During World War II, the military used Old Winchester Hill as a site for testing mortars. From the high vantage point that is now a car park, weapons were fired into the hillside.
To prepare for war, harm was inadvertently caused to our homeland and there remains craters, shrapnel and the fear that one should not stray from the path. During this time of unrest, Ernest Longhurst of the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade, is accidentally killed during manoeuvres on the hill.
Photographed using a British 1940s MPP Micro Technical large format camera, the long and unpredictable exposures reflect a time of unease and conflict. There is a palpable feeling of sorrow and pain within the forest that was most affected by this activity and these images provide a view into this not so distant past.
Hahnemühle Hemp 290gsm
