Boulogne-sur-Mer - L'Hotel de Ville et le Beffroi.

There are a few postcards to Hester Batten from her brother Harry when he was in the British Army during the Great War. They are in John's collection as Hester became his wife on 31st December 1923. Hester was working in her aunt Bessie's nursing home for wounded officers during the war.

John and Hester with the Batten family.

Ripley Castle

A card to Edith Hurst from Mark Mitchell, her future husband.

Knepp Castle Destroyed by Fire January 18th 1904

A card from EG, Elizabeth Tidy, John's aunt. The postcard was posted just over a month after Knepp Castle was devastated by a fire.

The White Hart, Lewes

John had been to visit his sister and had set off home in 'such a hurry'!

Queen Street and railway Bridge, Horsham

A card from John's cousin May, it seems that they had both been to visit her brother Fred.

In 1988 one of John's grandson's viewed at a newsagents shop in Queen Street, Horsham when he was looking to buy a business for himself. He eventually settled on a much more successful store business in West Chiltington, south of Horsham.

The Pells, Lewes

A card from Edith, John was going to visit the next day and was welcome to stay the night.

Lewes

Edith reminding her brother about 'the iron fence' that her husband Perce had. Also, Perce was going to send John some cards.

East Street, Horsham

Although this postcard is signed "With love from Auntie" the handwriting shows that it was from Sarah Jane.

East Street April 2017: Courtesy of Google Maps

In a town centre that has seen many developments since the 1970s, it is surprising to see so many building from the early 1900s or before still in use in East Street. The Pub is now a restaurant and the motor engineers is a Satellite TV hardware business.

The River, Lewes

A postcard from Edith about a remembered walk.

The Carfax, Horsham

A post card to John Goodridge from his sisters, Fanny and Sarah. The photograph is of The Carfax in 1855. John was born in 1849 in Horsham so would have known the Carfax captured in this image when he was a child.

February 12 1906 was a Monday.

Life in our Village

A card from Edith who was expecting the tails the next day. Would they have been oxtails?

February 16th 1904 was a Tuesday.

Bazar & Fitzwygram Barracks, Dagshai

A post card from Charley Tidy when he was serving with the Royal Garrison Artillery in India. He first went to India in 1907.

February 27th 1909 was a Saturday.

East Street, Horsham

A post card from John's Auntie Elizabeth that asked him to spot his Uncle in the picture that illustrates this card. The relation may have been Elizabeth's husband, Jim Tidy.  Best guess is the first man the right.

Jim Tidy

February 18th 1907 was a Monday.

A Sussex Smithy, Poynings

A post card from Edith that let John that there was a note and a book in the returned basket. The photo of the Poyning blacksmith is probably of Frank Shaw.

February 11th 1904 was a Thursday.

Ripley Castle, Harrogate

A card written on a day in February 1905 when it was snowing in Harrogate and sent to Miss Hurst. The sender has used initials, MEM. Edith married Mark Edward Mitchell on June 4th 1906 in Steyning. 

February 3 1905 was a Friday.

Abbots Bridge, Bury St, Edmonds

A card to Mrs Hurst from FG.

February 13th 1905 was a Monday.

The Old Curiosity Shop

Edith was going to visit John and his parents on Feb 4th with Perce.

February 3rd 1904 was a Wednesday.

Lewes Castle

Edith wanted John to send oats for his rabbits.  When he had a family living in Exeter there was at least one pet, a cat. This photo is of his daughter, Betty taken in 1947.

February 27th 1904 was a Saturday.

The Barbican, Lewes Castle

John left school after his 14th birthday in June 1904. The thanks for the calves tail in this message would seem to indicate that he already had a role in the shop before he left school, not unexpected for a child in a family business.

February 21st 1904 was a Sunday.

Conway Castle

The message from Edith to John on this card is a mystery, can make no sense of it!

February 18th 1904 was a Thursday.