This week's pictures from the past

News of the closure – temporarily, one hopes – of The Red Lion, Bomere Heath, prompted Phil Griffiths to e-mail us this old photo of the pub.

He says: "Following the item on the front page of the Star regarding The Red Lion, Bomere Heath, as a keen collector of vintage postcards, I remembered having this photographic postcard of The Red Lion in my collection, the pub being owned at that time by the Wem Brewery.

"The card dates, possibly, from the 1930s. You will note that at the time the pub had two front entrances."nextpage

We're probably going back about 100 years with this old Wilding's postcard showing High Ercall Hall, but in reality a modern view would show it little changed.

According to the Ercall Magna Parish Council website, the hall was built in 1608 and the curious arcade of four arches is probably part of the original manor house of D E Arckles, the family after whom the village is named.

Picture: Diana Humphreys.nextpage

We've all heard of leaves on the line, but this is a new one... a goat on the line. This photo showing a goat tethered to the railway line at Eaton station, near Bishop's Castle, was loaned by Mr Ken Lucas, archivist of the Bishop's Castle Railway Society.

"The goat belonged to Mrs Matthews, stationmaster at Eaton, and it was responsible for eating the timetables and notices in the waiting shelter. Roger Kidner took this photo during his 1933 visit to the line."

At the time the railway line was still active. The goat was moved off the track when trains were due.nextpage

The 90th anniversary of the Armistice is fast approaching, and this photo of an unfortunate incident at Ludlow dates from that year, 1918.

A biplane bearing a "Buy War Bonds" message came to grief spectacularly. It was based at 9 Training Depot Station, Shawbury, and presumably was on a fundraising visit to Ludlow, or force landed there.

Does anybody know the details of this incident or exactly where it happened? The photo is from the archives of present-day RAF Shawbury.nextpage

This picture was loaned to us by Roger Tranter who says this was taken at the official opening of St Georges Social Club, St Georges.

Although the photo is undated, according to a plaque the opening was in November 1965 – it reads: "This plaque commemorates the official opening of this building on Saturday, November 6th, 1965 by Lt Gen Sir Oliver Leese, Bart."

General Leese was a Desert Rats hero who lived at Worfield.nextpage

What you see is what you get with this photo, by which we mean that we know nothing about it apart from that which is evident from the picture.

It is obviously a Wem Homing Society display, competition, or exhibition, but we don't know who any of these people are.

As for the date, you can see the numbers 77 and 78, written on the judo club sign on the left, possibly indicating a 1977-78 season, which might indicate that this event was around 1978.

The photo was loaned to us by Mrs Janet Randall, of New Street, Wem.