Connections in time: The Barber postcards
postcards to a North London family
This card showing a busy scene at the East Parade and Bathing Chalet at Clacton-on-Sea was posted in July 1924 from Percy to George Barber. Percy suggests that the family should take a trip down to Clacton on Sunday as the weather is “absolutely top hole”.
This postcard is the first one in the collection to have been sent specifically to Winnie Barber. Winnie, the daughter of George and Annie Barber, was born in 1902. Later in life she lived in Woodland Way, Winchmore Hill, which is where the box of postcards was found in the 1960s.
In 1914, aged 12, whilst presumably on holiday at The Laurels at Leigh on Sea, Winnie received this postcard from her Aunt Annie who had been on holiday at Clacton but had now returned home. The card is postmarked “Wood Green”.
The message reads:
Dear Winnie
Very please to have a pc from you please you are having such a good time and such fine weather.
I have had a nice time at Clacton but please to get home. I hope your mother’s enjoying herself.
With love from all
Aunt Annie good bye
The next card was sent by “Dad” to George Barber. He was staying at St Andrews Road, Clacton in Essex and chose this interesting image of a crowded beach at West Cliff, Clacton on Sea. The line of bathing machines along the shore harks back to an earlier time; by 1914 most of the bathing machines were static and used as changing rooms rather than being wheeled into the sea, so the photograph used on this card was probably taken several years earlier.
Dad’s message reads;
Dear George and Annie
we arrived quite safe and kept very good time country looks very nice corn seems to be pretty well
all cut & it is very nice at Clacton lots of people here weather beautiful & windy
Dad
Connections in time: The Barber postcards 