You've had a lovely holiday in Lowestoft and you want to take some memories home. So what do you do? You buy an album of views, of course!

Albums were very popular, especially in the days before everyone had their own camera, and were sold at all of the department stores, book stores, and stationary shops. Some were printed locally, but most were produced by companies that specialized in tourist souveniers. Quality varied and some examples were carefully impressed etchings with elaborate covers and others were much more crudely produced. Some of the pictures are were "borrowed" and you can see the exact same view, down to the people in the crowds and the shapes of the clouds, redrawn in another printer's compilation.

Today we have the same little folios for sale in our bookstores and souvenir stalls where you'll see calendars and picture books of local photographs. Back in Victorian times and today, the views have the same purpose- to show an idealized picture of Lowestoft that will help the reader remember the town and allow them to share what their experience with their friends and family.

Enjoy the albums! They show local history and they are local history.