BRIAN MAY WRITES: A magnificent 1850s view of the river - tranquil with a hint of suspense. Across the water lies Ferry Farm, busy with goods for the village of Hinton Waldrist, to be delivered by ferry. To the right we can see nets drying
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TURNING BARLEY: The photographer, T.R. Williams, captures perfectly the locals of Hinton Waldrist going about their daily pursuits (although to take the photo without blurring, he would have persuaded them to freeze for a minute or two).
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THE SCHOOLMISTRESS: A poignant image, the retired village schoolmistress sitting in her neat, ordered world. Is she fondly musing on the fortunes of all her former pupils - or was she a fearsome battleaxe?
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GLEANERS RETIRING: The weariness of the labourers, returning from the fields, is palpable. The lady in pink has, understandably, moved during exposure - hence her head appears to have disappeared.
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THE BLACKSMITH'S SHOP: A wonderful scene showing a cross-roads of the Hinton Waldrist where this vital man worked. His house is still there in the picturesque Oxfordshire settlement.
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JOHN SIMS AT HIS PIGSTY: I love this picture because after finding the village in 2003, we found John Sims's gravestone - the first proof that the beautiful picture series WAS the story of real people in a real village.
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LITTLE MARY AND HER MAGPIE: On the table sits a magpie, at which the girl gazes fondly. As the magpie is not blurred by movement, it's unlikely to have been alive. A mechanical model bird, perhaps.
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THE DAME AND SPINNING WHEEL: This could not be further away from the industrial madness of the Victorian age. A traditional way of life that was under threat, and this was the last in the village.