Blackmore Church postcards

Postcards from about a hundred years ago

St Laurence Church, Blackmore

Interior of the Priory Church of St Laurence, Blackmore

Blackmore: A Stroll with Mr Spalding

A selection of Edwardian postcards taken by Fred Spalding of Chelmsford. 

Looking along The Green from the junction of Brentwood Road,
now Blackmore Road. On the right is The Prince Albert PH.
The roof line on the left is of The Post Office

Blackmore Post Office

Horsefayre Green with view of The Leather Bottle pub

Fingrith Hall Road

Church Street showing Little Jericho on the left

Stondon Massey Postcard

St Peter & St Paul Church, Stondon Massey
Interior
(from an old postcard)

Ingatestone & Fryerning: Postcards

Ingatestone Station - at the beginning of the twentieth century

A series of postcards from the early twentieth century of Ingatestone and Fryerning has just been published on the accompanying website. It is possible for the reader to take a figure of eight walk from the railway station to see all the views.  Go to: http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/ingatestone_postcards.html

Postcard Collection: Great Warley

'Warley Woods'

A postcard written in 1909.

Postcard Collection: Great Warley

These two postcards of Great Warley Church were written on 23 & 24 December 1907. In the first W. enquires of his young lady, "Do you remember the walk to this church?" and in the second, "I hope this card will reach you Bank Holiday morning and that you will have a most enjoyable day". Clearly no post was delivered on Christmas Day but the service resumed on Boxing Day.

Postcard Collection: South Weald

South Weald Church. W. writes on a different topic from Mountnessing on 30 December 1907, "Thanks very much for present received in tonight's post. It is now 11.15pm and have just come back from the Choir Supper at the Vicarage. Will write to tell you everything tomorrow when I am more awake."

Postcard Collection: South Weald

Now in Weald Country Park, the site of the former and demolished house, 'The Belvedere, Weald Park, Brentwood' can be visited.

Postcard Collection: Warley

'Essex County Asylum. Brentwood. Warley"

Postcard Collection: Brentwood

Three images of Shenfield Common, Brentwood from a hundred years ago.

Postcard Collection: Brentwood

The oak marked the site where William Hunter was martyred in 1555. W writes from Mountnessing on 7 August 1907, "Weather here is inclined to be stormy yesterday afternoon. I raced a storm home [by bike] from Brentwood and just got inside by the time the storm was at its height. This view shows the Martyr's Oak and behind it is the chapel of my old school [Brentwood Grammar School]. I forget what local views you have, but I don't think you have this".

Postcard Collection: Shenfield

A Fred Spalding postcard sent in 1909 showing Shenfield station, which was completely rebuilt in the 1970s. Unrecognisable.

Postcard Collection: Hutton

'Railway Cottages, near Shenfield Station' have gone but the public house on the left remains as does the familiar bend in the road before going under the railway to Shenfield station.

Postcard Collection: Hutton

Three views of Hutton just over a century ago. Hutton Wash borders Mountnessing and Hutton: the road is no longer a ford, nor has been in my living memory. Then 'Hutton High Road', now Rayleigh Road, a much busier thoroughfare. Finally All Saints Church.

Postcard Collection: Stock

The Street, Stock, which was once classified in this location as being in the former Buttsbury parish. This card dates from after the erection of the War Memorial.

Postcard Collection: Thoby Priory, Mountnessing

Two postcards from c1906 of the long demolished house which stood in the grounds of Thoby Priory in Mountnessing. The site today remains subject to a planning determination, which mooted building houses on the former scrapyard site. Of course if anything were to progress it would be the subject of an extensive archaeological dig. For more on Thoby Priory go to http://www.blackmorehistory.co.uk/mountnessing.html

Postcard Collection: Great Baddow

"Mountnessing. Brentwood. Sept 1 07. ... Great Baddow parish runs into the town of Chelmsford. The church is rather unique. W."

Postcard Collection: Chelmsford

The Friars, Moulsham Street, Chelmsford

A postcard sent on 9 September 1907

Postcard Collection: Chelmsford

A familiar site in Chelmsford today is the viaduct carrying the railway through the centre of town. The Recreation Ground was sliced in two by a dual carriageway in the early 1970s, so perhaps the view here is not as extensive today as it was on 5 September 1907 when W. wrote to his intended from Mountnessing, " ... a hideous roundabout organ is tormenting us here these nights ... ".

Postcard Collection: Chelmsford

"Mountnessing Brentwood. Sept 3 07. Another card for your album showing the river Cann at Recreation Ground I should think. It is not very distinctive but yet is a pretty view. Love & c. W."