Uckfield Archive

Philip Edwards | monochrome images

Uckfield Archive

Photographing the day-to-day life of Uckfield in East Sussex; a pictorial record of the town as it is both today and over the coming months and years.

The idea first came when I visited the Dorothy Boehm exhibition at Farleys Gallery and saw a picture she took at a country fair near Horsham in the 1980’s. It was a family eating a picnic by their car. Three things struck me…

[1] I may have been there myself that day…

[2] it’s fascinating to remember vehicles, places, shops etc from days gone by and…

[3] people may have asked “what do you want a picture of that for? It’s just someone having their lunch”.

And it was, at the time. Now, though, it’s an interesting reminder of our past, but if no one took (and kept) the image we wouldn’t enjoy it today. Documentary images aren’t necessarily taken for today; often they are but they have real value in 30, 40, or 50 years hence.

The local preservation society has masses of early documents, but I’m not sure how much is being added to it. I expect others are doing similar, but it doesn’t hurt to add to the collection.

I’m starting in late 2026 and that batch are coming soon.

1. Uckfield 2026. Click for images (coming soon)