Brislington Community Museum

W H S & S, B

These initials are widely held to stand for W H Smith & Son, Bristol (the final initial indicates Bristol was a major hub of this national business). The 1914 edition of Kelly's Directory of Bristol shows W H Smith & Son operating in the city at St Thomas Street; Long Row, Temple; Whiteladies Road; and Regent Street, Clifton (their listing is on page 896, in the section for wholesale stationers).

This publisher produced postcards of scenes from far and wide as part of their Grosvenor Series, but their initials appear on many local postcards too, many of which also bear the name of E Coe (some of the postcards below also appear in her list), which explains why there are so many pictures of St Anne's in this list.

Some of the postcards in their Grosvenor Series appear without the firm's initials. The same photographs often appear in both guises, which, together with the series name, helps establish the identity of the publisher.


Their local postcards

Brislington Hill - Brislington, Bristol. Published in print by Fisher, Janet et al 1985, page 56, and also by Williamson, B 1985, page 17. Earliest known picture: 1909.

Brislington Hill - Brislington. Published online at Bristol Archives, and also again at Bristol Archives. Earliest known picture: 7 Oct 1907.

West Town Lane - Old Bridge, Brislington. Published online at Bristol Archives. Earliest known picture: 5 Sept 1907.

Water Lane- Water Lane, Brislington. Earliest known picture: 19 Nov 1908.

Talbot Hill - Brislington FRom Knowle. [sic]. Earliest known picture: 23 Sept 1907.

Talbot Road - Talbot Lane, Brislington. Earliest known picture: 30 Dec 1907.

Wells Road - Knowle, Bristol. The view is to the north, toward Bears Bridge (the junction with Callington Road).

Bristol Hill - Brislington. Earliest known picture: 10 Mar 1908.

Birchwood Road - Birchwood Road, St Anne's. Earliest known picture: posted before 3 June 1918.

Bath Road - Brislington, Bristol. Published online at Bristol Archives. Also available in print (Chard, Judith et al 1995, page 104. Earliest known picture: 4 Aug 1911.

Sandy Park Road - Sandy Park, Brislington. Earliest known picture: 1913.

Langton Road - CHURCH. & LANGTON ROAD. ST ANN'S. Earliest known picture:25 Oct 1911.

Langton Road - THE SCHOOLS, ST ANNE'S. Available in print (Chard, Judith et al 1995, page 76. A variant is available in print (Fisher, Janet & Derek undated, page 37, and also Fisher, Janet et al 1985, page 28. Earliest known picture: 5 Oct 1912.

St Anne's Park railway station - ST ANNE'S PARK STATION. Published online at Bristol Archives. Earliest known picture: 22 Aug 1930.

First Avenue - First Avenue, St. Anne's..

Langton Court Road - THE POST OFFICE & LANGTON COURT ROAD, ST ANN'S. Published online at Bristol Archives. Also available in print in Crimmins, Graham et al, 2008, page 13. Earliest known picture: 27 Jan 1912.

Highworth Road - ADDISON RD. ST ANN'S. Available in print (Fisher, Janet & Derek undated, page 35. The postcard uses the earlier name of this road. Earliest known picture: 1918.

Arlington Road - ARLINGTON RD. ST ANN'S. Available in print (Fisher, Janet & Derek undated, page 36. Earliest known picture: Feb 1918.

Newbridge Road - NEWBRIDGE ROAD, ST ANNE'S. Pictured looking south.

St Anne's Wood - ENTRANCE TO THE WOODS, ST ANNE'S. Published online at Bristol Archives. Earliest known picture: 1 Feb 1912.

St Anne's Wood - THE WOODS. ST ANN'S. Variant available in print (Fisher, Janet & Derek undated, page 39. Earliest known picture: 11 Aug 1918.

Beese's Riverside Bar - The River Avon, Hanham. Earliest known picture: 17 Dec 1910.


Ken Taylor


Regrettably we can't exhibit any of these postcards until either the identity of the photographer/s is known (and perhaps also the copyright status of their pictures), or we secure funds to apply for a batch of orphan works licences.