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Of all the old photographs that still exist of Bourne
in past times this image of the Market Place, now the town centre,
illustrates more than any other the dramatic change the motor car has made
to the street scene.
In 1904, when this picture was taken, the streets were completely
deserted, devoid of any traffic whatsoever. The only sign of life is a
lone pedestrian standing in the middle of the road, a foolhardy thing to
do today, curious at the presence of the photographer and most likely
employed as the town's street sweeper because an unattended push cart with
brushes can be seen next to the gas lamp on the left.
The shops opposite include those of William Dales Todd, tailor and draper,
who was in business there for 40 years and whose premises are now occupied
by the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society, and next door, Oates and
Musson, drapers and removals, now the HSBC bank, both with canvas awnings
or blinds to protect their window displays from the sun.
The Angel Hotel remains virtually unchanged as is the building occupied by
the Stamford, Spalding and Boston Banking Company Limited, now Barclays
Bank, but the two cottages on the right were demolished in 1967 to make
way for the Woolworths store which eventually closed when the company
collapsed in 2008. |
