Entrance to People’s Park, Grimsby pre-1905.

An original, postally used postcard published by Héliotypies de E. Le Deley, Paris / Charles Voisey, London. The postcard has been enhanced with glitter. Was this done by the publisher or the sender?

It’s likely that this image dates to 1902 or 1903 after the tram track to the Park Gates was opened in 1902. People’s Park was opened in 1883. The Lodge, shown here, was built c1885-89. However, the Edwardian houses on Park Drive have yet to be built. It appears that there are fields in the distance, looking towards Weelsby Road. The trees in the Park still look very immature.

Ainslie Street is behind the viewer.

The advertisement on the tram is for birds and cages at Baxter’s of 201 Cleethorpe Road. Walter Gale Baxter was a corn dealer at this address. (Baxter’s, established 1894, were still at this address until they closed in the late 1970s.)

The postcard was posted in Grimsby by Mr. H. Treacher of 111 Oxford Street, New Clee, Grimsby on 15th April 1905. He was responding to an advertisement in the London Daily Mail placed by a gentleman in Tokio (Tokyo?), Japan who wanted to exchange postcards. Sadly, the postcard reached Japan but, for some reason, it was ‘refusé’ and returned to sender. It was sent with a one penny stamp rather than a halfpenny one. It reached London on 3rd July 1905.