Building Bradford in old photographs
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Bradford on Avon Museum has recently acquired a collection of photographs and other items that relate to the Long family who, through several generations, were responsible for constructing many of the town’s 19th and 20th century buildings, especially Victorian terraces and villas.
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Old Photographs: Hunting
Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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These three photographs were taken by the chemist Richard Christopher from the upper floor of the building that is now the Dandy Lion public house. They show a meeting of a hunt outside the Town Hall, at the junction of Market Street and Church Street. Some of the population has turned out to see the Duke...
Read MoreNew Acquisition: Holt Football Club
. Among recent items that have entered the collection of Bradford on Avon Museum is this photograph. It is a group record of members of the Holt Football Club and was taken after they won the Trowbridge District League in the season 1906-1907. The club was the earliest to be formed in Wiltshire under Football Association rules, in 1864 and still...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Frome Road
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.The Three Horseshoes pub, at the beginning of Frome Road, in the 1890s. Externally at least, little has changed in more than a century; apart from the transport, the main difference is the loss of the large gas lamp.
Old Pictures: Fitzmaurice Grammar School
Originally founded as the County Technical School with funds from the County Council and local donors, notably Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice, the school was built in Junction Road in Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee Year 1897. The architects were Silcock & Reay of Bath; Thomas Ball Silcock jr (1854-1924) was born in Bradford. The...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Trowbridge Road
Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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A view towards the centre of town in about 1905 from outside the Plough public house, whose sign can be seen on the right. Further on can be seen the sign of Milsom’s iron foundry, by this time being operated by Berkley Uncles.
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Read MoreOld Images: Road Transport
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Around Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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A covered wagon drawn by three horses carrying wool or skins to the leather works of Beavens’ at Holt; a pencil drawing by A. Thompson
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The Bradford...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Angling
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Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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The Avon & Tributaries Angling Association dated back to 1876. Bradford on Avon & District Angling Association was formed in 1919 as an offshoot of the Spencer Moulton Sports Club, although an earlier club had existed in 1914. The Association has now been wound...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Rowing and Sailing
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Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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Bradford on Avon Rowing Club began in 1873 and built a boathouse next to Barton Bridge. Its canoeing arm has recently gained fame after member Ed McKeever gained a gold medal in the 200m kayak event at the London 2012 Olympics.
Old Pictures: Kennet & Avon Canal
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Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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Click on the thumbnail pictures for a larger view The Upper Wharf of the canal in Bradford’s Frome Road in about 1925, with a wooden horse-drawn barge being prepared for work. Just above the tiny cabin of the barge can be seen the small building which...
Read MoreOld Pictures: South Wraxall
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South Wraxall, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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The parish church of St James, originally a chapel of Bradford’s large ancient parish. The picture is from an old postcard that bears the name of P.E. Andrews, who was operating as a photographer in Bradford in the first...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Bradford in the 1960s
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A small collection of black-and-white photographs which belonged to a former Museum Steward and Treasurer. Structurally little has changed since these were taken, but the cars give the date of the pictures -many of which would be regarded as “classic cars” now.
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Read MoreOld Photographs: The Church Lads’ Brigade
. Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire . The Church Lads’ Brigade was a Church of England organisation that was first set up in 1891. A Bradford on Avon Company had come into existence by 1907 and was associated with Christ Church and with O.P. Skrine. Osmund Percy Skrine (1858-1924) was the seventh son of Henry Duncan...
Read MoreThe Memorial Baths, Bridge Street
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Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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As a memorial for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, it was decided to erect a building containing a public swimming pool and baths, for the many people who then did not have...
Read MoreOld Pictures: Limpley Stoke
Limpley Stoke, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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A lithograph made from a drawing or painting by Bradford artist Elizabeth Tackle in the late 1840s or early 1850s. Browne’s Folly tower, built in 1848, is visible in the distance, but the railway of 1857 was yet to be made. In the middle distance is the Kennet & Avon Canal’s...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Events
Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
In the photographic record on Bradford in the 20th century are numerous processions and parades. In the days before television and internet, instead of being able to see great events in London, the people would hold their own versions to mark such occasions as royal funerals...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Motorcycling
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Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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Members of Bradford Motorcycle Club posing for a group photograph in Druce’s Hill, Church Street. Many of them have sidecars for conveying wife/girlfriend and child. No helmets are worn, but most of the drivers have goggles. The date would be after the...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Fire Brigade
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Bradford’s volunteer firemen turned out for the opening of Bradford Waterworks in 1883, formed part of a procession and demonstrated that the new water supply had enough pressure for them to direct jets from their hoses over...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Farming
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In the Hundred of Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
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Building haystacks near the J & T Beaven leather works in Holt...
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An old farm horse-drawn wagon on display in the...
Read MoreOld Photographs: Church Street
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Bradford commemorated the death of King Edward VII in 1910 with a parade and a service at the parish church. On the right, the buildings of Church Street Mill are unoccupied and windows have been smashed. They were still at...
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