HIGH STREET - 1911 - 1932
Bannisters / Bridge Hotel / South Lane
Text By Laurie Stonehouse
The first three pictures are old postcards showing the local celebrations for the Coronation of King George V in 1911.The remainder were taken in 1932 and show the large store owned and run by Bannisters. The High Street is slightly different now, Bannisters store is long gone and the Barclays Bank building was demolished in 1981. The buildings in the photo following on from the National Westminster Bank to the corner of South lane were damaged during the Second World War and this area was rebuilt during 1953 when our present Queen ascended to the throne. The shops and flats that now occupy this site were aptly named Coronation Buildings.
One of my favourites is the one showing Bannisters & Sons shop which has many signs on display, can you read them? I've included a close up image of the shop window. Looking further down is a view onto Denton Island with a glimpse of the row of cottages known as Sefton Terrace. The Bridge Inn still has the gigantic words (HOTEL) on it's roof. (I'm not so sure that the Local Planning Authorities would allow this in 2009). The street name sign seen on the wall above the Southern Railway's Information Board says South Lane which was the twitten that ran from the High Street to Dacre Road (now South Way) and this twitten is still here in spirit modifed now to form the short walk into Newhaven Square and then along the path between Somerfields and the Multi-storey car park.
Coronation - 1911
H Hills Collection
Coronation - 1911
G Amy Collection
Coronation - 1911
G Amy Collection
High Street - 1932
G Amy Collection
Bannisters / Sefton Terrace - 1932
Edited from the top photo
South Lane - 1932
Edited from the top photo