Pictures from the past

We're dipping into the postcard collection of Sally-Anne Richards again today to bring you "Broad Street, Montgomery."

As you can see, Roberts shop is on the left and the church is in the distance. Narrowing down the date is more problematic, as this postcard was never sent and therefore does not have a helpful franking mark. It is likely, though, to be from the early years of the 20th century.

Mrs Ev Corfield of Whittington, but who hails from Pontesbury originally, has supplied us the following caption to this picture of hers: "Past and present scholars look through the old log books at St George's CofE School, Pontesbury, shortly before it closed in 1961. The children were all dressed in old fashioned clothes.

"Notice the picture of Queen Victoria on the wall, where it had hung all through the years.

"In this picture are, from left, Minnie Williams, Jack Moore (standing – headmaster), Toby Challinor, Brenda Jones, Carol Andrews, David Ryder, Susan Evans, Philip Clarke, David Middle, Billy Williams and Sam Pugh."

This postcard showing "Abermule, on the canal" was franked on April 15, 1913, and the message on the back read: "Dear Mary, this is a photo of a pretty lock on the canal near here on the other side of the river.

"I have been to Newtown market today. They have the market properly mixed, some on the street & other in private market hall! No tolls for fowl, butter, or eggs unless sold inside!

"The stalls 2/6 a week full of Jews drapers. It is a frightful night blowing & raining howling. Jack's (? difficult to read) asking about your health & hopes to come over to see us again, Yours Sam."

It was posted to Mrs Hennessey, of Albion House, Denbigh.

This is a Park & Sons of Newtown postcard loaned to us by postcard collector Sally-Anne Richards.

This is "Wharf Bridge, Rodington" and written on the back of this undated – 1930s maybe? – postcard are the words: "This is Rodington House".

Presumably this is referring to the property on the left. It is another postcard from the huge collection of Bridgnorth's Ray Farlow.

This picture is from railways historian Keith Beddoes, but comes originally from a negative from Mike Picken. Keith says the picture dates from the 1955 when there was a railways strike.

But not all workers were affected and those at Buildwas junction had nothing to do, so they got a lot of stones and laid this out in the station master's garden and whitewashed them. It says Buildwas Junction.

On the back of the print is written: "Buildwas, 1955, l-r Phil Bagnall (leading porter), Maurice Dicken, Ern Dicken. Stones put in during 1955 strike as NUR men did not strike. Not much for staff to occupy themselves."

The winner! This rather fuzzy photo shows Colonel James Baldwin Webb being carried aloft through the streets of Wellington after his victory in the October 1931 general election. Colonel Baldwin Webb represented the seat until his death in 1940 when the ship he was on was sunk by a U-boat.

He is one of few British MPs to have been killed by enemy action.nextpage

"Do any of your readers recognise these young Prestfelde cricketers?"

That's the question posed by the unknown contributor who sent us this picture.

This picture of the Prestfelde School cricket team in Shrewsbury was taken in 1934, so there may be one or two of these lads who are still around to identify themselves and their colleagues.