A fascinating view of South Street and of Bourne taken by the local photographer Ashby Swift from the tower of the Abbey Church, looking towards the north west, circa 1920. The Mason's Arms can clearly be seen in South Street and Woodview Terrace in the distance on the right.

An early view of South Street (above) circa 1880, probably taken by Richard F Bertolle, a photographer, of Eastgate, who was operating in the town at that time although little of his work survives. Wherry's Mill can be seen in its original state on the left with Baldock's Mill at the end of the road on the right.

A photograph of South Street from around 1900 and showing the view towards the
Market Place with the Angel Hotel clearly visible.

A view of South Street and the Bourne Eau which the photographer disparagingly refers to as "a stream". His work in taking this picture, circa 1900, has attracted the usual crowd of onlookers, mainly small boys. The use of spectators as subjects for the photograph suggest that this was taken by William Redshaw.

Church Walk can be seen ahead in this picture postcard from 1900. This was before the days of colour printing and therefore the card had been hand-tinted. The gas street lamp in the foreground was one of 56 in Bourne at the time and on the right can be seen the almshouses and Cavalry House, fronted by iron railings.

Another view of South Street, this time taken in 1905, also by William Redshaw.

The cottage immediately next to the front door of the Red Lion had been demolished by the time this photograph was taken and therefore we can confidently date it to circa 1910.

South Street, also around 1910

A sunny summer's day around 1920 with a lady cyclist approaching the camera and a variety of horse drawn traffic can be seen in the street towards the market place.

The photograph of the Red Lion above was taken circa 1930 by Ashby Swift, the Bourne photographer whose studio was across the road, although now demolished. There was a terrace of red brick cottages behind the public house but these have now been incorporated into the inn premises. The rarity of the motor car is reflected in the sign on the wall advertising "good stabling and accommodation for cyclists". Next door, on the left, is the early 19th century property, No 12 South Street, known as Stone House and a Grade II listed building. It was then occupied by Mr John Henry Berry, a stationer and newsagent, and the notice on the chimney says: "Daily and weekly newspapers supplied and promptly delivered." The shop is now used for the sale of antiques and military memorabilia and the large chimney stack has been dismantled.

The picture above was taken circa 1970 showing the almshouses and Cavalry House and beyond that, the level crossing and signal box where the railway line crossed the main road and entered the station at the Red Hall. Mrs Alice Gray's cottage can be seen on the right and again below, showing how near it was to the roadside and the traffic hazard it created as vehicle flows began to increase.
See also Lost cottages

There has been a barber's shop at No 6 South Street since the early 20th century when it was owned by Mr John James William Nichols who was in business there in 1913. When he retired, the shop was bought by Arthur Charles Barnatt, pictured here with his wife at the entrance about 1930. The premises are still used for the same business but it is now run as Neal's Hairdressers.

The picture above shows South Street circa 1920 from the north with photographer Ashby Swift's studio on the right before it was demolished by a falling tree.

This is South Street pictured in 1970. Wherry's warehouse in the centre remains today but the adjoining red brick premises on the left were demolished around 1980 and the site remains derelict.