A Festival of Postcards – Main Street (Sussex style)

This month’s theme for the Festival of Postcards is Main Street, but over in England we don’t have Main Streets. The closest match I think would be the phrase High Street, especially in rural Sussex where most of my ancestors came from.

The example I have chosen from my collection is from the village of Partridge Green, Sussex. The card is postmarked December 23rd 1905, and to be honest it has not changed a great deal. A lot of the grass has given way to tarmac and concrete, and a few buildings have been added to the view (and a few taken away). The most striking difference is the road, no wide grass verges now just pavements and plenty of cars.

(Actual size: 138mm x 89mm)

A Festival of Postcards – Wheels (two wheels and some orphans)

As an avid postcard collector I couldn’t miss the opportunity to take part in the Festival of Postcards. I have left it rather late, so I have pulled one of my favourite cards from my collection for my entry, rather than one with a specific family connection.

(Actual size:  138mm x 88mm)

This was probably published around 1905-10, and although no publisher is mentioned I believe it is the work of John Fenner of Partridge Green, Sussex who was active in this area and produced several cards of the orphanage and the Catholic Church next door (at which he was married).

I love this card because not only is it a wonderful early example of a charity advertising card it is also a great piece of social history, in fact the message on the back is probably more important than the picture on the front.