Atherstone Through Time

This fascinating selection of photographs traces some of the many ways in which Atherstone has changed and developed over the last century

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The historic market town of Atherstone developed on a mile long stretch of the Roman Road. Atherstone has been held in high esteem since medieval times, and by 1880 there were many establishments, accommodating the traders and travellers using this thoroughfare. Coal mining and hatting were the two main industries. As trade developed during the Industrial Revolution, the population grew and overcrowding and poor living conditions were inevitable.The National Slum Clearances introduced in the 1930s put pressure on Atherstone Rural District Council, to purchase land from private landowners to build new council houses. By the 1990s both the hatting and coal mining industries had completely diminished. This book takes the reader on a nostalgic journey through time, comparing how day-to-day life has changed over the past one hundred years.