Leonard Bentley
Charing Cross Pier
This is a Regal Art Publishing Co postcard from about 1906 showing a rare colourised view from Hungerford Bridge which includes the London County Council paddle steamer, Christopher Wren. The postcard was used by the B. Morris & Sons Ltd company to invite customers to their famous tobacconist shop in Half Moon Passage, Whitechapel. The wording of the invitation is curious to modern ears.
“Our Mr. A.R. Start will have the pleasure of waiting upon you about the 29th inst when a reserve of your favours will oblige. Your Obedient servants, B. Morris & Sons Ltd". The postcard was sent to a man in Southport, so he had a long way to come for his fags.
The paddle steamer, Christopher Wren, was one of the thirty steamers built for the ill-fated LCC Riverboat service by various companies, this steamer was built by G. Rennie & Co at Greenwich. The steamer was sold to City steamboats in 1909 for the sum of £393.00 and saw service on the Thames until the first world war when it was commandeered by the Government for service with the Royal Indian Marine in their operations against the Turks on the River Tigris in Mesopotamia.
Charing Cross Pier
This is a Regal Art Publishing Co postcard from about 1906 showing a rare colourised view from Hungerford Bridge which includes the London County Council paddle steamer, Christopher Wren. The postcard was used by the B. Morris & Sons Ltd company to invite customers to their famous tobacconist shop in Half Moon Passage, Whitechapel. The wording of the invitation is curious to modern ears.
“Our Mr. A.R. Start will have the pleasure of waiting upon you about the 29th inst when a reserve of your favours will oblige. Your Obedient servants, B. Morris & Sons Ltd". The postcard was sent to a man in Southport, so he had a long way to come for his fags.
The paddle steamer, Christopher Wren, was one of the thirty steamers built for the ill-fated LCC Riverboat service by various companies, this steamer was built by G. Rennie & Co at Greenwich. The steamer was sold to City steamboats in 1909 for the sum of £393.00 and saw service on the Thames until the first world war when it was commandeered by the Government for service with the Royal Indian Marine in their operations against the Turks on the River Tigris in Mesopotamia.