Aldershot Through Time

Aldershot is famous as the 'Home of the British Army' and the early character of the town was formed by the choice of the Army to make Aldershot Heath the site of its first permanent training camp. Before 1853 Aldershot was a small rural village of around 870 people, but this underwent a dramatic change when some 15,000 soldiers arrived. To meet the needs of the troops, a new town, which was a remarkable example of Victorian design and architecture, was constructed. In the twenty-first century Aldershot sees more change, such as the new Westgate centre and the Aldershot Urban Extension which will build thousands of new houses on land previously used for barracks across South Camp. By comparing fascinating old photographs with their modern equivalents, this book shows not only some of the huge changes which have occurred in military and civilian Aldershot, but also how much of its rich history can still be seen and enjoyed.