Take a look at these stunning pictures of Upminster from a bygone era.

They are now set to feature in a new documentary film about the town charting the history of the area and its growth.

Called Undiscovered Upminster, it was created by film maker Mike Jones with the help of historian Richard Moorey.

Mike said: “It was a hugely enjoyable experience making the film and a great learning curve for me.

“Despite living in the town for most of my life, I didn’t realise how many treasures that you pass by each day without realising their past.”

The 60 minute film is set to take viewers on a tour around the town looking in depth at the town’s buildings and the people who lived in them.

Residents will also hear about the people who have played a big part in the heritage of the area, this includes The Lord Mayor Of London in the 18th century, one of the mistresses of Henry 11 and Thomas Cromwell.

Other highlights of the film include the history of St Laurence Church and the scandal involving the rector that rocked Victorian Upminster.

Mike said: “In a little over an hour we’ve tried to cover more than one thousand years of history and show you some of the more interesting buildings-some still standing some now gone.

“Upminster has a rich past and the people who have lived here over the centuries have fascinating stories to tell.”

Mike, who created the film Fighter Station based on the history of the Hornchurch Aerodrome, decided to turn his camera on his hometown earlier this year after attending a seminar held by historian Richard Moorey.

The film also contains people’s old cine films showing Upminster in the 1940s and’50s.

Mike said: “It’s a lovely town, but some people do not really know much about it other than it’s at the end of the District line.

“There’s so much more to Upminster-at the turn of the last century it used to be a very affluent area with lots of big country houses.”

The film is available from Swan Libraries and from www.undiscoveredupminster.com