Aerial pictures of Southampton High Street through the years

The images date back to 1920 and offer a glimpse of how much the town - and later, city - has changed over the past 100 years.

Southampton High Street has long been a destination for local shoppers and visitors to the area - even before these pictures were taken.

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In 1902, the elegant street included shirt maker and hosier AE Pope, Capital and Labour Clothing Store, and Charles Saunders fish and game merchant.

High Street was the scene of great activity at that time, and had many of Southampton’s best shops.

Farmer’s - discreetly referred to as surgical appliance makers - assured of the personal attention of Mrs Farmer herself in private fitting rooms.

The boot and shoe shop of George Oliver claimed to be the biggest retailer of his kind in the world - he had more than 150 stores across the country.

Larkman’s Academy, which prided itself on being the only school conferring diplomas in electric lighting, boasted more than 600 students.

In 1881 Mr WF Woodland opened shop by making a variety of false limbs. His advert was keen to promote “artificial legs with ball bearings, no mess from oil.”

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The High Street has changed dramatically through the passage of time, not just because of the natural comings and goings of businesses and developments, but also because of the Luftwaffe bombing in 1940.

The pictures in the gallery above help to provide us with an insight into how much it’s changed.