Residents & Visitors to the Area
The residents and visitors to North East Essex
Any help identifying these people would be much appreciated
Any help identifying these people would be much appreciated
"Owen G Coates" Retailer, Church Street, Harwich; Essex (1911)
This photograph of Owen G Coates store in Church Street, Harwich was probably taken during the coronation celebrations of King George V. The shop sold musical instruments, sheet music, gramophones, photographic equipment and many postcards (Owen was a prolific photographer producing many local postcards, with subject matter around naval shipping and military equipment, most probably due to his personal naval history). The photographs of the surrendered German submarines at Harwich in 1919 are particularly well documented. The premises were demolished after world war two (see final colour postcard) being replaced by flats.
Owen Stokes lived locally and moved to Dovercourt at the turn of the century, residing at 19 Lee Road, Dovercourt.
Beach Days
"Sandcastles" at Dovercourt Beach (1922), by F & W Wallis, Studio, Dovercourt
Between 1918 and 1924, Frederick Percy Wallis and his eldest daughter Winifred, ran a photographic studio, along with a kiosk on the beach at Dovercourt. They managed to produce a vast array of interesting postcards of local importance, covering events and places. However both photographers, were also busy alongside holiday makers and residents alike, drumming up even further business. Their legacy provides a rich array of social history, although identifying, people and places, is sometimes difficult, but not in this instance.
"Sandcastles" at Dovercourt Beach (1922), by F & W Wallis, Studio, Dovercourt
Between 1918 and 1924, Frederick Percy Wallis and his eldest daughter Winifred, ran a photographic studio, along with a kiosk on the beach at Dovercourt. They managed to produce a vast array of interesting postcards of local importance, covering events and places. However both photographers, were also busy alongside holiday makers and residents alike, drumming up even further business. Their legacy provides a rich array of social history, although identifying, people and places, is sometimes difficult, but not in this instance.
"Coal Trimmers Gang" on the loading barge, Harwich, Essex, (1910) H&D CIII
This group photo of the coal trimmers gang at Harwich, shows the men taking a well earned rest away from the hard labour. The job of a coal trimmer or trimmer is a position within the coal-fired ship which involves all coal handling tasks, starting with the loading of coal into the ship and ending with the delivery of the coal to the stoker or fireman.
Most of the coal arriving at Harwich came via the railways and had to be unloaded by these men and then transferred to barges and stored in coal depot ships, until it was required at a later date by the ships, particular the Royal Navy during WW1. In the 1920s, virtually all of the world's steam-powered ships burned coal. However, in the 1950s oil emerged as a cheaper, cleaner, less bulky alternative, and the coal-fired ship became just about obsolete.
Also in the photograph is Mr Hill (2nd from left, with glasses) who was the owner and local coal merchant.
This group photo of the coal trimmers gang at Harwich, shows the men taking a well earned rest away from the hard labour. The job of a coal trimmer or trimmer is a position within the coal-fired ship which involves all coal handling tasks, starting with the loading of coal into the ship and ending with the delivery of the coal to the stoker or fireman.
Most of the coal arriving at Harwich came via the railways and had to be unloaded by these men and then transferred to barges and stored in coal depot ships, until it was required at a later date by the ships, particular the Royal Navy during WW1. In the 1920s, virtually all of the world's steam-powered ships burned coal. However, in the 1950s oil emerged as a cheaper, cleaner, less bulky alternative, and the coal-fired ship became just about obsolete.
Also in the photograph is Mr Hill (2nd from left, with glasses) who was the owner and local coal merchant.
Jack Good's Fishing Bawley, with a salvaged Yacht, Harwich Harbour (1900)
A late Victorian view of Harwich Harbour, with Jack Good standing aboard the salvaged Yacht, alongside his fishing Bawley (An English sailing vessel typified by a boomless cutter rig and probably named for having a boiler for cooking shrimp in amidships).Note the hasty repairs, that have been made to the hull of the Yacht, with pitch, wood and canvas, while up on top, the broken mast lays across the bows. It must have been quite a sight, with an attentive audience sat on the quayside, in front of the Great Eastern Hotel as well as along the Ha'penny pier and Toll House.
Salvaging wrecked and abandoned boats and crafts have always been a sideline of the local mariner.