London to Great Yarmouth by steamer
From Victorian times until World War 1, paddle steamers sailed from the River Thames in London to east coast seaside resorts, including Great Yarmouth in Norfolk. The journey could take eight hours, making it far slower than a steam train, but in calm summer weather it was a pleasant way to travel. Crowds gathered to greet the boats on Britannia Pier, and passengers would walk off perusing their holiday entertainment - pierrot troupes, music-hall shows, a scenic railway and tea rooms - on the way to their holiday accommodation. The postcards shown here come from a collection belonging to Ethel Bailey, a North London girl whose family loved Great Yarmouth - and sent each other postcards and boxes of bloaters (smoked herring) from their regular breaks there between 1906 and 1914.
“There are a lot of Scotch fisher girls here but I can’t speak their talk”
“I am listening to the Pierrots. There is a bloke singing about Sexton Blake”
“Did you get the bloaters I sent home?”
“It was very hot yesterday. The lifeboat volunteers drilled in their shirt sleeves”
“We have had part of the fleet here since Sunday. Five battleships, four cruisers, five torpedo boat destroyers and three submarines”
“It was lovely yesterday, I got burnt”
“It is regatta today. Going to have fireworks on the pier”
“If you could send me a clean shirt I should like it”
“Shall be home on Wednesday night some time”
