forefront of our defence against invaders. It sent eleven ships against the Spanish Armada and in the early years of the nineteenth century, the Royal Military Canal and a long line of Martello Towers were built to repel Napoleon's forces.The many engravings and photographs in the book give a graphic portrait of a bygone era, when smuggling was one ofthe town's main activities; when soldiers from the nineteenth century School of Musketry bought a bustling life to the town; when well-to-do Victorians strolled up and down the Marine Parade or ventured nervously into a bathing machine; when locals travelled in a horse-drawn 'toast-rack' (so-called because everyone was packed-in, facing the same way); when newly-caught fish were taken round the streets in fish carts; when the lifeboat depended on oars and a sail; when there were over 20 windmills in the town; and when the military establishments in the area became training camps for thousands of British and Canadian soldiers.Yet Hythe today is peaceful, still managing to retain an enviable serenity which captivates and charms both visitors and local residents. In this wonderful volume, the authors capture the essence of that serenity and of Hythe through changing times.

Author: Joy Melville
Publisher: Nonsuch
Extra Details: Pictorial Card Covers 5 x 7 inches tall, 128 Pages, Lavishly illustrated with old B&W photos throughout.