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Old Images of Aldershot, Hampshire: History in Film

 Enjoy a glimpse of history through old images of Aldershot, Hampshire, England.

Aldershot, home of the British Army, is also home to a civilian community of more than 30,000 residents. The lido, stock car races, ice rink and railway station are key locations for many nostaligic memories.

Aldershot became a major base for the British Army back at the time of the Crimean War.

Not surprisingly, there's a lot of archive and vintage films of army activity so I've created a separate page about the army in Aldershot. This page, however, looks at the civilian town and its history.

Through The Years



Aldershot through the years - Atkins UK

The 1950s

Manor Park Shrine

Few people today know what the shrine in Manor Park was created for, or have heard about the opening ceremony that took place in 1950.

Luckily, the newsreels were there to record it all.

The Duchess of Gloucester arrived in a car and was greeted by the Mayor of Aldershot, Alderman George Roberts. She then shook hands with Air Marshall Arthur Barratt, and an unidentified woman. Next, the Duchess walked in procession with the Mayor and clergy, watched by a small crowd. Oliver Lyttleton, M. P. for Aldershot, was also there.

The Duchess of Gloucester officials unveiled the shrine from its Union Jack covering. There are shots of the shrine, garden and rockery.



"Aldershot Honours Britain's Blitzed Cities (1950)" - British Pathe on YouTube

Then there are scenes from some of the communities badly affected by the Second World War air raids, for which this memorial was made: Cardiff, Sheffield, the City of London, Sunderland, Coventry, Great Yarmouth, Swansea, Manchester, Exeter, Dover, York, Cardiff, Southampton, and Grimsby.

Heath Fires

Possibly from the 1950s, this footage shows serious heath fires and the resulting smoke. Passengers and cars have to be diverted, and soldiers help extinguish the fires.



"Aldershot Heath Fires" - British Movietone on youTube

In The 1960s

Superstox 1968

A few numbers racing at the old Aldershot Stadium, Tongham, in the autumn of 1968. Includes Les Collins and Jack Bavingdon.



"Superstox at Aldershot Stadium, Autumn 1968" - Don Mason on YouTube

Lido 1968

A home movie of a family tip to Aldershot's Lido in the summer of 1968.



"1968 Aldershot Lido" - Rob Hygate

In The 1970s

Football Game 1971

Footage of the Brentford v Alershot game, held on 21st August 1971.



"Brentford V Aldershot - Part 2 of 3 (21st Aug 1971)" - TheBeelist on YouTube

1970s Stock Car Racing

Two home videos of stock car racing, made in the 1970s.



"Aldershot Stadium 1972 Superstox" - Biffo720



"70's Aldershot banger racing" - Billo353

Chicken Factory 1976

Some vintage footage of a chicken processing factory. Filmed by Thames Television for 'A Town called...' in 1976.



Chicken Factory | Aldershot | A Town called...| 1976" - ThamesTv on YouTube



Working in a chicken factory | Vox Pops | A Town Called…| 1976 - ThamesTv on YouTube

"

1970s Bus Station

A recording of Aldershot's bus station back in the 1970s.



"collin on video 461" - christina judge on YouTube

Ice Rink 1989

In 1989, Aldershot's ice rink hosted a performance of A Christmas Carol on Ice.



"Aldershot Ice Rink - A Christmas Carol on Ice 1989 - Part 1" - Richard Thomas on YouTube

The 1990s

Station Announcement 1990

This is a recording of the Station Announcement on Aldershot's Platform 3, made on 28th September 1990.



"British Rail recorded announcement - Aldershot 320 - 28th September 1990" - Robert Payne on YouTube

Football Game 1992

In 1992, Aldershot Town Football Club relaunched, following their closure for bankruptcy.



"Aldershot Town F.C 1992" - julesthenut on YouTube

The Civilian Town In The 21st Century

2007 Drive



"ASH TO ALDERSHOT BY CAR" - oakridgekid2 on YouTube

The Railway Station in 2007

Terrible camera quality - but so was everyone’s mobile phone camera in 2007!



"aldershot station" - Mark Taylor on YouTube

A Visit in 2008

In 2008, a man travelled back to revisit Aldershot's streets and homes of his youth. He recorded it in two videos.



"Going Home to Aldershot Town (Part 1)" - Gary Stockton




"Going Home to Aldershot Town (Part 2)" - Gary Stockton

Area Guide 2009

A 2009 video guide to Aldershot's attractions for potential housebuyers.



"getthehome.co.uk in Aldershot HD" - Manchester Evening News

Tower Demolition 2009

This is footage of a Garrison tower block being torn down, clearing the site for new accommodation for soldiers and their families.



Aldershot tower demolition - Manchester Evening News on YouTube

Banger Racing 2009

Banger racing in 2009, filmed and edited by Mark Summersbee.



Aldershot Pre '75 World Final 2009 - Banger Racing - Carnage Media

Railway Station 2010

Worth watching just to hear the conversation behind the camera!



SOUTH WEST TRAINS WRONG ROAD TO ALDERSHOT 20.25 SERVICE....mp4 - kezzer61 on YouTube

Aldershot's Shops in Peril 2011

In 2011, about a fifth of the town's retail units were empty.

In this video, local people in and around the Galleries shopping centre and the high street were asked their opinions about this state of affairs.



Aldershot town centre shop closures - ucajournalismnews on YouTube

2012 Olympic Torch

The Olympic Flame makes a special appearance in the local community on its relay race through the UK to London 2012.



Olympic Flame event in Aldershot - Surreyandberksmedia on YouTube

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Location: Aldershot, UK

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