Postcard Publisher: Wilson's 96 High Road

Postmark: 25th November 1905

Sender's Message: "Thanks very much for card. Hope you are keeping well. Mother will write the end of the week. Love from all Rose"

Historical Information: Souster Brothers, a family cobblers, had a 'Boot & Shoe Emporium' at 88 High Road. A large clock marked the shop entrance and the sign above promised: "Wear our famous boots and walk in comfort." The business moved to 8 Clements Lane in 1935 and the clock relocated to the new shop. Also in the High Road stood the 'People's Meat Stores', beyond that 'Wilson's Ilford News Agency' and a library. The tram is heading towards Chadwell Heath.

Postcard Publisher: Unknown

Postmark: 10th  May 1903

Sender's Message: "Showing Wills offices. The large place with the Dome, at the corner of Oakfield Road, wherein lies "Tunis". H.A.R."

Historical Information: This picture shows Ilford High Road just before the introduction of trams. Before motorised transport there would usually be manure on the road left by horses pulling carts and waggons. Up until 1902 only the recipient's address could be written on the postcard back, so senders often placed a short message on the front. In 1903 the Post Office changed the rules to allow messages on postcard backs so publishers started adding a dividing line to keep the message and address apart. 

Postcard Publisher: Unknown

Postmark: 11th July 1906

Sender's Message: "Dear Lil, Many thanks dear for cakes. It was Jack that explained delay. Do you want any goods. Love to all, Enid"

Historical Information: John Bodger and his wife opened a drapery store at 113 High Road on 14th June 1890. The business later relocated nearer Ilford Station. After 127 years of trading Ilford's oldest department store closed its doors for the last time on 26th February 2018.

Postcard Publisher: Unknown

Postmark: 30th  August 1906

Sender's Message: "I have been going to send this on to you for the last 2 months or more. Had a card from missing son yesterday morning. He is on his holidays, I went to the Isle of Man for mine, bank holiday week, grand time. Have you had yours? What do you think of it, mate. O.W."

Historical Information: William Moulton opened a large drapery store called Moulton’s in 1898. It had a reputation for excellence and became popular with the shoppers of Ilford. The store at 177 High Road was destroyed when a fire broke out at Harrison Gibson in 1959.

Postcard Publisher: Unknown

Postmark: 15th September 1913

Sender's Message: "My Dearest Mother, Many thanks for the nice card we received yesterday. It was good of you to write it. Hope all are well and you are nicely. So sorry you did not get the little parcel until Tuesday afternoon, we quite thought you would get it in the morning. Ruby sends best love to all and much love from your loving Ettie."

Historical Information: The Cinema De Luxe opened when the movie industry was in its infancy. Large lettering above the entrance enticed would-be patrons with "The World before Your Eyes". Early British films were mainly of everyday events, short comedies and melodramas. Adaptations of works by Shakespeare and Dickens were often used because audiences were already familiar with the subject matter. Seeing moving pictures on a screen was a novelty in itself so elaborate plots were not necessary. This may have been one of the earliest cinemas in the UK. 

Postcard Publisher: John Bodger, Ilford

Postmark: 7th  February 1906

Sender's Message: "Dear Cousins, Just a card to let you know we are alright. Fred is getting on a bit now pleased to say. Hope you are all well. I am sending you a P.P. card of Ilford. You must forgive my not writing before have been going to do so so many times. Yours with love to all."

Historical Information: A steam roller flattening the road surface during construction work. Before trams could travel from Ilford to Chadwell Heath rails needed to be laid and upgrading the road continued for some time after the system was operating.

Postcard Publisher: The Knight Collection

Postmark: 27th July 1910

Sender's Message: "Dear Lillie, Got P.C. this morning hope you got home safe. I am not coming yet. Just been down here Nellie and I be ourselves. With love from all, Alf."

Postcard Publisher: The Bonanza, High Road

Postmark: 28th July 1908

Sender's Message: "Dear Emma Have got through London at last. Came over the ferry at Woolwich. You will see there are still tram lines. No accidents whatever. Ted."

Postcard Publisher: A.G. Wilson, High Road

Postmark: 6th September 1906

Sender's Message: "Many thanks for P.C. I am glad you are enjoying yourself. No one has died with congestion yet. We are as quiet as mice without you. The 10.15 will soon be here. I hope you will have nice weather for the rest of your holiday. My love to Tim and Edie. Kind regards to yours."

Postcard Publisher: A.G. Wilson, High Road

Year: 1905 (Not posted)

Historical Information: This postcard shows the main Post Office in Clements Road. Before the invention of email and mobile phones people regularly sent each other letters and postcards. It was possible to send a postcard in the morning and receive a reply in the afternoon. There could be up to four deliveries a day. On 1st January 1912, the Postmaster General took over the system of the National Telephone Company and became the monopoly supplier of telephone services in Britain (except Kingston-upon-Hull). There was an entrance to a Telephone Exchange in the alley known as Postway Mews.