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Lyndhurst in old pictures - the village centre
Here is a selection of old pictures showing Lyndhurst as it was in days-gone-by. Most, if not all, of the buildings seen in these charming images remain visible today, many little changed. Fashions, though, have inevitably been updated many times, horse drawn vehicles are now rarely seen in the village, traffic has very significantly increased and, consequently, commoners' ponies and other animals have been banished from the roadsides.
Lyndhurst - an early 20th century view
Lyndhurst High Street -
a colourful early view
a colourful early view
Lyndhurst High Street again - from the days
when illumination was provided by gas lamps
when illumination was provided by gas lamps
Lyndhurst - a 1909 scene showing the High Street,
viewed from near the Stag Hotel
viewed from near the Stag Hotel
Lyndhurst - a later (1940s?) view of the High Street,
long before the introduction of the current one-way traffic system
long before the introduction of the current one-way traffic system
Ponies not too many years ago wandered
beside the now very busy A337 Romsey Road
beside the now very busy A337 Romsey Road
The A337 and ponies again, this time in
a view that also shows the Evergreens Hotel
a view that also shows the Evergreens Hotel
Lyndhurst - donkeys near the Post Office in the days when
commoners' animals roamed the High Street
commoners' animals roamed the High Street
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Lyndhurst, Bank and Emery Down history - introduction and topic links
New Forest pictures from yesteryear - introduction and village links
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** New Forest ponies and other animals**
Sadly, 58 animals were killed - 35 ponies, 13 cows, 8 donkeys and 2 sheep, whilst a further 32 were injured - 3 pigs, 9 donkeys, 11 cows and 9 ponies.
(Forty-three accidents occurred in daylight, 15 at twilight and 101 in the dark. Twenty-seven accidents were not reported by the driver involved).
Here's just one horrific example - Three donkeys killed in collision with van at notorious New Forest blackspot (Advertiser and Times)
** Always take care when driving **
New Forest seasonal highlights
MarchLesser celandine blooms illuminate woodlands, and heathland edges.
Fallow deer remain in single sex herds, the bucks at this time always separate from the does.
Curlews return from the coast to breed in and around the New Forest's wetter areas.
Red admiral butterflies are increasingly seen on bright, sunny days.
April
Redstarts are amongst the first returning long-distance migrant birds that arrive in April.
Large red damselflies take to the wing, the first of many such species that will soon be seen in the New Forest.
Bluebells blossom, sometimes in good numbers in ungrazed woodlands.
Badger cubs usually first appear above ground towards the end of the month.
The Glorious New Forest
Marvellous landscapes, marvellous wildlife