The past looking down on us

I took all the following pictures within the last couple of months which proves that the past is all around us if we look around.

This drainpipe is on the house next to Rob and Jan's shop in High Street, we have guttering older than the U.S.A. !!!

Cheer's and Son's, the tailors, traded for years in West Street (in the premises now trading as West Street Furnishings) and their painted sign can still be seen on the brickwork.

Johnson's Seeds, established in 1820, once had a shop where the Waterfront pub is now.

Above and Below: These date plaques are from the old General Hospital and have been put into the houses that were built on its site.

Below: And a bit further on are the old Corporation Baths.

Old Market Place Theatre

According to old records there was a theatre in the Market Place which had the benefits of considerable patronage and where some of the most famous actors and actresses of the day performed. Just where the theatre stood remains something of a mystery, but in all probability was on the premises once occupied by W.W. Johnson’s shop.

Some years ago (pre 1955) a Mr. Fred Kime of Boston said he had a vivid recollection of being shown the building by his father, who explained to him that that was the theatre. Mr. Kime also said that he recalled the words “Boston Theatre” being inscribed on a circular plaque high on the building, this circle still remains.

The back of the premises were rather curiously constructed, towering aloft in a most unusual manner and makes one wonder whether it was not here that the drop curtains and all the mysteries of back-stage were housed. In all events it sounds very much like it and there is some verification in a biography of a famous theatrical family. It was mentioned there that on one occasion they played at Boston and found that the back of the premises were used for grain storage, a circumstance that very much puzzled the actress. In 2011 the building is now the Waterfront pub and remains virtually unchanged, it still has the circular plaque.

Some Boston Factories

A few of Boston's long gone factories.

Beaulahs, Bargate End.

Beaulahs, Tawney Street.

Hursts, South Square.

John Fishers label factory, Sleaford Road.

Johnson's, South Square.

Ladies sorting peas at Beaulahs.

Lin-Can, London Road.

Newham's feather factory, Witham Town.

Ladies working at Whittle and Copes cigar factory, Norfolk Street.

Willer and Riley, London Road.

Willer and Riley.

Familiar Boston Transport

Some once familiar vehicles in Boston.

Skinners Ice cream van.

Lincolnshire Road Car bus.

I was informed by an anonymous reader that two of the Lincs Road Car Bristol double deckers that were once based at the Boston depot finished up owned by a tour company at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains NSW, this info was given to them by Steve Shaw who as a school kid lived in the prefabs in Carlton Road and has lived in Australia for many years.

Tower Hill Transport.

Sharp's Buses.

W.W.Johnson Seed Merchants.