The Bridge over Vigo Hill

Here is an old picture postcard of the bridge over Vigo Hill. The bridge was built to connect various parts of the Trosley Towers (demolished 1936) estate and I believe it bears the Waterlow family crest.

1909 Brattle Place, Stansted - AKA The Hilltop Hotel

Can you spot the dog in the pictures?

Stansted's Past, by Stansted School children, a video made in 2012

Please enjoy this video on the local history of Stansted, made by the older children of Stansted School (Sparrow Class), in 2012.

Soranks Manor Vintage Postcard

Here is a new postcard of Soranks Manor and garden, looking very pretty with the roses in full bloom, probably taken around June.

'Fairseat Road' postcard. This is now the junction of Fairseat Lane with A227.

I do love a vintage postcard of the area, and I've not seen this before. This is the junction of Fairseat Lane with the A227, which is a busy road and you certainly wouldn't want to sit there any more! The Ebay listing dated it to circa 1926. Why were the roads so white looking back then? I think it must pre-date Tarmac, so would still be dirt roads, or perhaps very chalky dirt roads?

Update October 2021: I saw one of these postcards which has been written on the back, it's dated August 1913, so this picture would have been taken previous to that. It's certainly over 100 years old.

Another version of the Postcard. 

'Bluebells in Stansted, Kent' watercolour by Beatrice Emma Parsons.

PARSONS Beatrice Emma, 1870-1955 (United Kingdom) 

Title : Bluebells at Stansted, Kent

Sold by Philips Auctioneers for between £1,000-1,500 in 2000.

I found this image of a watercolour on one of my general trawls around the internet. Cannot get hold of it any bigger. Certainly still looks like the woods and paths around here, thank goodness, despite being painted pre 1955.