Rare old gems are a
AS WE are constantly being asked: “Have you uncovered any rare or unseen pictures recently?’ we thought we would give you a treat and show you the latest batch of illustrations we have come across in the past few months.
History features in the pipeline include the troubled Byng House (historically Claremont House); the philanthropist William Atkinson; and the confusing story behind the William Fisher shipwreck.
But if you have any ideas you would like History Hunters to cover here please get in touch.
Please contact Geoff via email on southporthistory@gmail. com.
Moving swiftly down the flanks, we are researching the history of Southport Chess Club, so if anyone has any pictures or information on the club, officials, players or history please get in touch.
To whet your appetite this week we have a rare photograph of the 1905 British Chess Championships
which were held in Southport Art Gallery, featuring the eventual winner of the Ladies, Miss Kate Finn.
One of the other items featured today is a King George III “cartwheel” penny dated 1797 produced a year before William “Duke” Sutton created his history-making South-Port Hotel.
The old coin was discovered in the base of an old penny arcade machine at the pier pavilion. This was the first (and largest) Britannia penny coin and the first time a penny was minted in copper.
An excellent specimen would fetch in the region of £180.
Have you got any old, good or maybe quite rare views of Southport we could use?
Meanwhile, with our book Southport in 50 Buildings more or less done and dusted, Sue and I are now taking your commissions for house history and family history projects, but get your orders in quick, before we get busy again.
Salus Populi.