Our Museum is getting a constant flow of interesting old pictures etc.
Out of the blue, Chris Burrows from Whitstable has emailed this fine image of the 'old' Victory. Comparing it with a postcard of the 'old' Victory published by local chemist/photographer Cleghorn around 1905, this photo was taken the same day. Cleghorn published a series of postcards, none of which were RPs (Real Photo) so it's good to get what could well be an actual Cleghorn Photo.
The original photograph is one of many in a box, in danger of being thrown away, so Chris is quite happy to send us the original for safekeeping. For a few years around 1900, her great grandparents lived in Mersea Road Colchester and must have found their way down to Mersea.
When the photograph was taken, the Victory at the bottom of The Lane was still a pub. The signwriting on the front says "Colchester Brewing Company Ales and Stout", "The Victory, W. Trim proprietor" and "Wines and Spirits".
Probably the party in the photograph had come down for one of the Oyster Teas that the Victory advertised.
Around 1907 the 'new' Victory was opened, and Bill Trim moved up Coast Road as licensee. First of all the Stoker family rented the 'old' Victory from the Brewing Company, and then bought it, dividing it in two within the family.
These days, Jill Keene lives in half of the 'old' Victory - it was her great grandparents that originally rented it from the brewery and it has stayed in the family ever since.
Published in Mersea Life April 2017, page Local 85. |