Blackpool Illuminations from the North Pier- Vintage Postcard

 Currently trying to sort through my large postcard collection and came across this interesting one by Valentine & Son of  Dundee, Scotland. Titled Blackpool Illuminations from the North Pier and printed in an artistic painted style.

The card is dated from 1933 by it's serial number 221812 and has never been posted, it's quite worn but for a card aged around 87 years old it looks well.

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The Crossley Pavilion at People's Park, Halifax then and now. A vintage postcard and a modern look.

I recently added the bottom postcard to my collection, it shows a view of Peoples Park, Halifax looking from south to north towards the Crossley Pavilion. I thought I'd go take a look at the same view now a couple of weeks ago and the top picture shows the modern scene. The park is now more tree lined and covers the spire of the Park United Reformed Church, which stills stands across the road from the park's north western corner although I am told is now a business centre.

The postcard I recently purchased.

A comparison shot from a similar position.

The rear of the postcard. It gives no indication of when it was posted only wishing best wishes to its recipient, a Mr & Mrs Butterfield of Leeds.

The modern comparison picture.

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Lockwood Railway Station

 In 2015 I set out to picture the railway stations along the Penistone Line between Huddersfield and Penistone, on the day I managed to picture Berry Brow, Honey, Brockholes, Stocksmoor, Shepley and Denby Dale, missing out on Penistone and Huddersfield which I still haven't visited, and Lockwood as the time got away from me. Recently in Huddersfield I decided to visit Lockwood and finally picture that stop, these pictures were taken on the 25th July 2020.

Lockwood Railway Station opened along with the line on the 1st July 1850 as a double platform twin track stop. Located just south of the Lockwood Tunnel approx. 1.5 miles from Huddersfield . The station became a junction stop in August 1868 when the Meltham Branch line opened to goods traffic, passenger transport commencing in July 1869, until the line was closed in 1965. Lockwood Station was staffed until the 1960's and after the closure of the Meltham Branch spent many years as the subject of closure speculation along with the entire Penistone Line. In the 1980's the decision was made and the line was to remain open, although it would now be a single track. The remains of the closed platform can still be seen at Lockwood although overgrown, the connecting tunnel blocked by a door.

The station has minimal facilities with a small car park, step free access, a basic small shelter. In 2018/19 it was attended by 40006 passengers at an average of 769 per week. That's a drop of over 11000 passengers compared to 2015/16, but despite this drop the line remains popular and is growing steadily year on year. Lockwood Station is served hourly in each direction daily.

Immediately north of the station is the 255 yard Yew Green Tunnel, better known as Lockwood Tunnel it has been the scene of a couple of incidents. The first tragedy to effect the tunnel occurred before it opened.   In July 1849 the tunnel was complete although the railway line was, a group of men had been drinking at a nearby inn, when they challenged each to a race through the tunnel. Upon completing the race they realised one of their number was missing and tracked back through the tunnel until they came across the body of John Godly, who it was said had tripped and broken his neck whilst racing through the tunnel.

 The tunnel was the scene of a rail crash in March 1869 when a passenger train and a goods train collided in the tunnel, the driver error resulted in 3 people being injured.

To the south of the station lies the Lockwood Viaduct, I'll try to return to picture that but was short on time on this occasion, between the viaduct and station are the remains of the coal drops. The set of 8 former coal drops still stand, now being used as a car park. They also feature a tunnel connecting both sides of Howarth Lane.

The pictures were taken using a Nikon d3300 on the 25th August 2020, they can be seen un-watermarked and higher resolution on Clickasnap by clicking any image. Link will open in another window.

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Happy Birthday Mollie - Vintage Postcard

 In my collection of celebratory postcards I have set that were sent to Mollie from various family members over a number of years, I thought I would start by sharing this one from her Dad which she received on the 14th September 1936.

The rear of the card is simple with only her name Mollie Stuart and signed as from Dad and the date showing. I will sharing more cards from the Mollie collection over the next few months, some have a bit more to say and some include the postal address.

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Vintage Postcards - Ellingham Church, Ringwood

This post features another of the postcards I have collected. It shows Ellingham Church, Ringwood and is a Judges of Hastings card. The card has only a postal address and King George IV stamp which was released in 1937. 

The church is St Mary and All Saints Church and is approx. 2 miles north of Ringwood in the village of Ellingham.

Obviously the person who sent the card was a person of few words, with only a deliver address provided, with no information of who the card was from indicated in the text.

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10:46 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street at Standedge Tunnel. 25 July 2020

This set of 3 pictures was taken on a recent visit to Marsden, Huddersfield. Whilst there I thought I would catch the train up from Slaithwaite to Marsden and walk back along the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. As quite often happens with me I got distracted and headed for the Standedge Tunnel a short walk from Marsden Station. Whilst there I was trying to get a clear shot of the tunnel entrances, however I failed in this but whilst searching for a higher vantage point I took a moment to film and picture some of the trains on approach to the tunnels.

The train is the 10.46 Newcastle to Liverpool Lime Street service and is seen crossing Bridge 61 over the Huddersfield Narrow Canal on approach to the tunnels entrance. The train was passing at 12.47, the UID number was N03709, and head code 5341. The picture was taken using a Nikon d3300 SLR on the 25 July 2020. They can also be se seen full size, resolution and un-watermarked on Clickasnap via the links below each picture.

This was my first trip out camera in hand after covid lockdowns and restrictions had started to be eased in the United Kingdom.

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The following video was taken later in the day and features a number of trains exiting and entering the tunnel.
 

 

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Vintage Postcard - Manor Gardens, Burnham on Sea

A postcard taken from my large collection, this one features a scene taken in Manor Gardens, Burnham on Sea with the band stand central to the picture. The picture although written on has never been posted so I am unable to date, although I guess it's from around the post First World War period. The Gardens are still there today.

The back of the card has been written and contains the following text,

As best as i can make out the text reads as follows,

Dear Phyliss we are having a lovely time plenty of attractions and crowds of people we are getting along nicely we have lovely lodgings and quite near the sea front you'll wish you were here we are first going to the Manor Gardens love _____ and _____.

Sadly i can't make the names out.

Vintage Postcard - Marine Parade Gardens and Rozel Shelter, Weston-Super-Mare

This vintage postcard was posted on the 12th September 1917 and although the postal print is still prominent the actual written part is badly faded. It features an image of Marine Parade Gardens and Rozel Shelter in Weston-Super-Mare. I have no idea if the shelter stills stands but the marine gardens are still there.

The back of the card still has the King George V Half Penny stamp attached, and  the following text,

The best I can make out is the text reads as follows,

Mr F Denning,
30 Hanham Road, Kingswood, Bristol.

Dear Dady, just a few lines hoping you arrived home alright and what time did you get home last night.

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Vintage Postcards - Prince of Orange Monument, Brixham

Anther couple of vintage postcards taken from my collection, these are of the Prince of Orange Monument, that can be found on the seafront at Brixham, Devon.

The card was posted in August 1935 from Paighton and features the following text on the back

It reads as best I can make out as
 Miss Joan Harding, Ivy Lodge, West Malvern, Worcestershire.

Here is a picture for your scrap book on _____  _____, for your history _____ book. I saw the statue on holiday when I went to Brixham. I also watched the fishermen cleaning the nets on the quay. Brixham is such a quaint place. I am delighted to here your better.
Love from W.U _____

Any words I could not make out I have left blank.

The postcard shows a monument constructed in 1889 to commemorate the landing of William of Orange and his army in the town on the 5th November 1688. The prince was to become King William III of England on the 11th April 1689.

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St Peter's Church, Walsden

St Peter's Church. Walsden was built as a million pound church, opening on 7th August 1848. Million pound churches were the result of an act of parliament, the 1820 Church Building act which was to build churches in developing towns which had been neglected for places of worship. The act was financed by both government and public money, with the churches commissioned often built to very tight budgets.

The foundation stone was laid by John Crossley in July 1846, he had donated the land upon which the church was to be built. The Grade II listed spire was added in 1864 and is all that remains of this church after fire destroyed much of the building in May 1948 and windows. The clock continued working during the blaze, including marking the moment of midnight The church didn't have adequate insurance and it took the efforts of the local community and parishioners to raise much of the funds to rebuild the church which was re-consecrated on March 10th 1956.

I was in the area of the church on the Rochdale Canal on August 27th 2017, having spotted the spire as I was walking along, I went for an explore of the church grounds, the building being locked up. Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the higher resolution, un-watermarked version on Clickasnap.

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Lock 19 on the Rochdale Canal

Lock 19 on the Rochdale Canal, Known as Todmorden or sometimes Library Lock can be found adjacent to Golden Lion Bridge Bridge number 30, Near the centre of Todmorden. The lock is a guillotine lock having had the eastern gates replaced due to their close proximity to the bridge. The first 3 pictures were taken yesterday 11 July 2020, with an additional one showing the view eastwards towards the guillotine lock and bridge taken on November 9th 2013.

The following picture is the November 2013 image of the lock, it was taken using a Samsung Galaxy tablet,


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