Sometimes it’s possible to find individual, named people on the postcards and pictures, but more usually it’s not.
I am, of course, only joking with the title of this postcard; it’s highly unlikely that the couple here were ever in danger of being run down by anything moving quickly back around 1910! But this lovely postcard is made all the more interesting by the two people on view. Who are they? Are they your ancestors? Common sense suggests that they might be residents of this part of Newark Road, although they could just as easily be ‘nobodies’ placed in shot to add some ‘life’. Anyway, please get in touch if you recognise either or both. 
Edit: could it be Mrs. Elizabeth Elsom? And her husband George? They were in the village around this time and lived only a few yards up the road. Hmmm… 🤔
This postcard appeared on the Old Lincolnshire Rural Photos Facebook group. It is clearly identified as being Smith & Warren’s roundabout at a fair celebrating a high holiday in the village in 1912. It’s a fabulous picture, reflecting the simpler pleasures of bygone days. I always feel it is rather poignant knowing that every single person on this photograph is now long dead, even the tiniest child at the right edge.
This photograph appears to have been taken in the yard of the old Church School building at the top of Newark Road. The board held by the small child in the centre front is hard to read but it definitely says “1926 Bassingham C. [Council] School”. My grateful thanks go to Derek & Caroline Rossin for lending me the original postcard to present for you here. (Reg Vasey (of “Vasey Close” fame) is third from the right on the back row.)
Some people were identified because they appeared in photographs or in news stories of the day. Any dates referenced here are publication dates.
- Baguley, Amelia (1913)
- Broughton, Joe & Jack (article about George Brooks) (1960s?)
- Broughton, William (1909)
- Bugg, Sarah (1930s)
- Dolby, Ben & family
- Elsom, Elizabeth (c1911)
- A night at the “Five Bells” (1960/61)
- Garner, Arthur (1895)
- Iremonger, Mr. and Mrs. (1905)
- The Johnsons of “Ivy House”
- Kennewell, Frederick (1876-1940)
- Marfleet, Edward Henry (1908)
- Martin, Samuel Winter (1843-1923)
- The Mettam family
- Morshead, John (1866-1934)
- Pearson, Mr. of Aubourn (1832)
- Pocock, Reverend Theodore (1869-1965)
- Poole, John (c1892)
- Procter/Proctor, Samuel (1859)
- Read, Elizabeth (1814-1912)
- Roberts, Mr. (1912)
- Smart, Rachel (1912)
- Wallhead, John (1893)
- The Winn family (1807-1949)
- Worsdall, Mr. John Wallace (1970)
- Wright, Cyril (& Henry Collin) (1927)
- Parish News (1891) – many village names
Here are a few other photographs of people who have been identified but who don’t really fit into any particular category. If you can add more details please contact me.
In the 1901 Census William Ash (born Branston, Lincs., 1840) was living with his wife Charlotte (born North Kyme, Lincs. 1836) and two daughters, Mary A. and Margaret in Carlton le Moorland. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade. The photograph here looks to have been taken around this time. The Ash family has roots and has owned property in Bassingham.
Here are two photographs from the 1977 Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, filled with unnamed people.
Clubs, Sports and Societies
There are many photographs of people here, the vast majority of whom are unnamed. If you can help to identify any of them then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
- Bassingham Women’s Institute (W.I.)
- Royal British Legion: Bassingham Branch
- Sports Teams
- Sunday School outings
Bassingham Back Then... 