LAST Wednesday, September 9, was the second anniversary of the death of Marlow legend, Michael Eagleton (inset). Therefore, I thought it appropriate to publish this week the last Nostalgia article written by Michael. This is typical of his style, combining information about what he had been up to, in this case experimenting with the colourisation of black and white pictures and postcards, with his personal knowledge about scenes of Marlow, here of Chapel Street.

The colourisation of old photographs or films has advanced rapidly in the last few years. I remember several decades ago reading that Laurel and Hardy’s ‘Way Out West’ had been colourised by painfully working on each frame: must have taken weeks. I have tried several computerised programmes for single pictures, or usually postcards in my case, but not yet settled on which is the best one. Most seem to have occasional problems dealing with bright red shades.

There is on the Internet a highly praised colourised and enhanced 1920 film of Piccadilly Circus, and the London buses often have, same as my efforts, occasional odd shades of purple.

However, above are a couple of early 1900s postcards that I have coloured and that I am quite pleased with: views along Chapel Street, showing many changes from today. The originals are sepia tinged, but to get the best colourisation it is necessary to first take them back to black and white. Top: on the left is ‘The White Hart’, having a beer licence only, with a nice gas lantern over the door and, above the outhouse, or possibly stables, enamel adverts on the wall. The landlord in 1907 was James Pullin. My earliest memory of this building is as Flints Fish & Chip shop.

Opposite is the chaotic window of Mrs Rippington’s second-hand clothes shop. Much the same inside; clothes, ladies and gents, were in various random piles and if you fancied anything the price had to be negotiated with Mrs R. The few Marlovians who go back that far remember a distinctive smell in the shop which spread out to the pavement. These days, after various occupants, the aromas are considerably more appetising - Indian cuisine. Alongside is a side view of another long gone pub - Wethered’s ‘The Black Horse’, landlord Thomas Drewitt. The lettering on the brickwork over the window is still just about there today, but almost faded away. A 1980s photo is inserted (taken by Sergeant Arthur Boarder) when it was still just about readable ‘Licensed to sell beer and retail and deal in tobacco’. A projecting sign further along is for ‘The Horns’.

The second postcard includes a group of young boys eager to get in on the picture. In those days a cameraman and his bulky equipment always attracted attention and a crowd often gathered. Opposite, it is Mr Barnard’s General Stores that is the main interest.

The advert from the 1907 guide features his claim to supply all your needs, and an enlargement of his gas lamps shows that these included Butter, Lard, Cheese and Bacon, Pipes, Pouches, Sticks, and Will’s Gold Flake. He later expanded with a Spittal Street branch. Mr Barnard was a stalwart of the Primitive Methodist Chapel, 100 yards down the street, but the cottages adjoining the fairly narrow entrance are no longer there, and the Chapel is now the Liston Hall.