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> Derby Guestbook 2005 |
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Guest book entries for December 2005 |
Love your site, especially on the West End, I used to live
in
Back Parker Street growing up before moving to Uttoxeter New Road and
then
moving to Canada in 1970. |
Thanks for all your help in finding the picture of willington church.
Very impressed with the quick service and rapid response. Picture turned out a treat, I am sure the bride and groom will be pleased. |
Guest book entries for November 2005 |
Just a quick message to say how excellent your site is in both layout and content.
I have seen the then and now photo's and I can appreciate the effort
you have gone to to get the exact camera position and focal length!
It makes a pleasant change to see good photo's on the web, which are well
composed, in focus and demonstrating a correct exposure.Well
done!
Much appreciated :) |
I really like this site very much...I would like to visit London some day. The pictures are very beautiful. Keep up the good work. |
Enjoyed viewing your site very much. Well done. Excellent resource & lots of hard work has gone into this site. |
This is excellent. Computers were worthwhile inventions after all. |
Realy enjoy your photos,helps me to keep in touch with the old hometown.
I was born in Aston on Trent ,went to the local school Shelton Lock.
I moved to New Zealand in 1972. |
I think this is wonderful, my great great grandfather and great great grandmother Cliffords came to Alton, Illinois USA from Quarndon, Derbyshire, England. |
Guest book entries for October 2005 |
Andy, I found your site when looking for a photo of Friargate Station. Having enjoyed your "Then and now" shots of Friargate Railway bridge, I looked at a couple of your compilations of Borrowash. I lived there until 1952. I loved the Then and nows of "Noah's Ark" and the "Borrowash Top Lock". I remember very well the canal bridge. |
This is the first time l have checked your photo's, and l am well impressed. It must have taken you a lot of time, and l thank you. They have brought back alot of memories for me. Look forward to seeing more of your photo's. |
What a fantastic site! I am so impressed by the number of pictures, the various ways to view them, the numerous, quaint towns in Derbyshire that I have never seen anywhere else. This site is quite a gift to those of us who can't cross over the Pond to see where we hailed from. I am very appreciative and have bookmarked this site for continual persuing. |
I would like to say a big thank you to Erica Perry for the lovely photos of College Primary School and to Andy for including them on his fantastic site. |
Truly stunning effect in the "Then and now". |
I was born and brought up in Ilkeston but have escaped to West Wales. |
Andy,
Great photos. |
Fantastic site! Very clever. I think you're really on to something with the 'Then and now' photos. |
Excellent website. I was in Derby for one year and moved back to India. I love Derby and it was hard for me to leave Derby. The photos bring back the old memories. Thank you very much for such a lovely site. |
Hi Andy |
Thanks for doing what you are doing. Very enjoyable. I only wish you could do it full time, roaming all over the UK doing the same. |
Guest book entries for September 2005 |
Absolutely fascinating... have been spell-bound for hours, especially the "'Then and now" photos. |
Fantastic website!!!!! |
Superb website! |
Dear Andy |
Absolutely brilliant. I found the web site when looking for information on the Brunswick pub. |
Brilliant site, wonderful photographs |
Hello. Just wanted to thank you for sharing all these great photos. We lived in Fritchley for a few years, after living in London & before returning to Canada, & have such fond memories of our visits to Belper & the whole south Derbyshire region. Is it possible to be homesick for a place which you were only visiting? If so, then we definitely are, & would love to return someday to walk along Lynam Road again... |
I stumbled across your website by accident whilst looking for photographs of 1970s street scenes. Very rapidly lost track of time (in more ways than one!) whilst looking through your 'Then and now' presentations. Found them absolutely absorbing... You are to be congratulated on the technique you have developed. What a powerful and evocative way to see into history; the next best thing to having a time machine! Brilliant work. |
Guest book entries for August 2005 |
I am researching Swadlincote as we are looking to relocate and found your photo's excellent; they should be added to the Swadlincote.co.uk website as that is pretty useless having only a couple of old photos and no information about the town at all, whereas you have supplied a very interesting insight into somewhere I have never been and will definitely take a day out to visit now. I honestly think you should be paid by the local council to make a wonderful and informative website. |
I just did a internet search on Derby and your website came up.
Very interesting and nicely put together. I've have only had a few minutes to look at your site but the photographs definitely show a place I'd love to visit sometime. |
I liked the photo of Slack Lane. I started work At Pelopone Engines in 1950 in Slack lane simply because my best mate Reg Hickenbottom worked there! A terrible firm the Forman Ted Butterworth was a "monster". |
Thanks for taking the time of run this Web site - my husband's Clews-Roome rel's came from Littleover, Chellaston, Kniveton districts before WWI. Your pictures show some great scenes, especially the church of St Peter - it's a long way to come for a visit from Australia! |
What an excellent collection of work! I stumbled on this site by accident and was very impressed. I hope it will remain online permanently. |
Then and now pics, brilliant wanted to do this myself but don't have the know-how. I can see this becoming a monster. For what it's worth, I think that this is the best possible way to show the younger generation what they have lost! |
Great looking photo's. I had someone win one of my auctions on ebay and he lived in Derbyshire and I wondered just where it was. Now I know. Very pretty city. |
Guest book entries for July 2005 |
Your "Then and now" section is absolutely fascinating. One can see history happening. |
I was born and raised in Derby. Born in 1944 went to Rykneld School. Worked for Rolls Royce and other local companies. Moved to Canada in 1977, still follow Derby via the net. A great site, lots of memories. |
What an infomative collection of pictures, I`ve often wished I had taken more pics in the 60`s, but now I can view your's, keep up the good work. |
Your info and pics on Windley are very nice. Thankyou for your time and efforts. I have never been to your country but it looks so peaceful. |
A really excellent site! |
Great stuff Laddie, The whole site is pretty stunning. Puts Picturethepast
website to shame. I like the "self destruct in 60 seconds" element. The panorama of
Monsall Dale was good. |
I would like to congratulate you on a fantastic wed site. I have spent a long time looking through it and it has bought back a LOT of very happy memories for me. |
We immigrated to Canada in 1967 when I was 12 years old. I did however return to work in Derby in 1973 at Debenham's Department Store, and again returned to England in 1975 to work in London. Just looking at the old photographs of Derby brings back my childhood memories of living there. I used to go to the school on Windham Street, we lived on Brighton Road, Alvaston. So it's been since 1976 almost 30 years and my memories are as vivid as yesterday. I hope one day to be able to return to my home town that I remember so well and to see the modernization of the town that's so dear to my heart. |
I work in the Ashborne district and was amazed to see your "Then and now" view of station street Ashbourne. It is unbelievable to see the difference and it has made my day ! |
Andy, you have a wonderful web site. My grandparents came from Derbyshire in 1914. I have always wanted to visit but haven't made it there yet. Your web site and the photos of the Derbyshire area are the next best thing to being there. I particularily like the fine photos of the historic sites. I look at them and picture myself standing in front of the same churches, homes and inns as my distant family once did. |
Guest book entries for June 2005 |
Excellent website. It really is easy to find the detailed changes that have occured in the "Then and nows". I presume it is a real painstaking operation to align old with new. |
Your site is wonderful. Brought back many memories, especially those involving the Arboretum, St Andrews Church, London Road and Reginald Street Baths. I was born in Bloomfield Street and Christened at St Andrews, my parents also married there. The Arboretum was where I spent a lot of time and I remember going swimming at Reginald Street. Thanks a lot for the trip down Memory Lane. |
A great site displaying the results of many hours of application and a superb local archive - congratulations! |
A great site Andy just looked at your "Then and nows" unreal I left derby ten years ago it brought back some nice memories |
What a beautiful and informational web-site you have! Thank you for all the work you've done!,THIS SITE IS GREAT...You've done a wonderful job on the "Then and now" presentations. |
I have stumbled onto your site and was enthralled all afternoon. I have interests in Spondon, Chaddesden and Borrowash but I found a lovely photo of a house I used to live in in Sudbury. What a pleasure to see the "Then & nows" pictures this is real dedication. I thank you. |
How Lovely your pictures are! I have not visited Matlock Bath for a long time due to personal reasons, But I hold it dear to my heart.
I'm only 34, but since a young child I holidayed there every year. |
I was on your site viewing the photographs of Leicestershire and was quite impressed. |
What a wonderful site. I was born and brought up in Derby, emigrated to Australia in 1999. Congratulations for a spectacular and fascinating site. It has prompted me to dig through my old photos, if I find any interesting ones I will gladly send you copies. |
I've seen your pics and site before but just found these "Then & nows" pics. They are truly fantatsic. |
I have been inspired to take more photographs by this great website. I would like to meet other local amateur photographers to share ideas and do a photography course. I would appreciate any feedback on local meetings or beginners courses. |
While researching my family's roots in England (my dad was a Bransford - my mother was a Shirley), I was fortunate to happen upon your photo pages of Derbyshire. As you know, of course, Shirley Village is in Derbyshire and your photos of the village brought the area alive for me as the home of my ancestors! |
I have just spent some hour or so on the Then and nows. |
Guest book entries for May 2005 |
Just to say thank you for such a splendid site - inventive and fascinating! |
I just stumbled into your site and have been hovering over it for an hour. My family research has found my Great Grandmother's family (Chapman) in Hope and not much more. I have, since a child, heard of Hope, Derbyshire when talking of England with relatives. I feel a great "tug" in my heart when I see your pictures and have promised myself (with husband) we will visit there soon. We would like to rent a place in the area for a month or so but don't know where to start. Thank you so much for all the wonderful views of "our" ancestral homes. |
Have recently discovered your website, having emigrated in 1982 and never yet ventured back, it was very nostalgic to see the Then and now section. My early memories would have been from the mid 50's, I can still smell the cheese and bacon from Saturday morning shopping at Cheshires in Becket Street. Will watch the site regularly, well done |
Beautiful site, well done! I stumbled upon it completely by chance, while reading about the UK and its counties. Not only the photos are beautiful, the website design itself is wonderful: nice to look at, functional and informative. |
Great site, always enjoy flicking thru and reminding myself of where I originate. How about some photos of the demolished Main Centre - would be really interesting to see the void left by the removal of all those horrible buildings! |
I have been researching my ancestry line since I was young & found out I have ancesters from the 1700's to 1860,all from Cubley & Sudbury.My direct Coxon family line moved to London in the 1860's. I did not know much about Derby, until visiting your site. In fact the only time I have ever been was to see my team West Ham play The Rams. Now I live in L.A I feel the urge to go now.I know that there are Coxon gravestones in both Cubley & Sudbury cemetarys. I am so excited to step back into History. Thanks for your vision. |
Great pictures, my boat was built at Dobsons in 1968 and it was puchased from the yard in 1972 unfortunatly have not cruised through Shardlow for very many years. |
Dear Sir, you have created a wonderful website and I thank you for the memories you have brought back. |
I lived in Derby 1944-46 as a German PoW. I think your Photos are first class,
it brought back many a nice memory. |
Guest book entries for April 2005 |
Dear Sir, |
I found your site very interesting. I'm from Normanton Derby, and it's brought backa few memories. It's nice to see Derby in a good light, I had great pleasure in showing my work colleagues all the best parts of my home town. |
We emmigrated to Canada in 1965, we lived initialy at 37 North Parade
Derby then 57 Chelwood Rd Chellaston (nr Shelton Lock). Your site has
brought me many wonderfull memories of my childhood. I used to walk
from North Parade to Markeaton Infant School as a child and I wandered
all over Darley park playing. Later, when we moved I used the Derby
canal tow path as a shortcut cycling anywhere from Alvaston to Swarkstone
to go fishing. We used to catch Newts in the abandoned lock at Shelton
Lock and play around the old bridge on Sinfin Moore lane at the canal.
Thank you for the
memories your site brought back. |
I just wanted to say what a fantastic site! I have broadband and enjoyed
that section, but the part that gave me greatest pleasure was the 'Then
and now' section. It is absolutely brilliant. |
Trying to spot the little things on the Then
and now photos like a piece of bridge, which have not changed...you
start wishing there were more. Very powerful!. |
Guest book entries for March 2005 |
What a stunning website! I will certainly be returning when I have more
time to look at it all. |
Fascinating. I appreciate your hard work. You have provided a couple
of hours of great entertainment. |
Fantastic website. I am always looking at Derby websites as I left derby
in 1988 having been brought up there. The quiz was fantastic and I was
pleased how much I remember. |
Andy. your Photo's are brilliant, and a real pleasure to see . I have
lived in Derby all my life , and never seen anything which comes even
close to your Site . You need a medal for all the hard work you have
done. |
A brilliant web site a place to go when home sick brings back a heap
of memories, thank you for your time and effort put into it. I left
Derby in 1989 to live in NZ. The photos bring back my younger year in
the pink coconut, and nights spent in saddler gate and the Blessington
carriage. |
This Technique
is a wonderful achievement and a superb example of what the Internet
*should* offer. As someone who's done some sporadic research of Welsh
and non-Derby English ancestors, I'm envious of those who can find their
ancestors' environment in your collection. Thanks for presenting these
"photo-transitions," and I truly hope you get the attention
(and income) that you deserve. |
I'd just like to say - what an amazing site! |
Information received shows my ancestors hail from the Derby/Derbyshire
area. I was especially interested in reading about the town of SMALLEY. Gene Smalley |
I was delighted to find this wonderful site. I have been researching my family history, and have found out that many of my ancestors were from Derby city. I was particularly interested to see the old photograph of Regent Street, as my great great grandparents lived at number 23. I am hoping one day to find a picture of Russell Street, off the Osmaston Road, before all the buildings were knocked down, as my great-great grandfather ran a pub called the Barley Mow there. Keep up the good
work! |
What a brilliant site ! To people of my age who remember what we thought
were the good days ,brings back lots of memories of ones early years
and makes it all seem like yesterday. Makes you remember things you
used to do and places that you went. A typical example is The Cavendish
Cinema,a meeting place for all the teenage girls and boys on a Saturday
night.With Tommy Jenkins the Commissionaire in his suit, Mr Hall the
Manager and all the staff that used to be there. |
Guest book entries for February 2005 |
I was born in Derby in 1957 and lived on the Mackworth Estate. I went to Parkfields Cedars school and then went to work for EMEB in the Eagle Centre. I moved overseas
and havent been back home for a long time. It was so good to see your
site. Keep up the good work Anne |
Just to say I enjoyed your photographs very much. They are superb. I
have sent the site address to a good friend in the USA as the best example
of a taste of our county I could find. |
I was born at Glebe St. Swadlincote in 1940 and have just spent a great couple of hours on your fabulous website, you are to be congratulated. It was great to wander through the villages and towns via your photos that I wandered through in my childhood. Many thanks, |
I am originally from Derby and my family are still in Derby, all of
them. I came across a book on the history of Derby. This is the interesting
article found inside. |
I have never been to England but I would love to go. Just looking at
your pictures made me want to go there even more they are so beautiful.
Some day I will get there and even take a tour of your Derby Ghost-walk.
|
I wasn't aware of your "Then
and now" pictures until I read about it in the "Derby
Trader" a couple of weeks ago, since then, I've enjoyed very much
looking at on a number of occasions - I think its an original idea extremely
well executed. Congratulations, and thanks for all your hard work -
I've had much enjoyment from looking at it, and I'm sure many others
will have had, too. |
Andy,
This a fantastic effort, thanks for sharing the photos with us. I was
born and bred in Derby, but left in 1967 for Australia, been back a
few times, last in 2003. Ray Berry |
Hi,
I just wanted to say that you're pictures are great. I am originally
from Derby but moved to the States. There is nothing better than going
to your site and looking and the pictures of Derby you have taken. |
Great
Photo's, Get many more on your site. Lived in Chesterfield for 27 years,
visit very rarely now. |
Super site Andy I was enthralled, I have a sister who lives in Saint Marys Close. I don't know Derby very well and get lost every time we visit I am originally from Holmfirth West Yorkshire, which has lots of photographs and information because of "Summer Wine". Your Then and now format is superb and I will be passing it on here and in the UK, I browse the net often looking sites relating to places in England and its not often I find a wonderful one like yours well done and THANK YOU. Derick and Marilyn
Haywood. |
This
is a great resource and Andy was very helpful to me in finding a location
I was looking for! |
I
work here in New College Nottingham - I was looking for local "Then
and now" pictures for geography students to compare. I came
across your site - really excellent, especially the way it scrolls between
the then and now photographs. it's taken some time to get the photos
to overlap like that - |
Guest book entries for January 2005 |
Just
spent a fascinating hour looking at your "Then
and now" Flash movies. Very very good. |
This
is a great site. I really enjoyed the "Then
and now" section. I am from Derby and have been living in the
US around seven years now and your site certainly reminded me of home.
Mark Wood |
WOW!!!!! - Then and now Kept staring at the image of St. Mary's Bridge for ages Andy. I went to St. Mary's as a child and remember watching men scale the 'Tower of Spite" on St. Alkmunds to knock it down. I recall those great stone blocks tumbling to the ground almost as if in slow motion. AMAZZING AMAZING AMAZING... Brilliant stuff Andy. Gotta have more :-) Astounding concept
that brings history to life as surely as a time machine would. Excellent!! |
Hi Andy, |
What
a brilliant idea the Then
and now section is, and excellent execution. As an ex-resident of
Derby I found it especially interesting. As a photographer myself (but
working in the IT world) I'm mightily impressed at your achievement.
I saw your reference to shooting from within a 20m cube, and the reference
to altering pictures via a set of complex rules. How do you cope with
the perspective effects of different focal length lenses in the then
and now shots? Do you use Photoshop (or equivalent) to make the two
photos match up? |
Hi
Andy, With regard to Ha' Penny Lane in the Then
and now section, That's a super image. |
Love
the site and expect to spend a lot of time wandering around. |
Hi Andy What a truly superb presentation you’ve developed in your new set of ‘"Then and now" photos. It must have taken weeks to achieve even the fundamentals, let alone to work out the exact position for the “B” photos. Though in one or two, the changes are surprisingly small, like Western Road, Mickleover and Whittaker Road, Normanton, others show just how much has happened … both by nature in the growth of the trees in the Arboretum, and by the considerable ’man-made’ change as at the railway station, the swathe of removal for the inner ring road from the top of the Cathedral, and the River Gardens. It’s fascinating to be able to stop the change at different points to see the detail. I went through them all, and though the ones I could remember and recognise from 50 years ago gave me most interest, all of them are wonderfully presented, and a fantastic credit to you. Thank you again – and I’ll keep visiting, I’m sure like the vast army of your admirers! Kind regards, and all the best for 2005 Frank (Noel) Grimshaw |
Hello! I wanted to let you know how much pleasure your site has brought my elderly parents who were born and raised in Chesterfield, Derbyshire and emigrated to Burlington, Ontario Canada in the 1950's. They are not able to travel much any more, and they dearly miss their homeland and your pictures have made them so happy over this Christmas season! I also have been
tracing my family tree and really appreciate getting to know the areas
in which my ancestors lived. All
the best in 2005! |
Fantastic
site! I have only been living in Derby for 2 years on and off, but I
already feel I've seen so much of it without leaving home! It must have
taken a while to compile all the photos! I'm interested in amateur photography
myself, and have taken photos of Elvaston Castle/Gardens a few times
hoping for that "picture perfect" snap! |
Andy, Happy New Year. |
What
a great site and some fantastic photos. Anyway Andy a really
great site and you are saving some memories for posterity. Peter Eyre |
I
was enormously moved by your pictures of Little
Eaton, where I was born in 1937. I feel such nostalgia for my village,
the school my mother attended when she was a child, the "rec"
where we used to play, watching old Mr. Bates shoeing horses in his
blacksmith shop, "me grandad's" favorite pub. My grandparents'
name was Marshall and they lived in a tiny cottage on New Inn Lane. |
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