Surrey's towns and villages past and present - take our then and now photography challenge

THE CHALLENGE: Inspired by Surrey Life reader Jo Orr, who lives in Coulsdon, we have a photographical challenge to lay on the table that could perfectly encapsulate the ever-changing face of Surrey.

The basic idea is to track down any old picture* of your local area and take it back to the place where the shot was originally captured. Then, aiming to get the perspective as seamless as possible, you retake the photo with its modern backdrop.

The idea originates from a project Jo took part in with the London Transport Museum called Capturing Croydon.

 *Please ensure you have the permission of the original photo's copyright holder before posting.

From Guildford Heritage Services and taken by Hannah Flowerday using a recently donated Tom Wilkie photograph showing floods in front of the town’s Rodboro buildings.

The Whitgift Almshouses from Crown Hill, by Eric Hands, taken for the Capturing Croydon project.

Taken for the Capturing Croydon project by Jo Orr at the Whitgift Almshouses using a photo provided by the Croydon Local Studies Library of ladies preparing for the 1930 Harvest Festival.

Post your photos below or e-mail them with a little background
to matthew.williams@surreylife.co.uk and you could see them
published in Surrey Life magazine or on this website.

Below:

1) Windlesham Village Shop, 1909 and now, using a Francis Frith Collection image (copyright The Francis Frith Collection), by John Mundy

1 & 2) Deepcut Bridge Road, north and south, by Mark Horton

3 & 4) South Street and Pump Corner, Dorking, by Dorking Camera Club's Royston Willliamson using archive images from Dorking Museum

6) Coulsdon & Cane Hill Station, by Jo Orr

Members Comments

• Comment by: dozymoo 22 November 2010 - 17:50

  I recently bought this archive photo - not sure of the exact date it was taken. Coulsdon South Station used to be called Coulsdon & Cane Hill Station, and really doesn't appear to have changed a great deal

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• Comment by: dozymoo 22 November 2010 - 20:50

  There was an article in this weeks Croydon Advertiser following the recent fire at the old Cane Hill Hospital, which states that 'Coulsdon' Station was renamed 'Coulsdon (Cane Hill) in 1896. It was renamed again in 1923 when it became Coulsdon South

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• Comment by: Flowjogetsahead 26 November 2010 - 17:43

  This is brilliant, I only wish I had the patience to compete!

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• Comment by: TheGrumpyMole2 10 April 2011 - 19:36

  Out of interest, how long did it take you guys to get the perspective lined up and do you need any fancy equipment? Thanks!

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• Comment by: dozymoo 11 April 2011 - 17:46

  The perspective in the photos I took was the hardest part! We tried taking the image with someone else holding the archive photo, but in the end it was easier holding the photo yourself and moving it around until the buildings & roads etc lined up.
  
  Having an SLR def helps as you can adjust the depth of field to make sure you have the archive photo and the background both in focus!
  
  Quite often you think you have a perfect shot, but once uploaded, you realise the perspective isn't quite right! Trial (and a lot of error) is the key!

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• Comment by: DeepcutMark 12 April 2011 - 22:50

  Jo, I love your station shot, brilliantly done. More difficult to do this the way you have, I think, but it works really well. I set mine up in the same way, camera to eye with the photo at arms length to find the right place, then widen the angle to take in more of the scene. I've finished my shots in photoshop, as I wanted to blend some of the modern into the old, in this case let the cars show through the postcard in some places. Have a couple more postcards to try this with, and am always on the hunt. I have a picture of German POWs from WWI being marched to Deepcut from Frimley. If I can find the location it could make for a dramatic shot....

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• Comment by: djkobbie 21 October 2011 - 21:37

  Super...Must give this a go..

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• Comment by: MatthewWilliams 26 October 2011 - 17:37

  Look forward to seeing your efforts Kobbie. I hope to make a Surrey Life mag feature out of these if we can get enough together. Matt

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