Postcard of the Month: June 2021

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HC Christensen of Marstal

This unposted Spry picture shows HC Christensen of Marstal (from the Danish island of Ærø in the Baltic Sea) in 1925. She is departing Littlehampton Harbour in ballast, as can be seen from how high in the water she is riding. By this time, towage of departing sailing vessels was done by one or more of the resident trip boats, probably a Britannia in this photograph. Some other small vessels are involved, including the white hulled pilot boat running alongside, and another small craft for rope handling and recovery.

After WW1, sailing ships of this size were a rarer sight than before, as the war had claimed large numbers of the vulnerable craft.

Further information about HC Christensen can be found in the Sailing Vessels section on this site.


Postcard of the Month: May 2021

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Arundel Park 1907

This card shows a parade of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the East Kent Regiment somewhere in Arundel Park in 1907, which was a regular venue for military camps and for other organisations, such as the YMCA. Notice the range of ages, presumably a mix of new recruits and ex-servicemen. The publisher was Mezzotint of Brighton, recognisable from their characteristic design under the heading on the back of the card.

The text is unusual as it is written in semaphore, no doubt demonstrating one of the skills practised at the camp. It was sent to Miss Parker, High Street, Cranbrook, Kent. We might have expected some coded endearment but instead it translates as: "Just one at last. Yours, Charlie!”.

Our Burpham video features another glimpse of military training manoeuvres in the area.

Postcard of the Month: April 2021

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An atmospheric postcard by Frank Spry, from between 1908 and 1914, showing a nicely detailed close-up of the paddle tug Jumna on the left at its mooring, with an array of visiting ships in the background. Moored alongside Jumna is the brig Vera of Brantevik, a small coastal town in Sweden.

Among the posing crew members from Jumna, the one seen on board may be the master, John Belchamber while the gentleman on the jetty is probably the harbour pilot William Henry Collins.

Further information on Jumna, Vera and many other craft can be found it the Vessels section of this website.

If you have any stories about this, or any other, card featured on The Arun Valley Postcard Trail, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Postcard of the Month: March 2021

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Angmering Station

Here’s an early postcard by J. White and Son of Littlehampton. The feature of note is the relatively rare postmark of Angmering Station, used during the early 1900s. William Arthur Jenkins sent this card to his parents, and refers to seeing the Baltic Fleet at sea. He mentions the ‘North Sea Outrage’ which almost caused war with Russia in 1904.

More information relating to Angmering station can be found here.

If you have any stories about this, or any other, card featured on The Arun Valley Postcard Trail, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Mystery Black Rabbit photograph...

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This is from an unknown publisher and the view has been enhanced, as the actual card was very faded. It shows a large group of people posed on the river bank in front of the pub. There are at least one hundred and seventy five individuals, predominantly female with about twenty males and a few children. 

It was posted in Maida Hill, London on July 1st 1907, sent to Miss N. Robson, 32 Simpson St, Newcastle on Tyne. 

The message: "This is the place near to Arundel Castle which I mentioned. Pretty spot fine boating etc. Hope you enjoyed yourself at home. Love to all, Yours (Asroz ?)." 

This gives little clue as to the nature of the event, so it remains a mystery.