CHRIS Jackson gave us a stroll through Redditch illustrated by his postcards of old Redditch before the New Town was built.

The first postcards were made in Austria in 1869, and England followed a year later. It wasn’t until 1902 that the backs of the postcards could be divided for the message and the address, as previously the message had to be squashed onto the picture side of the card, leaving the whole of the reverse side for the address.

Chris’s journey began at Granny Lock’s House, the tollhouse at the corner of Dagnall End Road, Bordesley, and he took us to the town centre by way of three bridges, up Prospect Hil, to Church Green .

We saw the Smallwood Hospital, donated by the Smallwood brothers, and the bandstand, surrounded by the gardens into which the residents could donate a tree .

The market was busy, and Evesham Street was flourishing. We continued down Unicorn Hill and along Mount Pleasant. Then along Evesham Road through Headless Cross, where the shops were just as they are today, although they house different traders.

The journey ended at The Royal Oak pub, which is now the cottage beside the Crabbs Cross chip shop.

Chris highlighted his talk with his own memories and research , together with reminiscences of his family and others.

Our next meeting will be our Christmas party when we will be entertained by A Merry Noyse, meeting at Feckenham Village Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday, December 10.