L.A.S. County Show decorations, Grimsby 1904; looking through the mock gateway in Pasture Street.

An original, posted, real photographic postcard by an unknown photographer/publisher. From the days when the Lincolnshire Show was held in different places around the county. The annual show was, as it is now, organised by the Lincolnshire Agricultural Society which was established back in 1869.

The mock structure is very obviously a copy of the gatehouse of Thornton Abbey (as seen from the inside). The road junction in Pasture Street where it erected is still unknown.

Signs in the background include: ?TONS Jams & Marmalade – possibly Mortons. Pavilion Dancing – Cleethorpes Pier Pavilion wasn’t built until 1905. Old England Cigars. Nestlé’s. Cadbury’s. Milkmaid Milk. Thursday 30th – this suggests June 1904. Bass. ? Tea. Boston ?

The postcard was posted in Grimsby on 16th September 1904 by Louie & Minnie. The recipient was Miss Scarborough, Thorpe Fendykes, Wainfleet, Lincs. (Possibly Mary Jane Scarborough (1861-1940), daughter of George Scarborough, farmer.) The postcard reads, “Dear Cousin, Many thanks for P.C. and good wishes. I like P.C. very much it is very good of Frankling. Hope you are all well. Have you got harvest. You will remember this view. Louie took aunt to see it just before coming in. We are both well and still keep busy. Love to all from Louie and Minnie.