Wish you were there? Collection of Blackpool boarding house postcards provides a picture of the past

His great grandmother used to run a boarding house, at number 5 Shepherd Street, Blackpool – which was where Debenhams department store is now.

Steve said: “They used to be sent postcards by people, from all over the country.

“They kept them, I have a collection of the postcards and they are wonderful.

“Some of them are photographs of family members, some are of famous people, some are of the Fylde coast and some are of other areas from across the country.

“Some of the postcards are from family and others are from guests or friends. Some of them have writing on the back with messages, others are blank.”

One of the postcards shows Steve’s great aunt Maggie Gomersall, a pupil at St John’s School who lived in East Topping Street.

Another shows his great grandmother Esther Gomersall and her mother, Jane Threlfall. It was taken in Blackpool, in around 1900.

This week we look at the part of the collection which features pictures of people and famous faces.

Next week, we will feature those postcards showing famous Fylde coast sights and other towns from across the UK.