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Old postcards from the early 20th century, compared to the same view shown on Google Street View today. The postcards come from my own collection. Almost all of them are from England, mainly showing West London, Middlesex, Surrey, Berks and Bucks. Click on the postcards to see enlarged versions. Street View images are the copyright of Google. Comments, questions or requests are welcome. If you repost my images on other websites (such as Facebook) please include a link to my original post.
The Spread Eagle seems a fairly common name for a pub - I wonder why?
ReplyDeleteInteresting postcards, is it possibly an optical illusion regarding the upper floors of the building next to Read & Wilkinsons? I've looked at both several times now and still can't quite decide, those bricks do look like they run continuously between the buildings, but on the other hand there isn't much space between the windows and the R&W wall.
ReplyDeleteWhatever the equivalent of Photoshopping was in those days?
ReplyDeleteQuite a contrast for this view. Brett asked a question that has intrigued me too, so I looked it up. Spread Eagle could refer to heraldry like the German/Russian Eagles; or to a horse that won the Epson Derby in 1795; or the naval practice of flogging a sailor. One pub history ascribes to the last meaning, but I suspect like all pub names the appeal is in the double (or triple) entendre.
ReplyDeleteWow - if it weren't for the Spread Eagle in both photos, I would have bet you were just messing with us. The street changed quite a bit over the years.
ReplyDeleteThe placement of the buildings on the advertising postcard is really puzzling.
ReplyDeleteThe advertising card is well worth seeing, Your cards are nearly always more interesting than what Google shows.
ReplyDeleteWandsworth looked so much nicer in 1910 then when I was last there. A customer at work is old bill based in the area, he describes it as "Eventful". Still, I haven't been there for twenty or more years, so, like much of London, my frame of reference is very out of date. Cracking post card though :)
ReplyDeleteOkay! Finally I like today better than the before. I think I even remember that building or one like it when we were in London! We did a lot of walking, every where, it was so interesting !
ReplyDeleteOnce again you've shown us an interesting comparison.
ReplyDeletePlenty of scope for wandering around within both the old and the new photographs this week - like a day out in Wandsworth.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, it's sad to see the changes to those wonderful old streets.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Ooh, I just love the "then and now" photos. There certainly was a lot more charm in the "then."
ReplyDelete