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Thursday 26 June 2014

Seaside Postcard - Sepia Saturday

People paddling in this week's prompt - 


reminded me of an old postcard sent around 100 years ago from Mabel to Mrs Baker.

Brighton Beach
The card was posted on January 3rd but we have to work out the year from its reverse side.

Mabel's message to Mrs B
"Dear Mrs Baker, Brighton is very windy. We went out this morning and nearly got blown away, This afternoon we went on the pier. 
Jan 3rd, Thank your for the litter (sic). Wishing you a happy New year.
With love from Mabel."

The George V red one penny stamp was in use from 1912 - 1924. So that's why I say the card is around 100 years old.

I can't find either Littledene on Victoria Road or a Mrs Baker in that street although there are many 'Bakers' in the neighbourhood.

I doubt that Mabel would have been paddling on Brighton Beach in January all those years ago. However the postcard shows that it was a popular pastime there at other times.

Brighton beach is made up of shingle and not the sort I would be happy paddling from. I prefer the sandy type that we have in the north-east.

Saltburn Beach and Hunt Cliff 2013
And on the other side of the pier on the same October day.

Saltburn Beach
Well at least the dogs were paddling if not the people.

Now you may paddle over to Sepia-Saturday-234 to see who else is getting their feet wet.

22 comments:

Jo said...

Nope doesn't look like getting wet weather at all. Love the postcard.

Little Nell said...

Immediately I’m imagining little Mabel painstakingly writing her card, overseen by the adult who wrote the address for her. I hope she didn’t have to spend every day of her holidays writing to all the neighbours!

Jofeath said...

A great old postcard, but no one looks like they are thinking of going in any further than ankle depth. Saltburn seems to still have a fair amount of shingle and I would definitely need to be wearing sandals or thongs to get down to the water there as well.

luvlinens said...

Crowded beach 100 years ago. The "in" place to be.

Postcardy said...

I imagine that the beach is cold in January even if one stays out of the water.

Sharon said...

Good detective work with the stamp.

Wendy said...

"thank-you for the litter" - oh, we could have fun with that.

Kristin said...

I am glad they didn't get blown away.Now I have to go find out what 'shingle' is. I'm thinking it's rocky instead of sandy beach.

Barbara Rogers said...

Lovely beaches, just being besides the seashore is nice...even if not quite wading weather. Question to your comment on my blog, what is a lilio?

Barbara Rogers said...

Sorry Bob, mispelled it "I never took to lilos either" was the phrase. ??

La Nightingail said...

The old postcard is rather neat. Good sleuthing on the stamp. I'm assuming "shingle" means a dirt beach rather than sand. And is that a rainbow in the first photo of Saltburn Beach, or a streak of cloud?

Helen Killeen Bauch McHargue said...

Wading here only for the toughest of souls/soles.

Mike Brubaker said...

Those early postcards of British seaside resorts always seem to emphasize great crowds swarming around on the beach while there never seems to be anyone actually swimming in the sea.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Bob - thought I recognised the beach - and no we don't have brilliant sandy beaches here and where they're found - they are full of peoples!!

Interesting to read the card must have been a treat to get a postcard back then .. cheers Hilary

Jackie McGuinness said...

January by the sea! Yikes!! Too cold for me.
I remember going to Ireland with my niece in July when she was 15 and she packed 3 bikinis!! She ran into the Irish Sea once and almost froze!!!

Anonymous said...

After being away so long, I am being quickly reminded of why I so enjoyed Sepia Saturday. I've already learned that "padding" means "wading"; but haven't heard of shingle in reference to anything but a roof; the pictures are great; and after seeing other's posts I'm thinking of more I could have done with mine!

anyjazz said...

Love the historic old post cards!

Anonymous said...

Even in July I wonder if the ocean around the UK gets warm enough to tempt me in. Lovely old postcard - nice that someone kept it all this time.

Tattered and Lost said...

I always think it's so funny to see folks all dressed up on a beach. We tend to forget how much less aggravating certain aspects of life are today. Walking around in a skirt hiked up or trousers rolled to the knees and then having to put shoes and stockings back on with all that sand or rocks….

Bonny Bonafilla said...

What a super old photograph of Brighton Beach, and lovely modern-day photos of the beautiful beaches up North. I much prefer sand to shingle myself! All the best, Bonny

North County Film Club said...

A friend of mine just got back from a trip to England. She mentioned going to Brighton Beach and how nice it was.
Love the post card.
Nancy
Ladies of the Grove

Sensible Footwear said...

I like the fact that everyone's kept their jackets on whilst paddling. Must have been pretty bracing.