A NEW book released by the Ventnor & District Local History Society (VDLHS) charts historical images of Ventnor and its surrounding.

The book includes around 180 black and white photographs, both from society archives and private collections, spanning a period from about 1860 to 1950.

Ventnor & the Undercliff: In Search of Lost Time has been compiled by Michael Freeman and Lesley Telford.

A calendar produced at the same time, which can be purchased separately, includes further black and white images from the society’s collection.

VDLHS is a registered charity run completely by volunteers, and is housed, alongside its museum, in Ventnor Heritage Centre.

Isle of Wight County Press: Esplanade Parade, Ventnor

Isle of Wight County Press: The cover of Ventnor & the Undercliff: In search of lost time. A journey in pictures.

The society holds archives covering the whole Undercliff area from Chale in the west to Luccombe in the east and as far inland as Godshill.

A spokesperson for VDLHS said: "Sadly, due to the pandemic, the Heritage Centre has been unable to open its doors to visitors but work has continued and the Society has produced a 2021 Calendar and new photo book.

"The authors have used documentary evidence and personal testimony to recover something of past emotional lives and livelihoods."

  • CLICK HERE to buy the book and calendar (£16.75/£5.95 respectively)

Isle of Wight County Press: Pier St, Ventnor