The Baths Promenade, Hastings, Sussex

A card from Edith telling John of a trip to Hastings with her husband Percy. It also mentions a broken down goods train opposite the field that day. The LB&SCR tracks past by the family's Ham Lane Farm in Lewes.

August 1st 1908 was a Saturday.

Northernhay, Exeter

A card from Edith who was on a day trip to Seaford.

April 12th 1909 was Easter Monday.

The Esplanade, Seaford

Crystal Palace

A post card from Auntie. This particular Auntie was Fannie.

June 9th 1905 was a Friday, the day after John's 15th birthday.

George Street, Plymouth

A post card from Plymouth to Mrs Hurst. A 7 hour 30 minute journey from Brighton to Plymouth. Today the journey takes two hours less.

August 3rd 1905 was a Thursday.

Exeter Cathedral from the East

A post card from John's cousin Reggie. He wrote about seeing John at Horsham Carnival. This film is of the event in 1913 starting after the cricket match.

July 2nd 1909 was a Friday.

Lombard Street, Petworth

A post card from Petworth to Miss Hurst. Google Streetview reveals that Lombard Street has change some since 1905 and St Mary's would seem to have lost it spire. The church spire was painted by JMW Turner in 1827.

March 17th 1905 was a Friday.

High Weeks Church, Newton Abbot

A post card to Mrs Shilston living in Chelston, Torquay. There are several cards in John's collection addressed to people in Torquay that appear to have no connection with the Goodridge family in Brighton. How did these cards get into his collection?

May 1st 1909 was a Saturday.

The 1911 census record for Spreyton, Chelston showing Eva Jane Shilston living with her mother Sarah Jane Easterbrook.

Drake Statue and Esplanade, Plymouth

A post card from an unknown sender to Miss Hurst from Plymouth.

August 3rd 1905 was a Thursday.

Hunstanton Cliffs

May Tidy responding to an invitation to dinner that she declines, but will be able to come for tea. Fred, May's brother was going to also be there with a lady friend.

August 6th 1908 was a Thursday.

Friar Park, Henley-on-Thames

A post card from Edith when she was visiting Henley-on-Thames. In the 1980's one of John's great-granddaughters went to the playgroup and infant school that was built in part of the grounds of Friar Park.

September 8th 1909 was a Wednesday.

The Opera House, Tunbridge Wells

A card to Edie from Dora after she had attended and enjoyed a play at the Opera House.

September 8th 1904 was a Thursday.

Hastings Castle

Edith and Mrs Hughes were going to go on a trip to Seaford with St John's School the day after posting this card.

August 4th 1908 was a Tuesday.

Looking East, St. Leonards-on-Sea

A post card from Edith voicing her concerns about the rough weather and John's safety if he was driving to Lewes on that day. John was 18 in September 1908 and the post cards give evidence to the fact that he was capable of driving from his home in Kemp Town to Lewes by the time he left school in 1904.

His road sense was to provide him with a skill that the British Army would make use of when he signed to join in 1916 as a Lord Derby volunteer. When he was called to the service of the country he was trained to be a lorry driver with the Army Service Corp. His demobilization documents show that he Attested on 30th January 1916 and left the army on 14th November 1919. He served in France and Germany.

With the general shortage of farm worker caused by the war and John's imminent departure from the family business, his father put the farm in Ham Lane, Lewes up for auction. 

September 1st 1908 was a Tuesday.

Farnham Lane, Haslemere

A post card to Mrs Hurst from Hazlemere.

July 20th 1905 was a Thursday.

Convalescent Home, Folkestone

A post card from Winnie to "Betty", Edith Hurst from Folkstone.

August 29th 1904 was a Monday.

At Longbridge, Somerset

A Christmas greeting to Miss Hurst from Gerty.

December 23rd 1904 was a Friday.

Street Scene by Francis Frith

A Christmas greeting post card to Miss Hurst.

The Spa, Scarborough

An interesting description of the Edwardian Spa at Scarborough.

June 22nd 1905 was a Thursday.

The Commercial Motor magazine published a review of the Regent Motor Omnibuses in their edition of that date. John became a shareholder of Southdown Buses after being demobbed from the Army in 1919. He served as a lorry driver in the ASC having joined up as a Lord Derby volunteer.

Nidd Hall near Ripon

A post card to Mr Hurst, was this a brother or cousin of Miss E. Hurst?

July 8th 1905 was a Saturday.

Henfield Church, Sussex

A post card to Matthew Povey, John's step-grandfather. Frank Rowe is described as a Tobacconist, on his own account living in Baker Street, Brighton on the 1901 census and a coach trimmer living at the address on the post card in 1911. Was Matthew needing some attention for his coach from Mr Rowe in January 1905?

January 14th 1905 was a Saturday.

The Windmill, Wimbledon Common

A post card to Miss E. Hurst from an unknown sender. 

March 20th 1905 was a Monday.

Chatsworth House

An Xmas Greetings card from Gin to Keith Charles. Two unknown people, but there is another PC in the collection that was sent to 6 Denmark Terrance.

December 24th 1906 was a Monday.

Salisbury Infirmary & Clock Tower

A post card to Miss Hurst, was she the daughter of Mrs F Hurst or another relative? Clearly some connection with the Goodridge/Povey family as there are a number of PCs sent to 103, Western Road in John albums.

September 6th 1904 was a Tuesday.