Pictures from the past

Thanks to Christine Heath of Gains Park, Shrewsbury, for letting us have a look at this picture of flooding at Abbey Foregate in Shrewsbury. It is one of a number of similar photos which she emailed us.

"They were photographed by J Groom, of Wyle Cop. I'm not sure of the year, but it looks like early 1900s. I will be selling these shortly on eBay, but thought you would like them before I did," she said.

On the assumption that the pictures are late Victorian or early 20th century, the candidate years are 1877, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1886, 1899 and 1910, which were all flood years for Shrewsbury, the worst being in 1881.

Here's another photo which was kindly emailed to us by Christine Heath of Shrewsbury, showing severe flooding in the county town many moons ago. Note the punt in action. At first sight it seems there are two men in the boat, but look closer and there's the blurred figure of a third person on the prow. Obviously the photographer was using quite a long exposure time, which does suggest that the photo is likely to be Victorian. As for the exact location, we're struggling a bit. Do you recognise it?

For a larger view of this picture, click here

If you were a motoring enthusiast in the 1950s you may well recognise some of these gentlemen. This is the Severn Valley Motor Club on Wednesday, June 18, 1952, when members went on a trip to the Dunlop factory at Speke, Liverpool. This photo from the Frank Painter collection comes to us via Shrewsbury transport historian Roy Pilsbury, who says the Shropshire-based club was very well known in its heyday, but disbanded about 10 years ago.

This photo was emailed in by our regular contributor, Paul France of Coalbrookdale, who tells us: "This is Dawley New Town Band taken at an outdoor event in Alveley.

"Standing on the left is principal cornet Malcolm Westbrook, who still plays for Wellington Band. Seated to Malcolm's left is Brian Jones, with me seated alongside.

"On the back row, left, you can just make out the spectacles and bald head of bass player Harold Davies. Continuing along the back row the standing figure is Mike Collings on drums. Extreme right is Danny Lane. In front of Danny with his euphonium on his lap is George Humphries.

"Trombone player is Ernie Howells. In front of Ernie is, I think, Chris Buttery. Alongside him is Tony Smith. Tenor horn player with sunglasses is Mary Evans. The other horn player in the middle of the picture is Arthur Lowe, who was Brian Jones' uncle. Conductor is Ted Baldwin.

"Malcolm thinks the picture is 1962/63. I joined the band in 1962 aged 19 and I know we didn't have a uniform for some years so my own guess would be 1965/66. Perhaps some other ex-players may be able to help?"

Today we bring you the last of a series of pictures loaned to us by Christine Heath of Gains Park, Shrewsbury, showing flooding in the county town, and this view is particularly important in helping date this picture, at least.

The roofline of Shrewsbury Abbey is entirely different to that of today, and as the modern appearance dates from a restoration which began in the mid-1880s, we know that this flood was earlier than that. So we might be talking about 1877, 1879, 1880, or 1881 as a likely date, as they were all flood years in the period leading up to the alterations at the abbey.

This photo is almost identical to one which appeared in the Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News in 1947, having been taken on March 20 that year showing spectators leaning on the Welsh Bridge in Shrewsbury looking at the swollen River Severn.

But in fact this view here dates from many years earlier and there are indications that it may be from the late 1870s or early 1880s.

By 1947 the large buildings on the left and right sides of the picture had disappeared, the former being replaced by a different building of similar size. And the property just to the right of the big lamp-post had by 1947 been uncovered to reveal its black and white structure.

Incidentally, although the river is high in this Victorian view, it was slightly higher in 1947.

Picture courtesy of Christine Heath of Shrewsbury.

Fancy a swim? You're right ­ probably not a good idea. This picture was used in the Illustrated London News in 1883 after the death of Shropshire swimming hero, Dawley-born Captain Matthew Webb, in these waters. It shows the lower rapids at Niagara Falls including the whirlpool which claimed his life. Has anybody ever successfully swum these waters? Frankly, we don't know.