Wednesday 25 December 2013

Wimbledon Station 1907

Merry Christmas from Postcards Then and Now. My first postcard, by Young & Co of Teddington, shows an effigy put up by Wimbledon's cabmen in Christmas 1907. He appears to be dressed as a cabman. At the top on his umbrella are the words 'driven from home' and the bottom of the postcard says 'cabmen's only shelter'. I would hazard a guess that the cabmen were being evicted from their shelter, but I do not have any definite information about this other than the postcard. The second postcard, of Wimbledon Station, shows what I think is the cab shelter - the small hut on the left. This postcard is not from my collection and is only displayed in low resolution. The third postcard, again by Young & Co and shows the station again and the cabmen. I suspect this was taken at the same time as the effigy postcard. Notice the dog begging on the left. The Google Street View shows the approximate location today. As always click the postcards to enlarge.
For more Christmas themed old pictures have a ook at the Sepia Saturday blog.





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Wednesday 4 December 2013

Chiddingfold, Surrey, 1914

Chiddingfold, Surrey, The Post Office, 1914. Chiddingfold is a picturesque village in Surrey, south of Godalming. The most noticable thing about this old postcard is the magnificent motor-bus, run by Guildford and District Motor Services Ltd, and this bus apparently covered Guildford, Godalming and Chiddingfold according to the sign on the side.
The original purchaser of this postcard conveniently wrote some notes on the back that illuminate this scene. He or she writes 'Dear N, The Post Office is by the trees and very quaint it is too. This motor has ceased to run and I'm very sorry, for it is over four miles to the station and it means walking. Hope you are well. Best wishes, MHC'.

Postcard published by W. H. Applebee. Click the postcard to enlarge.
For more old pictures have a look at the Sepia Saturday blog.



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Monday 18 November 2013

Ruislip, Middlesex, The High Street c1913

Ruislip, Middlesex, The High Street circa 1913. Ruislip is much more built-up now, but the buildings on the left are the same. This postcard was produced by W. H. Applebee of Ashford for Harry Hailey who ran the sub-post office in Ruislip village. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Friday 8 November 2013

Brighton, Sussex, Palace Pier 1903

Brighton, Sussex, Palace Pier 1903. These two old postcards by John Walker in their 'Bells Series' postcards show Brighton Pier in 1903. I'm using that date from the poster in the second postcard that advertises a play, 'One Summer's Day', on Monday August 31st. August 31st fell on a Monday in 1903 and 1908, the style of these postcards suggests to me the earlier year. The first postcard shows a seller of Hokey Pokey - an early form of Ice Cream, known for its unhygenic methods of production. Both of these postcards were very badly faded and I've made some crude attempts to digitally enhance them. Click the postcards to enlarge.
For more old photos visit Sepia Saturday.




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Thursday 24 October 2013

Yatton Keynell, Wiltshire, c1910

Yatton Keynell, Wiltshire, circa 1910. Yatton Keynell is a village in Wiltshire, about five miles west of Chippenham. The wall on the left has gone. The Lion Inn is now a private house called 'Lion Lodge'. Postcard by Young & Co of Teddington. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Wednesday 9 October 2013

Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, Batchworth Lock c1913

Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, Batchworth Lock c1913. Batchworth Lock serves the Grand Union Canal and is now home to the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust. The barge on the left carries the number 1922 and appears to be called 'Brimo', but I cannot find any record of this barge online. Other text on the stern states 'Carriers between Oxford and Reading' and 'Upper Thames Blackfriars Towing and Carrying'. I would be grateful if any readers could confirm the identity of the barge, there's a close-up of the stern under the Google Street View.
Postcard by W. H. Applebee of Ashford. This postcard was posted from Rickmansworth in August 1916 to East Dulwich. Click the postcard images to enlarge.
For more old photographs have a look at the Sepia Saturday blog.



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Sunday 29 September 2013

Stoke Poges Village Hall c1913

Stoke Poges Village Hall circa 1913. Stoke Poges is a village in south Buckinghamshire. The village Hall has retained its civic use, it is now Stoke Poges Village Center. It has lost its chimney. Postcard by W. H. Applebee. Click the postcard to enlarge.
For more old photos have a look at the Sepia Saturday blog.



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Sunday 22 September 2013

Iver, Buckinghamshire, The High Street, c1910

Iver, Buckinghamshire, The High Street, circa 1910. The building on the right was the premises of George Morton, grocer. It survives, but it is a shadow of its former self. The building on the left was a beerhouse called the 'General Garibaldi'. It was run by the Hutton family in the first decade of the 20th century. No trace of it survives today.
Postcard by an uncredited publisher. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Sunday 15 September 2013

Hampton Wick, Middlesex, The Bridge Foot 1906

Hampton Wick, Middlesex, The Bridge Foot 1906. Looking towards Kingston Bridge and Kingston. The trams are both going to the tram terminus near Hampton Court Palace, just half a mile or so to the right. The tram on the left is the service from Richmond Bridge. Postcard by Young & Co of Teddington. Click the postcard to enlarge.
For more old pictures have a look at the Sepia Saturday blog.



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Sunday 8 September 2013

Wembley, Middlesex, The High Road c1910

Wembley, Middlesex, The High Road circa 1910. It looks like nothing in the old postcard has survived, but a few of the buildings in the middle of the postcard are still there. Postcard by Young & Co of Teddington. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Sunday 1 September 2013

Camberwell Green, South London, c1913

Camberwell Green, South London, circa 1913. Still a busy area. Postcard by Johns of Tooting. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Wednesday 28 August 2013

Holcombe, Lancashire c1910

Holcombe, Lancashire circa 1910. Holcombe is a village to the north of Bury. This part of the village appears to have changed little. The building in the middle distance on the right is The Shoulder Of Mutton pub. Postcard publisher / photographer not stated.



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Monday 19 August 2013

Bedford Park, West London, South Parade, St Albans Terrace c1910

Bedford Park, West London, South Parade, St Albans Terrace circa 1910. This parade of shops is just opposite St. Albans Church. Postcard by Young & Co of Teddington.
Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Saturday 10 August 2013

Hayes, Middlesex, Station Road, c1913

Hayes, Middlesex, Station Road, c1913. In this postcard by W. H. Applebee you can clearly see his three-wheeled car, an A. C. Sociable that appeared in many of his postcards (also see these posts on this blog here, here and here). This postcards is one of my favourites from my collection. It gives the town of Hayes a 'wild-west' feel. Notice the girl walking down the street and the men sitting in the garden of the cafe on the right staring at her (or perhaps they are staring at the photographer)?
Click the postcard to enlarge.
Have a look at this week's Sepia Saturday blog - it features a similar three-wheeled vehicle.



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Friday 2 August 2013

Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, The Lighthouse 1913

Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex, The Lighthouse 1913. Unfortunately it is not possible to get exactly the same viewpoint on Google Street View as the one in this postcard. The photographer, William Applebee of Ashford, Middlesex, visited Sussex in 1913 accompanied by his wife and took some photographs of Sussex views including Worthing, Littlehampton, Shoreham and surrounding areas. Shoreham Lighthouse, built in 1846 is largely unchanged. Click the photo to enlarge.
For more old photos have a look at this week's Sepia Saturday blog.



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Monday 29 July 2013

Maidenhead, Berkshire, King Street c1912

Maidenhead, Berkshire, King Street circa 1912. If you look carefully on the right-hand side of the postcard you can see the roof and gable of the Rose Hotel (mostly obscured by the premises of C. Grinsted, Fishmonger). The Rose Hotel (now just a pub) appears to be the only building in this postcard that has survived into the 21st century. Postcard by W. H. Applebee. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Monday 22 July 2013

Peckham High Street, Southeast London, c1908

Peckham High Street, Southeast London, circa 1908. Only the buildings on the right have partially survived. Postcard by Albert Flint of Camberwell. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Sunday 14 July 2013

Tollesbury, Essex, Mell Road c1910

Tollesbury, Essex, Mell Road c1910. Tollesbury is a village on the cost of Essex, well known for its oysters. This postcard was published by Young & Co of Teddington. It is unusual to see a postcard by him of such an easterly location. Click the postcard to enlarge. I've included a close-up of the children standing in the street.

For more old pictures have a look at this week's Sepia Saturday blog.



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Wednesday 10 July 2013

Hampton, Middlesex, Church Street c1950

Hampton, Middlesex, Church Street circa 1950. Church Street is actually the road to the right, obscured by the minibus in the Google Street View. The photograph was taken from Thames Street. In the postcard we can see the overhead power lines for the trolleybuses which superceded the trams in the 1920s. The trolleybuses were phased out in this area in the early 1950s. The church you can see, St Mary's, is the parish church of Hampton. The postcard was published by E. A. Wilson of Sunbury, a relative by marriage of W. H. Applebee, the prolific early 20th century postcard publisher from Ashford. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Monday 1 July 2013

Oatlands Park, Near Weybridge, Surrey, c1909

Oatlands Park, Near Weybridge, Surrey, c1909. On the right, we can see the premises of Henry Shaw, 'Draper and Clothier' (according to the 1911 census). The shop appears to be closed so the photograph may have been taken on early closing day (probably Wednesday) or a Sunday. Note the magnificent lamps outside the shop and the lady looking at the photographer from an upstairs window. The postcard was posted in March 1910 to a Mr J.E.K. Walter in Gracechurch Street, London, with the simple message 'What do you think of this? G. C.'.
Postcard published by Young and Co. of Teddington. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Wednesday 26 June 2013

Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, The Cambridge Arms Pub, c1915

Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, The Cambridge Arms Pub, circa 1915. This pub survived until 2002 and was then demolished. It was originally called the Hope and Anchor but changed its name to the Cambridge Arms in 1855. This information was gleaned from 'Pubs, Inns and Taverns of Kingston' by Richard F. Holmes which also shows a later photograph of the pub. The pub has been replaced by a block of flats called Pyramid Court. Postcard by an uncredited publisher and my copy is clearly damaged at the top left. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Saturday 15 June 2013

Hoo, Kent, The Post Office c1910

Hoo, Kent, The Post Office circa 1910. The proprietor of the grocers shop and post office was also the publisher of this postcard. His name was Young Thomas Dann. His shop is now a takeaway, the post office has moved to the other side of the road. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Friday 7 June 2013

Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, c1912

Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, c1912. I thought this postcard by W. H. Applebee, photographed circa 1912, shows an interesting contrast between the 19th and 20th centuries. With Google Street View we have a contrast with the 21st century too. On the left of the postcard, the 19th century is represented by the horse-drawn covered wagon trundling its way along the Amersham Road. The foursome in the motor car obviously represents the new and exciting 20th century. Meanwhile the old pub on the right, the Pheasant Inn, plies its business as it had for centuries. Click the postcard to enlarge.
The Google Street View shows the 21st century. The old pub has now closed down for good (though the Google Street View shows it when it was still open, but on its last legs). The cars have taken over the road.
For more old photographs have a look at the Sepia Saturday blog.



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Friday 24 May 2013

CDVs of Beautiful Women, Richmond, Surrey, late 1800s

CDVs of beautiful women, Richmond, Surrey, late 1800s. In addition to my postcard collecting, I also collect CDVs (Carte de Visites - visiting cards) from my local town of Richmond, Surrey. This week's Sepia Saturday blog shows a beautiful woman's face, so I thought that presented a good opportunity to show off a few of my favourite CDVs. Most are by William Byrne, probably the most prolific late 19th century photographer from Richmond. Others are by George Tuohy, Frank Meek, William Bayfield and Alfred Seeley. Seeley's photograph here is marked on the back 'With love from Norah', possibly the sitter. Seeley also photographed topographic views all over the south of England. Click the photographs to enlarge.

*Edit - after posting this I am reminded of The Who song 'Pictures of Lily', about a young man obsessed by an ancient photograph of a sepia beauty... Choose your own Lily.












Saturday 18 May 2013

Frome, Somerset, Bath Road 1910

Frome, Somerset, Bath Road 1910. Frome (pronounced 'Froom') is a picturesque town in Somerset. Postcard by Young & Co of Teddington. Click the postcard to enlarge.

For more old photographs visit this week's Sepia Saturday blog.



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Sunday 12 May 2013

Bedford Park, West London, Southfields Road c1911

Bedford Park, West London, Southfields Road circa 1911. Postcard by Young & Co of Teddington. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Saturday 4 May 2013

Battersea, South London, Grayshott Road c1914

Battersea, South London, Grayshott Road c1914. This part of Grayshott Road was redeveloped in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The top of Grayshott Road was renamed Acanthus Road, a name that was previously used for a road 100 yards to the right that was also demolished for redevelopment. Grayshott Road now starts at number 45. The men and boys with their milk carts stand outside 41 Grayshott Road, the premises of James Bradbury, Dairyman.
Postcard by W. H. Applebee. Click the postcard to enlarge.
For more old photos have a look at the Sepia Saturday blog.



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Friday 26 April 2013

Twickenham, Middlesex, York Street, 1913

Twickenham, Middlesex, York Street, 1913. In this postcard of York Street, Twickenham we can see a newspaperboy with a sign that proclaims 'Appalling Colliery Disaster in Wales'. Although there were many coal mining disasters in Wales at the turn of the last century, this one probably refers to the Senghenydd Colliery Disaster on 14th of October 1913, the worst of the lot. 439 miners lost their lives in an explosion underground. York Street was built at the turn of the twentieth century to replace Church Street as the main road to Richmond. The buildings on the left were completed in 1906. Sydney Chidley Pianos originally occupied the premises on the far left, but only lasted a few years and then Leslie Warner Shoes were there for many years after that. The premises is now that of HSBC Bank.
Postcard by W. H. Applebee of Ashford. Click the postcard to enlarge. For more old photographs visit the Sepia Saturday blog.



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Thursday 18 April 2013

Worthing, Sussex, Accident, Horse versus Motor, August 21 1908

Worthing, Sussex, Accident, Horse versus Motor, August 21 1908. On August 21, 1908 an accident occurred involving a horse and a motor car at the junction of Montague Street and Crescent Road. It is not known if the horse survived. The shop in the background is that of Dunford and Vousden, up to date drapers and milliners. The postcard was published by Edwards and Son, photographers, Worthing. Click the postcard to enlarge.

For more old photos please visit the Sepia Saturday blog where the theme this week is odd photographs involving animals.



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Monday 15 April 2013

Chipperfield, Hertfordshire, The Boot, c1912

Chipperfield, The Boot, circa 1912. Chipperfield is a village in Hertfordshire. The Boot is a grade II listed building, originally a private house, circa 16th century. Postcard by W. H. Applebee. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Tuesday 9 April 2013

Farnborough, Hampshire, St Marks Church c1912

Farnborough, Hampshire, St Marks Church circa 1912. This imposing Church of England church was built in 1880 and appears to have changed little externally. The church has its own website here and some more old pictures can be seen on the Historic Farnborough website. Postcard by W. H. Applebee. Click the postcard to enlarge.




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Saturday 6 April 2013

Northfields, West London c1913

Northfields, West London c1913. Although the postcard caption states this to be West Ealing it would be more accurate to call it Northfields. On the right of the postcard we can see the Northfields Cinema, a typical early 'flea-pit' cinema, now demolished and replaced by the Navasartian Centre, an Armenian social club. Unfortunately I can't find anything online about this cinema. A little further north up Northfields Avenue was a big cinema, the West Ealing Kinema, built 1913 and demolished in 2004. South of the cinema in the postcard was another cinema, built in 1932 which still survives as a Pentecostal church. Click the postcard to enlarge.
For more old images visit the Sepia Saturday blog.



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Friday 29 March 2013

High Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, c1910

High Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, circa 1910. I bought this postcard a couple of years ago because I thought it would make a nice study for this blog. The postcard is unused, the only writing on the back is 'J. C. Ruddock, Alnwick' - presumably the publisher or photographer. A few minute's research on the Internet reveals that John Candlik Ruddock was indeed a photographer and shopkeeper in the 1901 and 1911 censuses. So far so good. However finding the location on the front of the postcard was another matter. Alwick is in Northumberland and I found two villages called Newton in that county, both about 20 miles from Alnwick. I trudged around them for ages in Google Street View, but found nothing that looked like my postcard. At that point I gave up and consigned the postcard to my large pile of postcards with unidentified locations. By chance I found the postcard again the other day and thought I've have another go at locating it. Looking at the map I discovered there were two villages about five miles from Alnwick called High Newton-by-the-Sea and Low Newton-by-the-Sea. A few minutes of virtual wandering around led me to the Joiners Arms in High Newton-by-the-Sea and I recognised the distinctive gables of the white building in the centre of the postcard and the pub on the right. It is not clear from the postcard if the pub was a pub at that time. The building on the left was a post office in the postcard's time, now it is a private house. There is a little bit about High Newton-by-the-Sea and a tiny picture on the BBC's website.
Click the postcard (and the detail below the Street View) to enlarge.
For more old images have a look at this week's Sepia Saturday blog.



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Saturday 23 March 2013

Wandsworth, South West London, The High Street c1910

Wandsworth, South West London, The High Street circa 1910. In this slighty out-of-focus photographic postcard by Young & Co of Teddington we can see the premises of Read & Wilkinson, Builders, of 20 High Street Wandsworth. Below the Google Street View is an advertising postcard for Read & Wilkinson showing the same premises. It is interesting to note that the advertising postcard makes the shop to the right appear flush with Read & Wilkinson's. The Young & Co postcard clearly shows that this is not the case for the upper floors. The sign in Read & Wilkinson's window says "This contrast shows what we can do with old and shabby work". Unfortunately the only thing to have survived from the postcards' time is the Spread Eagle Pub in the middle distance on the left. Click the postcards to enlarge.

For more old images visit the Sepia Saturday blog.




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