Saturday, 12 March 2011

Weybridge, Surrey, The Ship Hotel c1935 - Sepia Saturday

Weybridge, Surrey, The Ship Hotel circa 1935. Weybridge was the closest town to the Brooklands motor racing track and was a very popular destination for motoring types. There is quite a line up of motor cars outside The Ship Hotel, see detailed views below. One of the cars appears to be a road-going racer, complete with an 'on-tow' message on the back. It is not at all clear which vehicle towed it, my guess is that it got to the pub under its own steam. I hope none of the drivers of these cars drove their cars after drinking a few ales, but I think the concept of 'one for the road' was very prevalent in those days. If anyone can identify any of the cars or the motorbike I'd be very grateful. I would have loved to been at the bar when these fellows turned up, I imagine it was quite lively after a days racing at Brooklands. The Ship Hotel is still in business, but looking at the Google Street View it doesn't look quite as much fun today. This postcard was published in the mid 1930s, almost certainly by Charles Mitchell, step-brother of W. H. Applebee. Click on the images to enlarge.

Please visit Sepia Saturday for more old photographs.


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13 comments:

  1. Christine H.12 March 2011 at 02:10

    I would love to have gone for a ride in one of those amazing cars (but not after one too many!)

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  2. Marilyn & Jeff12 March 2011 at 06:10

    Like Christine, I would love to have gone for a ride in one of those cars ...but I would also have loved to have a drink or two in the hotel too. I don't know which I love the most, the hotel or the cars.

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  3. Bob Scotney12 March 2011 at 13:03

    I went there in the 1980s. You're right it wasn't much fun. No cars as good as those you have shown.

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  4. Postcardy12 March 2011 at 19:33

    I wonder if the hotel name has any significance. It doesn't look like a ship, and it doesn't sound like it is near water.

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  5. Melissa (@UnboxYourPhotos on Twitter)13 March 2011 at 03:49

    I'm not really a car person but I do think I would have enjoyed riding in some of those cars. Still looks like a great building.

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  6. Tattered and Lost13 March 2011 at 07:48

    Wonderful cars. So want to go for a drive in that second one.

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  7. Alan Burnett13 March 2011 at 10:25

    I always admire anyone who can manage to get a pub into a Sepia Saturday post. It was the age of the great "road houses", massive pubs alongside well-driven roads. Not sure about the one you feature, but many of the ones that still remain are like ghostly mansions.

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  8. Anonymous13 March 2011 at 10:37

    I love the old cars - the webmaster at this site kindly helped me identify a Galloway tourer (built in Scotland by ladies for ladies!) for a blog post and may be able to help you. Jo http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/

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  9. Rosie13 March 2011 at 10:46

    I would like to have visited this hotel back then to see the furniture and all the frills that went with it,such as the curtains, doillies, table cloths, etc. You can't beat the handwork that went into such things....

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  10. Bruno Laliberté13 March 2011 at 21:11

    i love these cars. their design was so inspiring back then.
    :)~
    HUGZ

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  11. Mike Brubaker14 March 2011 at 00:07

    Great car photo. What colors though? British racing green?

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  12. Coloring Outside the Lines14 March 2011 at 03:58

    I'm calling shotgun for a ride in that first car! What is that fellow standing in front of in the last photo?

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  13. North County Film Club14 March 2011 at 21:06

    i love the hotel and the cars. Would love to visit one and ride in the others. What a great time that was.
    Nancy

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