Had You Been There

This postcard - dating back to 1913 - appears never to have been sent through the post. It was written by Andrew - who we can suppose is the man in the middle of this group - to Mary Campbell of Cowdenbeath, who fairly obviously doesn't feature in the trio. The message is as follows: … Continue reading Had You Been There

When Boris Says Turn

It was a time of political chaos, when the Government of Britain was wracked by internal divisions and factions. Cabinet meetings were characterised by open hostility and serial resignations, and the Prime Minister seemed to stand back and watch the fighting so as not to alienate one faction or another. The issues being argued about … Continue reading When Boris Says Turn

Nellie, Empsie And A Carroll Connection

This fine old vintage postcard dates from the first decade of the twentieth century and features photographs of Nellie and Empsie Bowman, a couple of stage and music hall stars of the era. Nellie and Empsie, along with a third sister Isa, were the daughters of Charles Andrew Bowman, a music teacher, and Helen Holmes. … Continue reading Nellie, Empsie And A Carroll Connection

A Thriving Coincidence

I worked in Doncaster for close on twenty years back in the 1980s, and I passed this church regularly. It was an impressive building, standing within its own grounds but surrounded by busy roads. Like so many churches, however, it was showing its age. The discovery of this postcard, prompted me to check up on … Continue reading A Thriving Coincidence

Third Time Lucky In Brighouse Art Gallery

The thing about vintage picture postcards is that so often it is a trial of strength between the photograph on the front and the message on the back as to which can be the best source of historical interest. A perfect example is provided by a recent acquisition: a 1907 postcard of the Smith Art … Continue reading Third Time Lucky In Brighouse Art Gallery

And Quiet Flows The Don

An old faded postcard comes up as fresh as a sepia daisy following a good scanning. These days the church is surrounded by plate-glass and concrete buildings, but the Rover Don still flows quietly by.

Three Views And A Dollop Of History

You get three views of Huddersfield for the price of one on this vintage postcard I acquired the other day, but as with all postcards from one hundred years or more ago, you get an awful lot of history as well. Those familiar with Huddersfield, will probably recognise the three views: most of the buildings … Continue reading Three Views And A Dollop Of History

The Last Chara To Dewsbury

Whenever you look at an old photograph of a familiar scene you become aware of content; the very scale and detail of what is going on. This is Brighouse in the early 1920s: there are shops, there are men waiting for the Black Bull to open and there is a charabanc waiting to trundle you … Continue reading The Last Chara To Dewsbury

The Musical Boy Scouts

This trio of musicians appears on the front of a vintage post card which was sent to a Mr E A Hopkins in Cardiff in October 1913. The message on the reverse is as follows:- Lydney, 18/10/13 Dearest,  These are poor cards. The boy at the back is the cleverest, he plays cello alright. Best … Continue reading The Musical Boy Scouts