Barking, Essex, The Bull Hotel, c1918

Barking, Essex, The Bull Hotel, c1918. There are flags up outside the Bull Hotel, but I don't know what they are commemorating, possibly the end of The Great War. I've had this postcard for ages but ws unable to find the location until now. The pub was rebuilt in 1925 and has now closed down, possibly for good. Postcard by an unknown publisher. Click the postcard to enlarge.

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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Maidenhead, Berkshire, High Street and Town Hall c1910

Maidenhead, Berkshire, High Street and Town Hall circa 1910. The Town Hall on the right has long since gone, as have all of the other buildings in the postcard. Postcard published by Young & Co of Teddington. Click the postcard to enlarge.

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Ascot, Berkshire, Entrance to Race Course Grandstand c1913

Ascot, Berkshire, Entrance to Race Course Grandstand circa 1913. Postcard by W. H. Applebee of Ashford. Click the postcard to enlarge.

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City of London, King William Statue and Eastcheap c1913

City of London, King William Statue and Eastcheap circa 1913. In this animated postcard by the publishers C. & A. G. Lewis of Nottingham we can see the King William IV statue that was erected in 1844. The statue faced London Bridge. The statue was moved to King William Walk, Greenwich Park in 1938. It now stands on a far less impressive plinth. In the distance on the left we can see Eastcheap. Unfortunately only one building from the postcard's time has survived into the 21st century - the domed building in the middle distance directly above the rear part of the bus on the left. This bus is on its way to Croydon from Liverpool Street. The bus on the right has come from Ealing and is nearly at its destination, London Bridge Station, just over the river. Behind the statue is one of the entrances to Monument Underground station. For a couple of other views of the King William IV statue and this area have a look at this earlier post. Postcards by C. & A. G. Lewis are often of the highest quality and are very collectable. This one is no exception. I am particularly struck by the woman on the extreme left of the picture and the old man wearing a boater talking to a policeman on the right. This postcard has been scanned at 300dpi (1575 x 988 pixels) so it may be worth downloading to your computer to see all of the detail. Click the postcard to enlarge (then right-click, 'save image as' if you wish to save it to your computer).

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

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Brentford, Middlesex, Congregational Church c1910

Brentford, Middlesex, Congregational Church circa 1910. The church is now called Brentford Free Church and has been altered slightly. The building next door has gone. Postcard by Young & Co of Teddington.

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Richmond Bridge, Surrey, March 18th, 1915

The message on the back simply states 'Chummy on point duty, March 18 1915'. One must assume that Chummy is the name of the dog, not the policeman. It would have been a common sight in 1915 to see soldiers on horseback in any part of the country. I can't remember the last time I saw a horse on Richmond bridge. The buildings on the left are part of the entrance to the Bridge House Hotel (see below). Richmond bridge was opened in 1777 and widened in 1937. I have quite a lot of postcards of Richmond bridge and nearby locations so expect to see more here in the future. This postcard was published by Talbot Studios of Richmond.

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Bridge House Hotel was a popular spot for day trippers and tourists to take tea overlooking the river. The hotel is no longer there.

People taking tea in Bridge House Hotel garden in about 1910: