Milton Abbas in 1974, an e century.

The old town of Middleton was destroyed by Joseph Damer (later Lord Milton, 1st Earl of Dorchester) between 1773 and 1779-because he wanted a lake view from his home near the abbey. He commissioned architect Sir William Chambers and landscape gardener Capability Brown to design a new village, Milton Abbas, in the wooded valley of Luccombe Bottom, southeast of the Abbey. Most of the existing villagers were relocated there, the old village was demolished and the site landscaped. Most of the houses are now single dwellings instead of double - in the 19th century they were very overcrowded - it is said that 36 people lived in one of the cottages. Since 1974 cars have altered the way the village looks. Lord Milton's house now forms part of Milton Abbey School.

This is part of a collection of photographs taken in 1974 for a Readers Digest book. Some are of objects and buildings that have changed or are now no longer in the same location. Some are taken in locations that have changed considerably over the past nearly 50 years.