The Guardian has been given a fascinating look back through time to see how the high street has been transformed over the last hundred years and more.

Epping Forest District Museum, on Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, and the Vestry House Museum on Vestry Road, Walthamstow, have allowed the Guardian to see old photographs from their collections around Chingford, Epping and Walthamstow.

The photographs date back as early as the 1880s and include black and white shots of Hoe Street, Walthamstow, Chingford Mount, the old St John’s Church in Epping before it was demolished in 1889 and a horse drawn carriage heading down Epping High Street from around 1890.

When compared with how the high streets look today the shots give an insight into just how much our streets and communities have changed.

The Epping Forest District Museum will be closed to the public until spring 2015 while it is extended and refurbished.