ONE man's passion for collecting old photographs of Somerset has developed into something of a labour of love as he traverses the county recreating the pictures of old.

Nick Chipchase has amassed what he reckons to be the largest local historic photographic archive in existence - collected over four decades.

And now, he has been travelling the highways and byways - and often no way at all - to recreate some of the antique images in his collection.

Below are 17 shots of then - and now - in Somerset.

See how many you recognise...

Nether Stowey

This picture shows St Mary Street in Nether Stowey, taken from Castle Street and features the Victorian clock tower.

 

Ashbrittle

A picture from the small village of Ashbrittle, nine miles west of Taunton.

 

Frog Street, Bishops Lydeard

This picture is taken in what is now Mount Street, Bishops Lydeard, formerly known as Frog Street.

 

Cottages on Bishop's Hull Hill

 

The Quay, Bridgwater

 

Rockwell Green, Wellington

This picture was taken in Exeter Road, Rockwell Green. The older photograph features just one water tower, the first, which was built in 1885.

The second tower, which stands alongside the first, was built in 1934-5 as the demand for main water increased further.

 

Brean Down

The famous Brean Down, before the arrival of mass tourism in the area.

 

Chard

 

Highbridge Station

Highbridge and Burnham station was opened in 1841.

 

Churchinford

The centre of Churchinford, featuring the York Inn.

 

Bishops Lydeard

Taken from Taunton Road, this photograph shows The Lethbridge Arms in Bishops Lydeard and the corner shop, both still in operation.

 

Kingston St Mary

A view of Kingston Road.

 

Hatch Beauchamp Station

The station building of the former Hatch Beauchamp station, in Station Road, is Grade II listed, so still sits proudly among more modern buildings, the sound of trains rattling by long gone.

 

Combe Florey

The layout of this road in Combe Florey has remained largely the same.

 

Dunster

A shot of the centre of Dunster, including the famous Yarn Market and the Luttrell Arms.

 

Blagdon Hill

The main road through the village has changed little in the intervening years.

 

Pitminster

The thatched cottage on the corner in Pitminster has long gone.

 

Have you got photographs of old Somerset? Email us at newsdesk@countygazette.co.uk, or share them via the Somerset Camera Club.