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Salisbury Museum has a large number of postcards in its collection. 

In the “olden days” people’s photographs were made into postcards.  There are many examples of these from before WW1.  We know the dates because of the clear postmarks on them.  Thus we have many photographs of everyday scenes represented in this collection of images.  All the postcards have  been scanned, both front and reverse.

With these photographic postcard images we might know the date but usually little else.  As they were not mass produced, there is seldom any information about the scene.  But is is amazing what one can achieve with a little detective work and Google.  

Here is a street scene of a grand house and a shop.  There are a number of people in the scene including three small girls.  From the reverse we have the date as March 31st 1909.  The postmark says it was posted at Donhead.  The address is just a name followed by the village; namely Master T Hewitson at Ludwell.  The postman was expected to know every villager by name in those “olden days”!  Can you locate the scene?

By using Google street view I have found a match.  To my amazement, the village shop today looks much the same as it did over 100 years ago. It has lost some of its frontage to road.  The grand house has the same three bedroom windows and two chimney stacks.  The front door has been moved, and all the decorative ironwork, from both house and shop, has gone!
The scene is Ludwell, still recognisable 115 years later.

Wonderful photos, as always, from Alan. Thank you.