Connections in time: The Barber postcards
postcards to a North London family
This rather uninspiring view of the cliffs at Shanklin was sent to Winnie Barber in May 1924 by Moses, who apologises for being too busy to write. As usual the weather is the main topic of the message: the sun has been shining most of the time, but there was a hail shower the previous day.
This card, posted in Sheffield, is an unusual one in the collection as it seems to be from Annie and Winnie Barber rather than one they have received. The recipient is Miss Lily Atkinson at Old Station Offices, York. The relationship between “A&WB” and Lily appears to be quite formal as the message ends “yours sincerely”.
The message is a conventional birthday greeting but also seems to suggest that Lily might be getting married soon, as the message goes on to hope “that your future day may have in store all that goes to make life beautiful , bright and happy”.
How this card ended up back in Winnie Barber’s collection will no doubt remain a mystery.
This is an interesting postcard, sent in August 1923, showing the “East Hill Lift and Net Shops” at Hastings. This spot has changed very little in almost 100 years as the modern photograph below shows.
Photo © train_photos, 15 August 2017. Licensed for reuse under this creative commons licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/uk/
The message is quite unusual: Dick is telling Freddie (Winnie Barber) that he can’t see her in the following week because he is “going to the Insurance Annual Musical next Friday and Wednesday is the only other night which Edgar can spare for my lesson”. To soften the disappointment he thanks Winnie for the parcel which has made all the ladies in the house jealous!
This postcard was sent to Winnie Barber by her mother, Annie, to let her know their expected arrival home on Saturday evening. Winnie is told to get what supplies are needed , including a small half shoulder of lamb.
This attractive card was sent to Winnie by her father in September 1923. It is from the “Exclusive Celesque Series” published by The Photochrom Company of London and Tunbridge Wells. The message reports that the weather was glorious, but the highlight of the stay seems to have been an evening at Arcadia.
This Frith’s Series card was sent to Winnie Barber from Connie on 20th August 1923.
I thought that the photograph on the card must date from much earlier than this as it has an Edwardian feel to it, but apparently the path was built in this form in 1921 as a new attraction whilst also providing work for the unemployed. The distinctive thing about this path is that the “stone” cliff face is made from waste material, coated with Pulhamite.
Connie was feeling cold but was having a good time “playing tennis, eating etc” although boys were scarce!
The message on this rather stylised card is one of those which is like a text message today. Winnie sent this to her father on 13th October 1922 giving the details of her return home from holiday with Madge. She has obviously had a good time as she doesn’t want to come home!
A rather dull grey photograph but nevertheless Winnie Barber thought Battle Abbey was “a lovely old place”. She was “still enjoying life immensely”.
This rural scene was sent to Winnie Barber in September 1922. The writer – her father – isn’t impressed with St Helens but is looking forward to seeing the rest of the island. Winnie’s address is 18 Moffat Road; perhaps she was staying with a friend or relative while her parents were away. 
This postcard was sent to Winnie Barber in August 1921.The card shows a view of Panmure Street, Broughty Ferry, a seaside town near Dundee.
The message is quite difficult to read ; the writer has packed a lot in to the space available.
“10 Lewington Tce, Broughty Ferry
Right across the road from the foot of this street is the sea & the sands, you do get a blow
sometimes coming down this street,you can just see the corner of our Tce to the right. At
the top of this street are the trams so you see I have not far to walk. I go up to town every Friday
it makes a break in the week. I always see somebody I know. Hope you keep well , how is Aunt Annie?
E.C.”
The reference to Aunt Annie suggests that this was sent by one of Winnie’s cousins, probably on the Crerar side of the family.
I think this modern image from Google Street View shows the same location:
Connections in time: The Barber postcards 