Stoke

I bought some old negatives on eBay recently, including a few of the Stoke area near to where I live. I've added them to the collection for all to see.... Stoke images in Rob's pics ....but can anyone date them? I would guess late 1960s - early 1970s judging by the cars and clothes - but can anyone tell us more about the pictures?

Definitely after 1964, with all those newish looking Ford Anglias with the "backwards" rear window. The nearest house on the left in the Bourne Rd photo (only see the front door) was where my aunt and uncle, Floss and Reg Wilkinson, lived at the time. Another aunt and uncle, Beat and Perce Stafford, lived further up on the right.

Nice set of photos Rob. Johnnie Walker is about right with the date, one thing that sticks out where is all the traffic? It was great in them days, no parking problems, not like it is now, a rat race with nowhere to park and traffic wardens trying to squeeze you in any way they can. Things were so much easier then and as I said nice photos.

The first pic shows a nice little hint as to when it was after. Car reg LKV 693F, anyone know what year that was? F reg cars came out after Aug 1967

It was 1968 Baz, I was 27 then and I think those were the best years.

Don't know when but some good guesses there. Few of us would now have the bottle to stand in the middle of the road to take photographs. Rather nice to see pictures without a single wheelie bin. Les

The variation on years is that the reg spanned two years, August-August. I had an F reg Viva but it was 1968.

The 'F' registration was the first one to run August to July over 1967-68. A to D ran January to December for 1963 to 1966. 'E' ran for only 7 months, January-July 1967. The most recent car on the photos that can be dated is the 'F' reg one. Looking at the others, there don't seem to be any models much later than that, most being classic 60s cars. So I would presume the photos to be no later than 1970.

Many thanks to all for looking at the Stoke gallery. Glad I wasn't far off in my guess of the era - and I never knew about the change in the "car year", I always used to think it had always run from August to August - so thanks MisterD-Di for that useful snippet. More than anything, of course, these pictures bring back memories and a strong feeling of nostalgia. I wonder how many of us remember shopping on Ball Hill as it looked below. It doesn't really look drastically different nowadays to be honest.... there are just a lot more cars now - and not such interesting models as there used to be. Another photo that I know will provoke memories is the one showing the GEC water tower from Bourne Road. I have a question though. I tried to locate this spot from Google Maps, and because of the drastic changes since then, and the sad disappearance of the GEC, I struggled to work out exactly where the photo would be nowadays. If you click the link here.... Google Maps link .... could this be close? It's actually in Glencoe Road, but as near as the Google camera gets to Bourne Road.

This is clearly the T junction looking west where Bourne Rd meets Brindle Avenue. Bourne Rd now becomes Glencoe Rd after passing through where the gates used to be. I wonder what that trolley thing is on the pavement at the right? Here's a clip from Google Maps, showing the very same tree, about 45 years on! Lost a few leaves, but then, after 45 years, most of us have too - otherwise hasn't changed a bit!

Rob & JW, is this the spot? This has been bugging me all day !!!! Must have cycled past here thousands of times.

What happened to the houses?