Searching for something for this week's Sepia Saturday, I came across this sepia postcard. Initially I didn't think it was anything special, but a little digging revealed that it was in fact the former house of Rupert Brooke, the war poet. It's here that I must confess my ignorance in that I'd never heard of him (we read Wilfred Owen at school though and I still remember some of the lines of All Quiet on the Western Front, but Brooke was a new name to me). The house is the Old Vicarage in Grantchester, Cambridgeshire, and is now occupied by Lord and Lady Archer.
Vintage postcard of the Old Vicarage, Granchester, Cambridgeshire, published by Frith
Something which also struck me as interesting about this postcard was the slogan on the back which reads 'T.N.T - Today Not Tomorrow - The Minister of Production' . The Ministry of Production was formed in 1942 to bridge the gap and coordinate between various other government departments including the Admiralty, Ministry of Supply, Ministry of Aircraft Production and the Ministry of Labour and National Service, basically making sure that demand and supply were coordinated.
Back of postcard showing the T.N.T slogan
As usual, 100's more vintage postcards on my web site
Posts
.jpg)
Brooke wrote a poem about "The Old Vicarage Granchester." His poem "The Soldier" is quoted on most Armistice Days -
ReplyDelete"If I should die, thing only this of me,
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. ..."
I'm ashamed that had not heard the poems of Brooke or Owen till long after I left school at the end of the 1950s.
Thanks for selecting this card.
I remember that line from "The Soldier". Don't know why or where though. Very comfortable looking house.
ReplyDeleteI was drinking in the pub at the bottom of his garden only a few weeks ago. And it looks like we have a theme, I have a WW2 link with my post this week.
ReplyDeleteI wish Lord and Lady Archer would invite us all for tea - TNT!
ReplyDeleteI do have a Rupert Brooke quote I remember! "I know what things are good: friendship and work and conversation!" He had a beautiful and large house, thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful home pictured in your postcard.I am not into poetry so have no idea who he was. Love the poem " Soldier"
ReplyDeleteA great home...I do recall hearing lines if not the entire "Soldier" poem but his name was totally unfamiliar to me. I liked this because I learned something again as I always do on Sepia Sat's
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful house. Three chimney stacks at one end. I like to imagine the fireplaces inside. I wonder how old the house is and how many owners have passed through?
ReplyDeleteThe house looks enchanting. It has such beautiful angles. And look at the chimney! I wish I could go inside and see the rooms, the walls, the stairwell/staircase.... I have not heard of Rupert Brooke before....
ReplyDeleteBeautiful home - would love to see current photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this fascinating little tidbit of history. Rupert Brooke is one of my favourite poets. I've even blogged about him in the past! Such a beautiful, talented young man, and he died so young. I would love to see his house one day. The fact that he grew up there makes it even more enchanting.
ReplyDeletelooks like a fine place to live.
ReplyDelete:)~
HUGZ