THEN ..(but not now)!
Some images from our local past - but without the 'Now' equivalents..... should save quite a lot of space!
Some locations will be obvious - others not so - and some yet to be discovered
We can also include paintings, where the subject is relevant
Do drop us a line with any comments on the page...
(Click on any of the images to see them full size.. use your back button to return here)
Some lovely images from Rob Hoare ... Some you may have seen before - others not.... thanks for these Rob.
This first one is a brilliant photo of Winton Farm - probably taken sometime between 1900 and 1910?
(If you can help date it more accurately - do let us know)...
The cottages in the background are where the Life Centre (the Moderne) now stands.
The photographer was probably stood in what is now the vet's car park - roughly behind Tesco Express - looking North East....
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This next one is of the cottage at 321 Wimborne Rd - home of the Coombe family - as seen through the Lytch Gate of St. John's church
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The next one is taking a few steps back, and climbing the tower of the church. The view looking east shows the cottages standing on what if now the Life Centre (Moderne). The road to the left is Balfour Rd, and includes the Moordown Conservative Club building...
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This next one is of the Coombes family outside their cottage at 321 Wimborne Rd which stood until around 1930, when it was demolished to make way for the new Moderne Cinema which was opened in 1935....
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A magnificent image of a tram at the junction of Malvern Rd and Wimborne Rd -- the 'end of the line'...
Taken between 1906 and 1910 one would guess ......The Moordown tram terminus dates from 1906 - and the corner shop became 'Caves' in 1910..
The sign in the background - 'Spinney' - refers to Albert Spinney, a laddermaker...
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Next, the Horse and Jockey -- date anyone?
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And on to - The Hollies ... taken from near the corner of Hillcrest Rd, looking south. From around 1910, judging by the clothes - and the tram in the background?...
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Another of the corner of Malvern Rd and Wimborne Rd... 'Caves' have taken over the post office , so a little later .. maybe 1915?..
One from further down Malvern Rd - this time opposite the chip shop...
More recent this time -- Coronation Ave in the 1930s...
....and The Avenue from around a little later - possibly the late 1930s?
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Jill Cutler has emailed a copy of a painting by Ernest St. John Burton, called simply 'The Old Road to Moordown' . (The original painting is in the Russell Cotes collection)....
The painter lived between 1875 and 1962, so I'm not sure he could he have seen Moordown like this -- more likely just a romantic view of how he thought it might have looked, in the past?
Where do you think it's intended to be seen from...... the top of Priory View Rd?.... further along perhaps, at the end of Hillcrest Rd?....
I think it's reasonable to assume the church in the distance is Christchurch Priory, with the Isle of Wight beyond, but are there any other 'real' reference points?
Do let us have any thoughts...
Thanks for that one Jill.
This next one is an aerial shot taken showing St. John's and the Moderne, looking east. Date?...hmmm difficult. Probably 1970s?
The detail on the vehicles is a bit too little to help much. The Moderne certainly seems to have it's original logo.. and Coronation Ave School is still 'intact'.
There are no flats opposite the end of Oswald Rd, so definitely pre 1983!...Any ideas?..
(Edit: Steve Mott writes to note that the new vicarage appears in the photo-- so that puts the date between 1975 and 1983.
A further observation from Steve points out that Flick's Video appears on the building, next to Balfour Rd...(visible through the trees in front of the church). So that puts it a little later...at least 1979... Thank for those Steve...we're getting closer!)
Another Moordown 'panorama' next... this time looking west. Again, date anyone?..... The bus depot has gone, but Willis' builders merchants buildings are still there..
..and judging by the size of the leylandii trees in my neighbour's garden, I reckon the late 80s ?....
Next, a view of Wimborne Rd, looking towards the Midland Bank (as it then was). Just out of shot to the right, Kelloways the butchers. Deppers the toy shop is on the corner of Tennyson Rd.
Date? -- probably 1964. The poster outside White's newsagent is advertising the film 'The Carpet Baggers' at the Electric.
That was released in 1964.....
From roughly the same point, looking at the other side of the road. Bit later (no trolley bus wires) .. Judging by the cars, early 70s?...(EDIT March 2014 - Keith Baynton writes to let us know that the date for this photo is actually early 1967. The trolley bus wires have gone, but the poles remain. Those (without street lamps attached) were removed by late 1967. Thanks for that information Keith.)
From further north along Wimborne Rd next. A lot earlier. (These are dated). The first is at the top of Lawford Rd, in 1936.
The next one is from the same location, a year later in 1937...note the trolley bus wires now in place
From a little further south, taken from the corner of Linden Rd, in the mid 1930s....if you click on this image, and zoom in, you can read the 'Esso' advert on the wall of Tom Plowman's house, nearly next to Caves, on the corner of Malvern Rd...
From the other side of Wimborne Rd, at roughly the same location, looking north. From around the same time, I would think..
Some more images of this area of north Moordown - and especially of the 'garages' - are included in the document below..... just click on the thumbnail below to view them....
