THIS past year Petersfield Museum has been running a special ‘Then and Now’ social media campaign, comparing historic archive photos with up to date pictures of the same scene.

Museum learning and community engagement officer Ryan Watts said: “Our social media followers have really enjoyed seeing how the town has changed over time.

“So in the new year we would like to encourage more people to tell us more about the photos, or share their memories with us.

“We are also hosting a ‘Petersfield Then and Now‘ event on March 17.”

Among the places pictured on the museum’s Facebook and Instagram accounts is Folly Lane.

Nowadays, the lane from Chapel Street to the Central Car Park may be a quiet passageway. But Petersfield was once a stopover for coaches travelling along the London to Portsmouth road, and the lane bustled with horses and coaches.

Old photos of The Square and High Street are also featured on the museum’s Facebook and Instagram social media accounts.

Where the Carphone Warehouse and Barclays Bank are now was Norman Burton’s shop in 1935.

But sadly his booming business wasn’t to last.

The war brought supply difficulties with clothing rationing and coupons impacting on the business.

Tragedy also struck the family directly. Their son, who was in the Royal Air Force, was killed in action during the Second World War.

Not long after his death, Mrs Burton also died of a sudden heart attack.

After the war, the whole building was gutted by fire.

The space left by the fire was cleared and the buildings that are now Barclays and the Carphone Warehouse were built.

And further down the High Street and on the opposite side, number 13 has undergone a few changes.

In the 1960s it was E J Baker, a butchers shop, but today it is now the Superdrug store.

The two buildings either side of the entrance to Pages Court, on the same side of the High Street as Superdrug, also have an interesting history.

The building on the right had a very different appearance in the 17th century when it was part of the Crowne Inn.

Its current name ‘The Old Bank’ originates from its time as a bank from 1833 onwards.

But it wasn’t a bank for long though, as it failed and closed in 1844 – just 11 years after it opened.

The building has also been a soap boiling business, a residential property and the health food shop ‘Spice of Life’.

On the left of the Pages Court entrance is Bath Travel, and the business has been there since 1982.

Before that it was the popular Punch and Judy tearooms and bakery.

And the Sun Inn in Dragon Street, more recently the Green Dragon pub, then JSW restaurant, was once considered Petersfield’s most haunted building.

In 1957 there were reports of footsteps coming along an upstairs corridor, followed by the sound of marbles being played on the floor in the spare room.

Beer jugs were also known to swing to and fro on their hooks of their own accord.

The building’s street frontage dates from the Regency period but the structure behind is partly 16th and early 17th century.

If you have memories of the town or old photos, email [email protected] or contact 01730 262601.

If you would like to see old photos follow the museum on Facebook or Instagram. Details are also on the museum’s website at: www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Details of the ‘Petersfield Then and Now’ event are also on the website.