This is one of the earliest known photographs of Bourne showing West Street around 1865 and probably taken by Joseph Flatters who had premises in North Street before emigrating to Canada in 1871. The premises at No 1 West Street which can be seen on the left were occupied at that time by Robert Mason Mills, a chemist and druggist, who later founded the town's aerated water business.

The Town Hall viewed from West Street with a young girl posing for the camera. This pictures was taken about 1895 and although many of the other buildings have changed in appearance, the general aspect of the street remains the same today except for the absence of motor cars. 

A postcard photograph of West Street in 1907 by William Redshaw showing
Presgrave's Tea Emporium on the right.

A tranquil street scene from 1904 showing two ladies out for an afternoon walk, one of them with a baby in a perambulator, and all traffic to be seen is horse-drawn.

The picture above is taken from a postcard sent on 10th September 1905 by a young lady who wrote to her friend: "This is a very good view of West Street but it is much prettier further up. I had some fine times here some years ago." She remembered going to tea at the house on the right with the three dormer windows and added: "It is a very nice place." This building was demolished circa 1960 to make way for new offices, now occupied by Double & Megson,  the solicitors.

Another magnificent view of West Street circa 1920 and obviously posed by the photographer William Redshaw to include as many townspeople as possible, most probably employees from the nearby shops together with a few inquisitive children. The premises of Mills & Baxter, the aerated water specialists, can be seen on the left but the adjoining shop, occupied then by Joseph Arnold, a boot and shoe maker, with livery stables at the rear, has been demolished and the site is now occupied by the far less attractive building owned by Boots the Chemist.

These two photograph of West Street (above and below) date from circa 1920 when the motor car was a rare sight in the town centre while many of the buildings have either disappeared or been drastically altered.

BEAUFORT HOUSE
No 30 West Street is one of the pair of grand red brick town houses built in 1872 by William A Pochin and his initials can be seen on a stone plaque on the front. This was the home of many important people in past times, including Thomas Moore Baxter, a prominent councillor and businessman, who was in residence here in 1885. This photograph showing much of its early grandeur was taken circa 1910 when the mistress of the house was a Mrs Grummitt who is pictured below.

Photos: Courtesy Louise Tester

A picture postcard of West Sreet in 1932 (above) and another from circa 1960 (below) with the motor car beginning to become a familiar sight.

Another scene of West Street looking towards the Market Place taken circa 1950, before the introduction of traffic lights and double yellow lines, although white
lines were already making their appearance down the middle of the road.

Manor House in West Street, at the corner of Manor Lane, from a picture postcard sold by William Pearce of Bourne in 1915. This fine stone property was built as a town house in the 19th century but is now converted into rented flats while the quiet and secluded Manor Lane on the left has become an access road for Warners Midlands plc, the printing firm that occupies the old maltings.

A tranquil scene in West Street from around 1948 when cars were few and white and yellow lines unheard of.