Basingstoke in the 1960S

Basingstoke in the 1960S Synopsis

Basingstoke in the 1960s looks at the North Hampshire town during the period in which it was drastically altered to accept the flow of population from London and other areas under the Town Development Scheme. The town centre was partially demolished to make way for a new shopping centre, a new road system was built, and various housing and industrial estates were constructed for thousands of new residents.Several local farms were acquired for the massive building project, which was to extend well into the countryside. With over 200 fascinating photographs charting Basingstoke's growth, the book will rekindle many memories of this time of demolition and development. The social life of the town and its annual carnivals are documented, as are accidents and other news stories.

The introduction gives a brief history of Basingstoke up to the 1960s, when its population suddenly increased from 16,000 to its present 150,000. The author is a local historian and freelance photographer who has taken some 4,000 photographs recording the changes to Basingstoke since 1955. He has captured the important moments of a community transforming from the old to the new.