A square postmark

A postcard depicting the Bull Inn in Rochester from the Dickens Land series published by Raphael Tuck. At least 15 series of 'In Dickins Land' were published with the first being produced in the year this card was sent, 1903.

Postcard of Smithfield Market

John was the son of a butcher and worked in the family business after he left school. Being sent a postcard of Smithfield Market and asked by one of his aunts if he had been to the London Meat Market isn't out of place.

John had three aunts: Elizabeth who was born in 1850 and was married to James Tidy. Sarah, born in 1855 and Fanny, born in 1861. Sarah and Fanny remained single through out their lives.

Tut, tut!

Edith seems to telling her 13 year old brother off with this card. He seems to have failed to send one to her on that day as promised.

4th October 1903 was a Sunday. No major events seem to have happened on that day, but 6 days later on 10 October the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was founded by six women, of whom Emmeline and Christabel Pankhurst soon became the most prominent. Frustrated at the lack of progress on women's rights, their activities soon became more confrontational, and included prison hunger strikes.

Clifton Suspension Bridge

A postcard sent from Bristol to John's grandmother, Jane Povey.

London Bridge

This postcard from publishers Raphael Tuck was probably sent with a letter so no postage stamp or address. The reference to Newbury would indicate that it was sent by one of John's cousins from his mother's side of his family. His mother Emma was the daughter of Richard Povey and step-daughter of Matthew Povey who were both born in Chieveley, a village just north of Newbury in Berkshire.

Postcard from Sutton Courtney

A message from Fred in Sutton Courtney in Berkshire, not sure how he is connected to John Goodridge.

The Old Bailey

The 17th December 1908 was a Thursday and Edith reports that it was very wet in Lewes.

The Commercial Motor magazine published on that day had a section entitled Motor Omnibus World. A topic of interest to John P Goodridge for much of his adult. After he died in 1980, aged 90 his collection of Southdown Bus Timetables found a new home at the Amberley Industrial Museum in Sussex.

A German postcard

With half of the stamp torn away and difficult to read message there are few clues on this card. It was posted in the UK and is of a better quality than some in the collection.

Navy barracks in Portsmouth

This postcard indicates that John's sister is feeding his collection and wanting to ensure that she is not sending cards that are too large for his album.

No date on the postmark

Edith sent regular messages to her younger brother.  This postcard has no year as part of the postmark, another card in the collection suggests that it was 1904.

HMS Victory on a postcard

From Edith saying she and her husband Percy King would be visiting the following day. 24th February 1906 was a Saturday and the post mark showing that it was franked by the GPO at 11.45 am at Lewes. On the front there is a second post mark showing that the card was in Brighton at 1.45 pm on the same day and no doubt delivered that afternoon.

The picture of HMS Victory in Portsmouth harbour is a reminder that for more that a century after the Battle of Trafalgar the warship although not on active service, was still afloat. The ship was dry-docked in 1922.

February 24th 1906 was a Saturday. The Spectator published an article on the Algeciras Conference and there was a strong earthquake in Tokio Bay.

Will you have veal this week?

This postcard is another note from sister to her butcher's assistant brother.

Edith orders for meat

A pound and a half of steak and kidney, quarter of suet for a pudding on Saturday and a piece of mutton for Sunday. Useful to have a butcher in the family.

Plenty of postcards

A quick note from Edith to her brother.

Invitation to dinner

The Goodridge family ran a butcher's business at 26 Upper St James Street in Brighton. The joint mentioned in this postcard message may have been too big for Edith and her husband.

June 15th 1904 was a Wednesday.

Postcard to John from Edith

An unfinished post card to Mr N. Wilcox

An unfinished and not posted card to Mr Wilcox. Little else can be gleaned from this card.

Love & kisses to Auntie Emma

A postcard of the Royal Pavilion sent by Marjorie to her Aunt. Haven't yet discovered who Marjorie was.

A postcard from Plymouth

As can already be noted not all the postcards are to John or his close family. This postcard of the Hoe Pier in Plymouth was sent by L.S.H. Best to Miss L. Goodhall to an address in Shanklin. I have not yet found a connection to the Goodridge family.

The Hoe Pier in Plymouth was destroyed during the Blitz on the city in 1941.

A message to Mrs Povey from AP

Mrs Povey, Jane of 51, George Street, Brighton was John's grandmother. She lived with her husband, Matthew above their former Greengrocers shop. Jane was born in Chatteris in 1829.

A trip to Carisbrooke Castle

Edith and her husband, Percy holidayed on the Isle of Wight in August 1907.

Arrived at the station just in time

A postcard form Edith to her half brother

A postcard that caught the evening post.

A postcard to Mrs Dumbrell from Shanklin

This postcard in John Goodridge's album is addressed to Mrs C Dumbrill of 3, Over Street in Brighton. Her home was around a mile from 26 Upper St. James Street where the Goodridge family lived over their butcher's shop.

29th August 1904 was a Monday. The 3rd Summer Olympic's of the modern era was opened in St. Louis, Missouri.  The history of the event is worth a read. The was no Team GB in 1904.

A postcard of Lewes

A postcard of Lewes in Sussex postmarked Lewes 9pm March 4th 1904. This is a card from John Goodridge's half-sister, Edith.

4th March 1904 was a Friday.