Smedley's Hydro, Matlock, Derbyshire, c.1911

I found this vintage postcard, c.1911, in the batch of 200 or so I received earlier this month. This grand looking building is in Matlock, Derbyshire. Those of you who were quick enough to read my original post on this will realise that, in my haste, I actually wrote about another Smedley's Hydro (in Stockport). Fortunately I spotted the erro quite soon after posting. This one was built in 1853, and eventually closed in 1950 when it became the head quarters of the Derbyshire County Council.

Smedley's Hydro, Matlock, Derbyshire, published by Valentine, c.1911

As usual 100's more vintage postcards can be found on my web site

Sepia Saturday 59 - Rupert Brooke and the Archers

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

Moonlit vintage postcard of Brighton

I've always enjoyed moonlit postcards, and blogged about them a few months ago. I recently came across this fantastic one of Brighton which makes a nice addition to my collection.

The Beach, Brighton

As usual, 100's more vintage postcards on my web site, and also my new(ish) In Search of Space blog may be of interest

Vintage postcard of Sandwich, Kent

Sandwich in Kent is a place I must have been to tens of times a a very young child as it was not far from Deal, where my parents grew up and my grandmother lived. I have however only been back once and that was probably 20 years ago now so I don't really have many memories about it apart from the river. Again, as with so many other places in my vintage postcard collection, it's on the list to visit.

This particular postcard of Sandwich shows a structure called The Barbican, which from the brief research I undertook, and despite its ancient appearance, is still there today and looking remarkably similar.

The Barbican, Sandwich, Kent, published by Raphael Tuck

The postcard is unused but I would guess that it dates back to the 1900's. It's an oilette postcards, published in Raphael Tuck's 'Picturesque Counties' series, number 7116.

More vintage postcards of Kent, and 100's from elsewhere can be found on my vintage postcard web site

Sepia Saturday 58 - the Newgate Gap, Cliftonville

I have once again dipped into my still unsorted batch of 200 recent postcard aquisitions and found another which seemed a good choice for Sepia Saturday. It's yet another place I've never been to but looks great from these old postcards. It's the Newgate Gap, in Cliftonville, near Margate, Kent.

Newgate Gap, Cliftonville, c.1938

Newagte Gap, Cliftonville

The second of these postacrds is unused so I cannot tell the date but would assume it's earlier than the first, probably dating back to the 1900's. I was intrigued to see whether it still exists today, and it appears that it does, although the recent photographs I found on the internet don't make it look anywhere near as exciting as it must have looked 100 years ago.

As usual 100's more vintage postcards on my web site

Vintage postcards of Liverpool

This week has been a bit of a blur and Friday had been and gone before I even had time to consider what I might share on Postcard Friendship Friday. As I've blogged before, I have about 200 unsorted postcards to wade through which arrived early in the New Year, so that's where these 2 come from. Liverpool must be the biggest city in England that I've not visited, so it's always interesting to pay it a virtual visit through my vintage postcards. It's definitely on my list of places to visit, just need to find the time. Without further reseacrh I have no idea whether any of these buildings or streets still exist, I do hope so.

Liverpool, Town Hall

Liverpool, Church Street

As usual, 100's more vintage postcards on my web site

Sepia Saturday 57 - the Recycling of Stoke Poges Church Spire

In the recent batch of 200 or so vintage postcards I have yet to find the time to sort through properly, I was looking for a suitable postcard for this week's Sepia Saturday and found this one. It's a fairly ordinary looking postcard of Stoke Poges Church in Buckinghamshire, but what struck me as interesting about it was the caption which reads 'Stoke Poges Church, Spire removed 1924'. Curious to know more I researched the history and found that the spire was replaced in 1834 and then finally removed in 1924 as it was endangering the structure. Once removed the spire was used to make the 2 lych gates which span the churchyard path, which I also have a postcard of. More information about Stoke Poges Church

Stoke Poges Church, spire removed 1924

Stoke Poges Church and Lych gate

As always, 100's more vintage postcards on my web site

Theme Thursday - Stairs

Steps rather than stairs, but I think they fit this week's Theme Thursday.

Roman Steps, Llanbedr, Wales

As always, 100's more vintage postcards on my web site

Hand made vintage postcard, c.1907

I've just acquired a batch of 200 or so vintage postcards to sort through. Not having much time this evening I chose the first one that really stood out to share. This is a really unusual postcard and I've never seen anything quite like it before. It features a portrait photograph inserted into a cut-out oval shape picture of some flowers, all of which has been pasted on to a plain postcard, way back in 1907.

 The greeting on the back of the postcard reads, 'Put me in a nice place in your album and send me yours by return. Thanks'.

As always 100's more vintage postcards on my web site.

Sepia Saturday 56 - Chichester ... oops, I mean Canterbury

This is a very curious vintage postcard. It's actually of Canterbury Cathedral, but the postcard has been printed with the words Chichester Cathedral instead. I probably would not have noticed this mistake myself unless someone had crossed out Chichester and replaced in with Canterbury. And just to double check myself, I searched out a vintage postcard of each and, as you can see, they look very different. The postcard with the erroneous title was printed by Valentine - I wonder how many of these they printed up before they noticed the error? Maybe I have a real rarity here.

Canterbury Cathedral masquerading as Chichester Cathedral

 Canterbury Cathedral

Chichester Cathedral (the real one)

As usual, 100's more vintage postcards can be found on my web site

 

Happy New Year - Spring Flighting

Happy New Year to everyone. The postcard below is called 'Spring Flighting' ... is is too early to be thinking about Spring? I've almost had enough of Winter now.

Spring Flighting, by the artist Vernon Ward, published by the Medici Society, c.1973

Just a quick note to say that after months of deliberation I have created another new blog. My music blog, vintage postcard blog and vintage magazine blog will all keep going, but I will try and steer my more general/random observations and musings to the new blog called In Search of Space. The first couple of entries are live and, as always, comments and interaction are very welcome.