The opening of Kingsway, Cleethorpes on 12th July 1906; Alexandra Road.

A detail from an original, unused, photographic postcard by the photographer Joseph Samuel Bullen of Grimsby.

The magnificent ‘Kingsway’ was opened on 12th July 1906 by Lady Henderson who was the wife of Sir Alexander Henderson, Chairman of the Great Central Railway (GCR) from 1899 until 1922. The photographer, Joseph Samuel Bullen, produced a series of photos taken on the day.

Joseph Samuel Bullen was born in Smorane, Skibbereen, Cork, Ireland on 13th August 1871. He was living with his maternal grandfather in Chippenham in 1881. He was a photographer lodging in Rotherham in 1901. Joseph Samuel Bullen married Mabel Elizabeth Kitchin in Grimsby in 1907. Mabel died in 1910 and Joseph Samuel Bullen married again in 1916. His second wife was Winifred Praed Catley. Joseph and Winifred had two children Leslie (born 1918) and Hilda (born 1920).

In 1910, Joseph Samuel Bullen was living at 23 Tasburgh Street, Grimsby and his photographic studio was at 183 Freeman Street Grimsby. He and Winifred had moved home to 32 Granville Street by 1918. They were still living at the same address in 1930 and the photographic studio was still at 183 Freeman Street. In 1939, Joseph and Winifred were living at 219 Hainton Avenue. His studio, by then, was at 143 Welholme Road. He also had a studio in Louth. Joseph Samuel Bullen died on 2nd October 1944. Winifred Praed Bullen died in 1952. They are buried in Scartho Road Cemetery. Their final address was 141 Park Street, Cleethorpes.

Research by Grimsby & Cleethorpes Museum.