THERE’S something about these old Black Country town scenes that we sadly cannot match today — from the top hats and bowlers of the gentlemen, the elegant, flowing skirts of the ladies, the grown-up attire of the younger folk, to the horsedrawn carriages and covered wagons — vying for space amongst the pedestrians in the street.
This view of Stourbidge High Street is taken from a postcard sent from the town in the 1920s, by a woman we only know as ‘Lily”, to an address in Solihull.
On the right we can clearly see the Talbot Commercial Hotel, still a feature in the High Street today, and nearest the camera is a tailor’s premises, wth just the first four letters of the name visible — PURC.
A little delving in Kelly’s Directory of 1921 reveals that this was the business of James Chamberlain Purchase, outfitter, 138 High Street.
Out thanks go to Colin Perry of Halesowen for passing on this interesting old postcard to us. He found it amongst the rubble of a knocked-down building in Mapletree Lane.
