West Street of old

A magnificent view of West Street circa 1920 and obviously posed by the photographer William Redshaw to include as many townspeople as possible, most probably employees from the nearby shops together with a few inquisitive children. The premises of Mills & Baxter, the aerated water specialists, can be seen on the left but the adjoining shop, occupied then by Joseph Arnold, a boot and shoe maker, with livery stables at the rear, has been demolished and the site is now occupied by the far less attractive building owned by Boots the Chemist.

The Town Hall viewed from West Street with the usual passersby posing for the photographer, in this case several young girls wearing pinafores over their dresses, a Victorian practice that survived well into the 20th century to ensure that their main garment did not get dirty. This picture was taken about 1900 and shows the Crown Hotel on the left and although many of the other buildings have changed in appearance, the general aspect of the street remains the same today except for the absence of motor cars.

The shop above is No 13 West Street, then owned by John T Morris, who is pictured outside his premises circa 1880. Morris, a native of Bourne who had established his business here in 1864, was a man of varied commercial interests, being a printer, bookseller, bookbinder, stationer, newsagent and dealer in fancy goods, but also had a salon for the sale of pianos, organs and harmoniums. He was trading here for 50 years during which time his Bourne Almanac became a popular handbook, appearing first in 1864 and published continually for the next forty years, containing a complete directory of the town, a diary, train timetables, jokes and a vast amount of useful information and entertaining reading, including an illustrated record of Queen Victoria's reign. It was sold for 3d. His son, Mr T A (Birt) Morris, a photographer, was also associated with the business. John Morris died on 9th March 1916, aged 77, and the premises and printing works were eventually acquired in 1936 by Lorenz Warner who went on to found the printing firm Warners Midlands plc, one of Bourne's foremost industries employing 300 people. See also Birt Morris.


The picture above is taken from a postcard sent on 10th September 1905 by a young lady who wrote to her friend: "This is a very good view of West Street but it is much prettier further up. I had some fine times here some years ago." She remembered going to tea at the house on the right with the three dormer windows and added: "It is a very nice place." This building was demolished circa 1960 to make way for new offices, now occupied by Double & Megson, the solicitors.

These two photograph of West Street (above and below) date from circa 1920 when the motor car was a rare sight in the town centre while many of the buildings have either disappeared or been drastically altered.

BEAUFORT HOUSE No 30 West Street is one of the pair of grand red brick town houses built in 1872 by William A Pochin and his initials can be seen on a stone plaque on the front. This was the home of many important people in past times, including Thomas Moore Baxter, a prominent councillor and businessman, who was in residence here in 1885. This photograph showing much of its early grandeur was taken circa 1910 when the mistress of the house was a Mrs Grummitt who is pictured below.	Photos: Courtesy Louise Tester

Hospital parade in West Street circa 1920

Floats with local themes such as Hereward the Wake featured in this carnival charity parade past the Crown Hotel in West Street, photographed circa 1925 by Ashby Swift from the upper window of the studio where he moved after his riverside premises in South Street were destroyed by a falling tree.

West Street in 1932

A picture postcard of West Sreet in 1932 (above) and another from circa 1960 (below) with the motor car beginning to become a familiar sight.

West Street circa 1960

West Street circa 1950

Another scene of West Street looking towards the Market Place taken circa 1965, before the introduction of traffic lights and double yellow lines, although white
lines were already making their appearance down the middle of the road.

West Street and Manor Lane

Manor House in West Street, at the corner of Manor Lane, from a picture postcard sold by William Pearce of Bourne in 1915. This fine stone property was built as a town house in the 19th century but is now converted into rented flats while the quiet and secluded Manor Lane on the left has become an access road for Warners Midlands plc, the printing firm that occupies the old maltings.

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