Postcards from Primrose Hill

This is England’s Lane, which hasn’t changed much over the years. There were plenty of shops along the street in 1905, just as today, and by enlarging the image we can decipher a few names. At number 40 was Thomas Gurney Randall, a butcher you can spot the meat hanging outside. Next door, at number 38, was Henry W Lee, a fruiterer, as you can tell from his produce displayed on the pavement. Next door again, at number 36, was harness-maker Richard Gidden. He was the ‘auto mechanic’ of his day, since harnesses were needed for all the horse-drawn transport in the area.

This postcard was sent in late November 1905 by ‘Auntie’ to her nephew, saying: ‘Dear Ronny, have you been to school today, would you like to be over here to see me baking such a lot of cakes next Wednesday, I wonder what you are doing now, love and kisses to you.’

The card was addressed to ‘Master Gordon Williams’ at 196a Mare Street in Hackney, where the 6-year-old boy lived with his parents Thomas and Ada Williams, his grandparents Thomas and Martha Williams, and great aunt Maria Perkins. The 1901 census records that all the adults in the household had the same occupation, which was ‘Fancy card box makers’.

As an industry, box-making began in the 19th century. People produced a wide range of boxes for packaging pills, perfumery, fans, chocolate, ribbons, soap and gloves. My guess is that the family worked from home, and sadly they would have been paid low wages to assemble these boxes.

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