Wightman Road Circa 1905

Comment by Dick Harris on October 31, 2014 at 1:24

What a delight.  Not a car in sight and not even a horse. Taken, it would seem, from a position on the carriageway probably outside number 186 Wightman Road looking northwards.  What is now the Greek church no longer be seen from this spot because of the trees that have grown up on Fairland park which wasn't there in 1905.

Comment by Hugh on October 31, 2014 at 2:12

Just about opposite your gaffe, isn't it, Dick?

Comment by Dick Harris on October 31, 2014 at 2:45

Yes.  About 5o metres away.   I would dearly like to see a picture of my part of the street but I doubt whether this is likely to exist.

Comment by Hugh on October 31, 2014 at 9:24

With the position of your house near the brown of a hill and on a bend, it probably wasn't the most likely target of the Edwardian street photographers. Having said that, they did seem to point camera at pretty much any street/building they could see, so all hope is not lost. Also, given the pride that the original owner/builder of your house most probably felt about his achievement, I would be surprised if he didn't commission a photo at some point. 

In the meantime, by way of a poor consolation prize, this one is pretty much opposite you.

Comment by Arthur Astrop on October 31, 2014 at 9:37

Dear Hugh,

A superb shot of Wightman.  Taken almost from the summit of the hill down which, during 1928-33, my friend Norman Parsons and I would 'swoop' on his 2-man scooter, terrifiying the frontagers!  Also taken close to the point where the baker always stopped to place cast-iron shoes under the back wheels of his van, to prevent it overtaking the horse on its way down! 

Grateful thanks from a nonagenarian.

Arthur Astrop

Comment by Hugh on October 31, 2014 at 9:41

Hi Arthur, good to hear from you. In case you hadn't discovered it, if you click 'View Full Size' beneath this image, you can see it a much larger version.

Comment by Dick Harris on October 31, 2014 at 9:50

Thanks Hugh.  I hadn't seen the picture of 180 before.  I received a letter from a planning officer about that house only a month ago seeking comments on the owner's intention to fit new windows.  I thought they would only do that in a conservation area.

Comment by Penguin on October 31, 2014 at 9:52

What? No tacky chavvy satellite dishes? How did people live?!

Comment by Charlotte on November 8, 2014 at 10:28

Keep them coming.  Love these old photos and hope one day to see one of Lausanne Road

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