For more than 4,000 years, Droitwich based its existence on the unique, natural subterranean resource of Droitwich brine, one of the purest and most concentrated, naturally occurring solutions of salt in the world.

Known internationally, first as a salt manufacturing town, and later as a medicinal spa specialising in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism, Droitwich has now all but severed its salt connections to become a pleasant West Midlands commuter town.

The grime and steam of the saltworks are now long gone and little remains to mark that once all-important industry.

There are more remains of the town’s time as a spa, and even some hope of a small-scale revival, but, in the meantime, new housing developments are enlarging the town, and changing its shape and appearance beyond all recognition.

In this book, a selection of photographs, both old and new, records some of those changes.