To Miss E. Middleton, Alma Terrace, Selby, Yorkshire (1910)

2 Thirlmere St, Currock, Carlisle

Dear F. Just arrived in C. after a most lovely sail which I enjoyed right well. I found them all in the pink at home! they all wish to be remembered to you. Willie & I are just off out for a walk so I shall be allright [?][?][?] J.J. shall probably call & see Mary tonight.

Yours [?] Jack

Here's a great real photographic postcard, posted in 1910, which seems about right for the image too. This is one of the first sights for most visitors to Carlisle, standing directly outside the railway station. Confusingly, 100 years ago this was the County Hotel, however, that name now applies to another hotel a few yards to the left of this picture, at the top of Botchergate. 

The hotel pictured here is still in use and is now part of the Hallmark chain, but, apart from the name change very little has altered in this view over the last century. Sure, the horse-drawn carriages have been replaced, but the buildings remain remarkably intact, the central archway leading to Collier Lane is still in use and, on the far left you can see the edge of the former Midland bank (now The Griffin pub).

I'd be interested to know more about the hotel itself, when it was built and any history surrounding the buildings, so please leave a comment below if you have any information.

Published by W. R. & S 

Reliable Series 187/29

Postmarked: Carlisle, 13th September 1910

To Consort / The Asda Magasine, PO Box 144, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 1AX (1997)

CARD NUMBER 6330 1174 4000 5127

MRS V BELL

13 WATER GARTH

BARROW-IN-FURNESS

CUMBRIA LA14 3YL

From a deltiologist's point of view, I find this postcard rather sad. It is the newest postcard I have in my Carlisle collection and, to me, it epitomises the 'death of the postcard'. The idea of sending a greeting has given way to a faceless competition entry. This was a common use for postcards as we approached the end of the 20th century and the medium has gone from boom to almost bust.... but they aren't dead yet and I'm pleased to report that sites like Postcrossing and DIY postcard apps such as Touchnote are keeping the tradition going.

Most of my postcards come from auction sites or fairs, and they do tend to be early 1900s. I would be really really interested in receiving any cards from Carlisle which cover the 1970s to the present day. Their value is usually nothing, but to me they're an important omission from my collection as they fill in the gaps and bring me up-to-date. If you're ever having a clear out don't throw those postcards away, get in touch and send them my way!

The postcard itself was posted in 1997, but this picture goes back a bit further than that. Over on the right you can see the Scotch Street shops before The Lanes shopping centre was built, which dates this to pre-1986, but the flares are the biggest giveaway. The statue is that of James Steel, who was a newspaper editor, later councillor and Mayor of Carlisle in 1845 and

1846. The statue, by sculptor William Frederick Woodington is a Listed Building and was moved from this location to the top of Bank Street in 1989, sadly not without injury - his right hand was severed in transit. 

Published by Photo Precision Limited, St Ives

Colourmaster International series (LK2204)

Postmarked: South Lakes, 1- January 1997

To Miss Lonsdale, Rose Hill, Carlisle (1903)

I saw Mr Manchester to-day He says he will come out tomorrow afternoon if you will let him know what time you could see him. The ladies room is not done yet, but will be so, before you have to pay your next visit A.L.

This is a quite fantastic, and rare, map card from 1903 showing Carlisle's eastern outlying villages extending all the way into Northumberland, with some wonderful details. I've mentioned previously (in this post) about Carlisle's claim as the largest city in the England, and in this card you can see all the way from Longtown in the north to the city's most easterly point, Gilsland, which also serves as the boundary between Cumbria and Nothumberland.

Published by John Walker & Co. Ltd.

No.192 Geographical Series

Engraved by J. Bartholomew & Co.

Postmarked 6th May 1903