London Calling

“Dear E, Many thanks for letter. Could you manage to meet me on the corner of Albion Road and Newington Green about 5.15. Love B.M. Look for somebody in grey.”

“Dear E, Thanks for PC. I will be at Liverpool St about 10 o’clock Sunday morning. Hope it will be fine. Yours affec. A.D.”

Whitefields Tabernacle was a church on Tottenham Court Road that was blown up by the last V-2 rocket to fall in London in WWII. It was rebuilt and is now the American International Church.

“Dear Ethel, How are you getting on. I am sending this to ask you if you will come to tea on Sunday. I shall be home. I am asking Hett to come as well so come won’t you, don’t forget. I am not sure this is your address but I hope it will find you alright. Let me know will you, can’t stop for more. Much love, Floss”

“Dear Ethel, I should be very pleased if you could get my measure as I find I shall want it for Monday. I have been making two blouses today. Shall be pleased to see you tomorrow. Your loving friend, love to all, Hetty”

London’s main post office building, situated in St Martin’s Le Grand in the City, was demolished in 1912. It looked magnificent but had a poor internal layout and inadequate ventilation that caused sickness in staff.

“I am going to the Oxford tonight. Ada has written to me to go to Maskelyne, but I can’t go.”

The Oxford is the 1,800-seater Oxford Music Hall on Oxford St near Tottenham Court Road. Travel writer HV Morton described the sight of a music hall audience “pouring out into the lamplit streets, whistling and singing, bubbling over with mirth and good nature”. It was demolished in the 1920s and a branch of Primark sits on the site now.

Maskeylne is John Nevil Maskelyne, a magician and illusionist who has enjoyed a 30-year career in London.

Henry Irving died the previous month: he was considered the greatest Shakespearian actor of the era.

“68 Bergolt Rd, Colchester. Dear Fred, I shall not be able to play on Saturday as I shall be home too late. I am biking it, so it will take me a long time, 54 miles. Perce”

This postcard is sent to Fred, Ethel’s friend, who works as a warehouse clerk and gives and sends her postcards for her collection. He also struggles with organising a local football team.

“68 Bergolt Rd, Colchester. Dear Fred, Very sorry i cannot turn out on Saturday as I shall be home on Friday for good, tho’ won on Saturday. Percy”

A second card from a deflated Percy, who we are guessing has been let go from his place on the team at Colchester FC:

“Dear Ethel, Maud did not expect us to go last night, so Lizzie told me. Fred”

“Dear Emmie, Would you please order me one of those knitting books when you are going that way. Yours affec.tly, Ada. The Pretoria has arrived at Halifax.”

“Dear Aunt, I don’t think I will go to Aunt Coutans [sp?] on Thursday as I want to go for a bike ride if it is fine. I will bring some blouses with me on Sunday. Hoping you are all well. With love from Ada.”

Ada Reeve was a music hall star who lived long enough to appear on both Desert Island Discs and the ITV show This is Your Life.

Ada, Ethel’s cousin, worked as a linen draper’s assistant according to the 1891 Census, and lived at the draper’s address, which was a usual arrangement: wages would be paid partly in cash and partly in lodgings.

“Dear Ethel, Hilda is not going to sing on Friday but Flo and Alf are. Fred.”

Marie Studholme was a postcard best-seller - and an actress known for musical comedies.

“Weather permitting I shall come right up to the Manor House as I think you will find the walk to the Nags Head too much. I shall be there about 10 o’clock. Yours affec. Ada”

Camille Clifford was a Belgian actress who embodied the Edwardian ideal of feminine beauty as defined by the artist Charles Dana Gibson. She was the most famous ‘Gibson Girl’.

“Dear Ethel, The Guild is on tomorrow night as usual. Lily asked. Miss Garrard tonight. Fred”

Lily Brayton was a Shakespearian actress from Lancashire.

“GRM will deliver a bicycle addressed to me either today or tomorrow. Please take it in. Alf”

“Don’t forget the cake.”

“Dear Ethel, Will call round for you about 4 tomorrow. Lou says it is not far from Finsbury Park. Fred”

“Dear Aunt, Will you kindly let Mother know if you will be able to go with them at the church next Monday July 5. It will be 2/9 for you. Love to all, Rose. Let Mother know before Wednesday please.”

“Dear Em, Bloaters arrived tonight all right - thanks. These are some of Saturday’s train times

South T: 1.35 3.55 6.20 Liverpool St: 4.5 6.40 9.25

As you will see, the first train is the fastest and I should think it would be the best one. Write & tell me so that I get the time by Saturday morning. Ted”

“Are you going round the corner tonight?”

Well known on the London stage and quite a heartthrob, Lewis Waller starred in both Shakespeare and popular costume dramas.

“Lovely weather. We are sitting in the Round Tower having a rest, just been round the state apartments. A”

Three months after the death of Edward VII, Ada pays her respects at Windsor Castle, where his body is resting below the Albert Memorial Chapel.

“Dear Sister, Just a line to wish you many happy returns of the day. Hoping you are keeping well. We are all alright. With love to all from Ted & Ria”

Ted and Ria are Mrs Bailey’s brother and sister-in-law, who live in Wimbledon.

In the foreground is a carriage for the District Railway, which ran in London until 1933.

“33 Matilda St, Old Bethnal G Rd. Dear Aunt, Have got tickets for White City. Will you let Mother know if you will be able to go & if so let her know when and where you will meet her. Love to all, Rose”

The White City event was one of several spectacular exhibitions to celebrate King George V’s Coronation year. Themed around the British Empire, it featured recreated Somali, Native Canadian and Indian villages and explored industry, arts and crafts.

“33 Matilda Street, Dear Aunt, Mother says she will not be able to go today as she has such a lot to do. Rose”

An actress who was born on the Falkland Islands and performed both silent and talkie movies, Ellaline Terriss died in Hampstead aged 100 in 1971.

“In case I forget to tell you, Albert says he is coming home on Sat to tea & he will bring Gert with him. Alf”

Albert has married a girl called Gertrude C Cook from Romford at the start of 1913, and they have set up home in Goodmayes, Ilfrord, on the edge of North London, 12 miles from Stoke Newington.

The Queen’s Hall concert hall in the West End was known as ‘the musical centre of the Empire’. The annual Proms were held here, and Debussy, Ravel and Strauss had all showcased their work on its stage. It was destroyed in WWII.

“Dear Em, Would you like to go to the Tate Gallery on Saturday. If so let me know. Albert”

The Tate Gallery - now Tate Britain - opened in 1897 with a small collection of British artwork.

Billie Burke was a famous stage, silent and sound movie actress who later played Glenda, the Good Witch, in the Wizard of Oz.

“Dear Em. There is a train leaves Stoke Newington 3.18 arrives Goodmayes 4.3. I will meet this train. If you don’t catch it I shall be in the rec. Albert. You will only have 1 minute to wait at Bethnal Green.”

The postcard shows Greenaleigh Farm, the main milk supplier to Minehead in Somerset, which still sits on the South West Coastal Path.

“I forgot to mention that I shall not be home tonight, but you might save a small piece of fish for me. Alf”

The flagstaff (between Hampstead Village and Jack Straws Castle) marked the site of a beacon that warned of attack by the Spanish Armada in 1588.

“I shall not be home tonight. I am going to Goodmayes. Alf”

Albert and Gert’s first child, Winifred - Alf’s niece and Mrs Bailey’s first grandchild - was born on December 24 1913 in Goodmayes.

His Majesty’s Theatre shown was built in 1897 and ran adaptations of work by Dickens and Tolstoy as well as Shakespeare plays.

“Gert & Winnie will be over about 4.30 tomorrow. I shall be round later. I am going fishing. Albert”

Veteran entertainer Rutland Barrington is shown in costume as an Egyptian Pharaoh for the comic operetta Amesis.

Four days after this very pleasant-sounding afternoon of a family visit and fishing, Great Britain declared war on Germany - with all of the Bailey brothers falling into the age group eligible to join the armed forces.