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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Sunday 17 March 2013

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, The High Street c1920

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, The High Street circa 1920. The High Street has changed considerably since the photograph was taken. The Chandos Hotel has long since gone. Postcard by Milton. Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Tuesday 12 March 2013

Hammersmith, West London, King Street c1913

Hammersmith, West London, King Street c1913. The roof-line of these shops indicate that they are very old indeed, possibly 17th century. It is remarkable that they have survived largely intact. To the left of Oliver Pryce's bakery (the shop with 'Hovis' painted on the outside) we can see the Forester's Arms beer house run by John Neville. Beer houses were only licenced to sell beer, unlike pubs which could sell wine and spirits too. Unfortunately the Forester's Arms has been replaced by an ugly modern building which is out of character with the other shops. To the right of Oliver Pryce's bakery was 'S. Lambourne, Corset Specialist'. This postcard was published by Young and Co of Teddington.  My apologies for the excessive watermarking for this post.
Click the postcard to enlarge.



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Friday 8 March 2013

Esher, Surrey, Portsmouth Road, c1912 and c1918

Esher, Surrey, Portsmouth Road, circa 1912 and circa 1918. These two old postcards show the same location, one before the First World War, the other after. The pub we can see was called 'The Orleans Arms', it is now a branch of the Café Rouge restaurant chain. Outside the pub is a magnificent milestone erected in 1767 which is called 'The White Lady'. I have driven past this place many times in the past and I'd never noticed the milestone until I'd seen these postcards. You can also see what I think is an old weighing machine outside the pub in the postcards. The first postcard was photographed and published in about 1912 by William Henry Applebee of Ashford, the second postcard was photographed and published by Andrew Smith of Surbiton in about 1918. Click the postcards to see enlarged versions at 300dpi. Note - the darker colour of the buildings in the first photo is due to the photography or printing process, they were not actually darker than they were in the second photo.

For more old images why not visit this week's Sepia Saturday blog.




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Friday 1 March 2013

Littlehampton, Sussex, Pier Road and Kursaal, 1913

Littlehampton, Sussex, Pier Road and Kursaal, 1913. Littlehampton is a typical English seaside town in Sussex. The old windmill - I believe it was called Arun Mill - was demolished in the early 1930s. Presumably the Kursaal was demolished at around the same time. If you look at the Kursaal closely by clicking on the postcard you can see it is a very makeshift structure, built of cheap board and corrugated iron. I can find no references on the Internet to the Kursaal in Littlehampton, but if you look at the second postcard taken by W. H. Applebee probably on the same day you can see it has Kursaal painted on the roof. The posters on the side refer to 'The Stingarees' who were performing on Monday 4th of August. This pinpoints the year to 1913. A sign outside the front says 'Vaudeville Concerts Daily'. Other postcards I've seen showing this building say it was called 'The Casino'. The postcard at the bottom shows a view of Littlehampton from the bridge. W. H. Applebee normally photographed Middlesex, Surrey, Berks and Bucks, but in 1913 he set off with his wife in their little three-wheeled A. C. Sociable and went to the South Coast, visiting Worthing and Littlehampton and photographing and publishing a short run of postcards, including these three. Click the postcards to enlarge.

For more old photos visit the Sepia Saturday blog.




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