Historic Portsmouth, Preston, Nottingham Images Capture Lost Urban Scenes

Several collections of historic photographs and drawings are shedding light on the past of various UK cities, highlighting changes over the decades. Portsmouth historian Chris Cornell shared his late father Donald Cornell's photographs from the 1950s and 60s, capturing the city’s landscape and railways, while a 1978 collection from the Portsmouth Camera Club was recently rediscovered, offering more glimpses into the city's past. Preston's high street history was revisited through rare photos showcasing familiar shops from the 1960s, invoking nostalgia for many residents. Nottingham has seen the closure of numerous iconic shops over recent years due to shifting consumer habits, with a retrospective on 11 beloved stores that only older generations may remember. Additionally, an exhibition in Hull commemorates artist Frederick Schultz Smith, whose Victorian-era sketches document streets and buildings long gone, preserving a visual record of the city's history.