In the footsteps of Henry Taunt

A ground breaking new photography exhibition that charts the social and environmental transformation of the Thames over a 135 years through 'then and now' images of the river, has opened at the River and Rowing Museum in Henley.

The exhibition sees the pairing of photographs by famous Victorian photographer Henry Taunt, together with modern images taken of the exact same locations along the Thames by digital photographers Graham Diprose and Jeff Robins.

These 'then and now' images capture the changing river over 135 years from its source near Coates, a tiny village in Gloucestershire down to the Houses of Parliament, London.

Taunt is credited with single handily transforming the popularity of the Thames during the Victorian era through a series of photographs, hand drawn maps and text. His guide to the Thames, New Map of the River Thames sparked a national love affair with the river that remains to this day.

Taunt's photographs depict an idyllic working river, with ferryman, barges and horse moving people and goods from town to town. Diprose and Robins' images capture a leisure-based river and with it associated landscape changes and modern buildings.

One of the most marked changes visible through the 'then and now' images is the substantial increase in trees and vegetation.

The exhibition is open until 20 January 2008. For further information please visit the River and Rowing Museum website