BASINGSTOKE too often is misrepresented as a modern town but that is far from the truth. 

This fascinating collection of images show just how much life flowed through our streets long before the London Overspill plan saw Basingstoke extended in the 1960s.

From being the birthplace of designer brand Burberry to being the town that inspired Jane Austen, there is a lot more to Basingstoke than meets the eye.

The Gazette has been reporting on the town since our paper was founded in 1878 when the population was just 6,000. 

That year also saw Basingstoke Town Football Club play their first ever match, beating Andover 2-0. 

Hampshire Cultural Trust, an independent charity which promotes the county and manages 23 cultural attractions, has digitised a selection of old pictures.

And these photographs display life in action across the decades. 

Photographs show how residents went to town in 1935 to celebrate King George V's Silver Jubilee. From bunting draping the streets to wearing flags with pride, it was clear a good party was had by all.

An older image shows a Basingstoke woman named as K H Bignell in court dress in 1895. While further details aren't provided, her ensemble suggests she was a member of the court of law in Victorian Britain.

To view the pictures, visit hampshirecultre.org.uk.