A Quantock View Through Time

The Quantock Hills AONB Service has launched a new website www.quantockviews.uk to capture and record the changing landscape and village life of the Quantock Hills.

Ever wondered what the landscape of the Quantock Hills looked like 100 years ago? This new website aims to capture historic pictures, postcards and photographs of the Quantock Hills and the surrounding villages, building an online resource showing the changing landscape of England’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Quantock Hills AONB Service’s volunteers, led by Keith Edwards have driven this project. Keith says ‘Quantock Views started in order to pull together various existing collections of photographs, postcards and paintings which are rarely seen and to gather together private collections and recollections, which may be in danger of being lost to the Quantock community.’

The Quantock Hills AONB Service Project Officer, Iain Porter says ‘I am amazed and so pleased with the effort of Keith and the other volunteers in developing and taking this project forward. It is great to see the website go live and the interest from local community members. Capturing these images for future generations is really important not just as an archive but also as a way for bringing communities together.’

Anyone interested in the archive can view it online at www.quantockviews.uk. If you have a coffee morning or community event coming up and you would like someone to come and tell you a bit more, please get in touch. Also if you are interested in volunteering in the project by helping to collect and archive pictures, or have postcards, pictures or photographs which show the changing landscape of the Quantock Hills please contact – the Quantock Hills AONB office on Tel: 01823 451 884 or email quantockhillls@somerset.gov.uk

Image credits

Kilve Quantock Views - View of Kilve from Higher Hill 1937. The A39 main road comes from the left side then turns left and can be seen going up the picture, near the centre, and passing a short row of three new (thatched) houses.

Weacombe Quantock Views - "Top Cottage" in Weacombe. Now replaced by a later cottage. William Alves gardener with wife Louisa and 9 of their 11 children. Published by H H Hole.