This week’s pictures from the past

This happy bunch were the staff at Woolworths at Bridgnorth more than 50 years ago. The date stamp on the back of the print is June 3, 1957.

It was loaned by Mrs Mary Lloyd, of Riddings Close, Ketley, who worked there for six years, from 1955 to 1961, on the confectionery counter. She was Miss Mary Dyke in those days and lived at Footbridge Cottage, Tasley. Mary is middle row, fifth from left, and can name some of her colleagues.

She says front row, centre, is the manager, Mr Aldridge.

She thinks his name was Charles Aldridge. Back row, left, is Barbara – she thinks her full name was Barbara Lloyd – and then second left is Madge Norgrove.

Middle row, third from left, is Betty Smith, then comes Beatie Palmer, ie Beatrice Palmer, who was a cook in the staff canteen. Third from right is Joyce Davies and second from right is Christine Bishop.

Front row, second from left, is Diane Williams, one of the office staff; then comes Eileen Winwood, then Mr Aldridge, then Helen Ball, a supervisor, followed by Margaret Pike.nextpage📷

Old postcards weren't just of landscapes and scenic views, they also recorded post offices, shops, news events, and grand mansions.

This is Littlecote, Cressage, and the picture is undated, but seems likely to be from the Edwardian era – that is, about 100 years ago. Perhaps the family living there used these postcards themselves for correspondence.

It was loaned to us by Phil Bennett, of Shrewsbury. nextpage📷

Here's an old postcard view of one of Shropshire's major industrial concerns of yesteryear. The Horsehay Company at Horsehay was a huge complex with its own rail line and even its own pool, as Horsehay Pool was created to serve the early Horsehay Works.

The company closed in the 1980s but left behind its canteen, which serves as the local village hall, and also the pool, an industrial relic which is now a beautiful landscape feature. Incidentally this photograph is undated – 1940s maybe? nextpage📷

"Pontesbury Primitive Methodist Sunday School and Choir, on Anniversary Day, August, Sunday 1928". This photo was loaned by Evelyn Corfield, of Whittington. She was previously Evelyn Challinor and originally hails from Pontesbury.

She has provided the names, working from the back, left to right. Her key is a bit difficult to follow, but then if you're on the picture, you'll know who you are!

They are: Jack Young, Jack Evans, Lambert Massey, Bernie Challinor, Jim Jones, Edwin Evans, Mr Massey, Charlie Giles, Harry Challinor, Ern Challinor, Bill Benbow, Reg Ball, Toby Challinor, Jim Price, Cis Challinor, unknown, Bert Challinor, Ethel Challinor, Violet Croft, unknown, Jessie Challinor, Arnie Matthews, unknown, Doris Matthews, Alice Jones, unknown, Billy Jones, Molly Giles, unknown, Beat Challinor, Cliff Challinor, unknown, May Challinor, Neddy Challinor, Ida Overton, George Jones, Howard Challinor, Nellie Walker, Mrs Massey, unknown, Lilian Massey, Leslie Walton, Fred Braddick, unknown, Bert Evans, two unknowns, Edward Challinor, unknown, Ern Jones (organist), Betty Butler, Walter Challinor, unknown, Percy Matthews, Joan Mansell, unknown, Beattie Evans, Phyllis Challinor, unknown, Carrie Evans, Nancy Butler, Bet Sankey, Mildred Massey, unknown, Vernon (Pip) Challinor, Cyril Smout, two unknowns, Ron Giles, Hubert Hamer, unknown, Jack Giles, Ted Challinor, Fred Giles, Dennis Challinor, David Roberts, Smout (first name not known), Beryl Hamer, Eileen Jones, Doug Morgan, Bill Jones, Jack Roberts, two unknowns, Elsie Tomlins, Edie Smout, Clara Morgan, two unknowns, Norah Williams, Dolly Mansell, unknown.nextpage📷

Here's something different today – not one picture from the past, but a family album page full.

These pictures are in an album in the ownership of Mrs Grace Edwards, of Wellington, and tell the story of the buildings at the Cock Hotel crossroads, Wellington, with notes by her late husband, Bill.

The Cock Hotel and the old Swan Hotel are visible in the photos at the top, while the note mid left says "One of these buildings was Sugden's School for Girls – mother told me this. It was Brooklyn House."

A wagon in the middle picture is arrowed and a note says "Could this be Garbett's coal wagon on its way to Ketley wharf for weighing?" On the right is Willow House. "Tom Freeman said that Job Freeman lived here for a time." Bottom left is the Swan Hotel again, in 1960.

Some close-up pictures of this page follow.nextpage📷

Willow House, Wellington, from an album in the ownership of Mrs Grace Edwards, of Wellington nextpage📷

The Cock Hotel, from the album owned by Mrs Grace Edwards, of Wellingtonnextpage📷

The Cock Hotel 1960, from the album owned by Mrs Grace Edwards, of Wellington

📷While other buildings come and go, or get vastly changed in their appearance over the years, churches tend to remain much the same over the generations.

So somebody who saw St Peter's Church, Wrockwardine, at the time this postcard was franked at Wellington on January 21, 1914, would have no difficulty whatsoever recognising the same building today.

The postcard message was: "Dear ones I got back very well, all pleased though surprised to see me. Hope you will all have a better night. Shall be glad to have a card. Much love to you all ever from mother (? this last word is difficult to read) your loving sister. EE." (? this is difficult to make out). It was posted to Miss L Haynes, 18 Doseley, Dawley.

Picture courtesy of Don Langford, Chetwynd Aston.

📷This undated picture e-mailed in by our regular contributor Paul France shows the Railway Tavern pub in High Street, Ironbridge.

It is undated but maybe there's somebody out there who can narrow it down by the information that the licensee at the time was, as shown by the name above the door, one Hannah Owen who is presumably the lady in the doorway.

Paul says: "Gadsby's music shop was to the left of this pub at the top of the High Street in Ironbridge. I don't know if there's a family connection with the Owen family who kept the Robin Hood for many years."

He did a bit of on-the-spot research to see if the building is still there. “I popped into Ironbridge with a copy of the photo to check against existing buildings. Sadly it is no longer there. Another building destroyed in the name of progress.”