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BRITISH BEAUTY

Vintage postcards from Victorian Britain show how our best-known landmarks have hardly changed over the past 200 years

The spectacular postcards show how some English landscapes have changed while others have remained exactly the same

THEY are the vintage postcards that our ancestors would have enjoyed while on holiday in Victorian Britain.

And the stunning beauty of nation in the 1800s has been brought to life thanks to these colour cards.

THEN: A vintage postcard showing the view over the Northern Pier in Blackpool in the 1800s
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THEN: A vintage postcard showing the view over the Northern Pier in Blackpool in the 1800sCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: The Blackpool Tower still remains but the ferris wheel has been replaced with other attractions in the present day
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NOW: The Blackpool Tower still remains but the ferris wheel has been replaced with other attractions in the present dayCredit: Alamy
THEN: The pier in Weston-super-Mare in the 19th century before it grew into an amusement attraction
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THEN: The pier in Weston-super-Mare in the 19th century before it grew into an amusement attractionCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: A recent picture of the pier in Weston-super-Mare, which was on the verge of collapse
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NOW: A recent picture of the pier in Weston-super-Mare, which was on the verge of collapseCredit: Getty Images
THEN: Not much has changed at the iconic White Cliffs of Dover since the 1800s
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THEN: Not much has changed at the iconic White Cliffs of Dover since the 1800sCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: The white cliffs still retain their iconic colour in Dover and greet travellers reaching England across the Channel
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NOW: The white cliffs still retain their iconic colour in Dover and greet travellers reaching England across the ChannelCredit: Reuters

The spectacular images show that while some things have changed, well-known landmarks have remained the same.

These include Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, along with Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament, which look almost identical to their postcard equivalents.

The iconic White Cliffs of Dover look much the same despite the 150-year gap between the postcard and today.

THEN: The imposing building of the British museum in London on a colour postcard
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THEN: The imposing building of the British museum in London on a colour postcardCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: The buildings of the British Museum are identical to how they stood more than 200 years ago
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NOW: The buildings of the British Museum are identical to how they stood more than 200 years agoCredit: Alamy
THEN: A rare shot of Tower Bridge open during the 1800s and printed on a vintage postcard
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THEN: A rare shot of Tower Bridge open during the 1800s and printed on a vintage postcardCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: In the present day, Tower Bridge is still the most recognisable crossing spanning the River Thames
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NOW: In the present day, Tower Bridge is still the most recognisable crossing spanning the River ThamesCredit: Alamy
THEN: A striking postcard image showing Parliament and iconic Big Ben in Central London in the 1800s
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THEN: A striking postcard image showing Parliament and iconic Big Ben in Central London in the 1800sCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: The Parliament building at Westminster still remains one of the most spectacular buildings in the capital
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NOW: The Parliament building at Westminster still remains one of the most spectacular buildings in the capitalCredit: Alamy
THEN: The huge monument of Nelson's Column sitting proudly in Trafalgar Square next to the National Gallery
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THEN: The huge monument of Nelson's Column sitting proudly in Trafalgar Square next to the National GalleryCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: Today, visitors flock to Trafalgar Square, where Nelson's Column still remains
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NOW: Today, visitors flock to Trafalgar Square, where Nelson's Column still remainsCredit: Alamy

Other well-known landmarks in England are also pictured including Blackpool Tower, Westminster Abbey and Durham Cathedral.

However, the pictures highlight the great changes that has occurred in the ensuing century, since the photos were taken.

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This includes the pier in Weston-Super-Mare, which is pictured before work began to turn it into the Grand Pier, which steadily grew into an amusement attraction for the masses.

The pier survived a 1930 fire which destroyed the theatre at its end, but couldn’t withstand a second damaging blaze in 2008.

THEN: The traditional soldiers standing outside Horse Guards Parade in central London
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THEN: The traditional soldiers standing outside Horse Guards Parade in central LondonCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: Not much has changed at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall in Central London in the past 200 years
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NOW: Not much has changed at Horse Guards Parade on Whitehall in Central London in the past 200 yearsCredit: Alamy
THEN: The beautiful red brick building of Girton College in Cambridge in the 1800s
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THEN: The beautiful red brick building of Girton College in Cambridge in the 1800sCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: The brick building of Girton College in Cambridge retains the same facade in 2017
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NOW: The brick building of Girton College in Cambridge retains the same facade in 2017Credit: Alamy
THEN: Even in the 19th century, tourists flocked to the East Terrace in the town of Windsor
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THEN: Even in the 19th century, tourists flocked to the East Terrace in the town of WindsorCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: Even today the East Terrace of Windsor Castle, the Queen's favourite residence, remains popular
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NOW: Even today the East Terrace of Windsor Castle, the Queen's favourite residence, remains popularCredit: Ins News Group
THEN: The ancient Durham Cathedral sits proudly overlooking the River Wear in the 1800s
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THEN: The ancient Durham Cathedral sits proudly overlooking the River Wear in the 1800sCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: Durham Cathedral still looms over the north east city today
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NOW: Durham Cathedral still looms over the north east city todayCredit: Alamy

The postcards were produced by Photochrom, a method of colourising photographs from black and white negatives via the direct photographic transfer of a negative onto lithographic printing plates.

 

THEN: The ancient Roman Baths and Abbey was a big draw for tourists in the 1800s
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THEN: The ancient Roman Baths and Abbey was a big draw for tourists in the 1800sCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: The Roman Baths in Bath remain almost identical to how they looked 200 years ago
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NOW: The Roman Baths in Bath remain almost identical to how they looked 200 years agoCredit: Alamy
THEN: The huge Clifton suspension bridge connects the cliffs over the Avon in Bristol
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THEN: The huge Clifton suspension bridge connects the cliffs over the Avon in BristolCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: Today, the Clifton suspension bridge remains the best way to cross the Avon Gorge
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NOW: Today, the Clifton suspension bridge remains the best way to cross the Avon GorgeCredit: Getty Images
THEN: The scenic and isolated St Michael's Mount in Penzance was popular with visitors to Cornwall
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THEN: The scenic and isolated St Michael's Mount in Penzance was popular with visitors to CornwallCredit: Media Drum World
NOW: When the tide goes out, visitors still flock across to St Michael's Mount in Cornwall
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NOW: When the tide goes out, visitors still flock across to St Michael's Mount in CornwallCredit: Alamy

Photochrom reproductions became popular due to the craze with sending postcards.

Earlier this year we brought you stunning colourised postcards from 1890 that capture life in the seaside towns and ruined castles of Scotland in the Victorian age.

While incredible pictures of 19-century Venice capture the romantic tourist hotspot that is slowly starting to disappear underwater.

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