Another project I started recently was the purchasing of old postcards and photographs of Ratby, Leicestershire in the UK. My original aim was to frame them and have them on display in my house, however some of the post card and photos were in poor condition or damaged, so with trusty Photoshop I set about restoring them. Each restoration is fairly time consuming I will add more as I complete them.
This is dated on the rear of the postcard 1960 (hand written) however I assume this picture to be of a much earlier date. The picture depicts the junction of Desford Lane, Main Street and Station Road. The picture was taken looking down Main Street towards Station Road, with the road to Desford Lane on the right of the picture.
Original – Click image to view at high resolution.
Cleaned – Click image to view at high resolution.
Finished – Click image to view at high resolution.
Did Ratby have a horse and cart milk delivery.
Hi John,
With reference to your query regarding Leicester Road Ratby, I think you will find that it was actually Leicester Road, Groby. As far as I am aware ( my ancesters lived in Ratby from the C16TH). In the Census they put Ratby even if the actual village was Botcheston, Groby or other parts of the old Ratby Parish. My own great-grandfather was shown living in Ratby, even though it was actually Groby. There never was a Leicester Road in Ratby village proper as far as I know.
Hi Nathan.
Love your page on old photos of Ratby.
I’m researching family history. My great-great grandfather’s uncle, William Clifford, spent the final years of his life in Ratby. He had been a stone quarrier at Groby.
In 1881, he was retired and living on Leicester Road, Ratby. Do you have any C19th photos of the street?
The home was that of Richard and Emma Gaze. Emma was William’s granddaughter. Richard was still a stone quarrier at Groby. Also in the house was Edward Geary, Emma’s dad. He was also a former stone quarrier. Emma’s mum Elizabeth was William Clifford’s daughter. Sadly, Elizabeth had died years before.
So Emma was looking after her husband, father and grandfather! William died in 1886, aged 82. It’s that Leicester Road household of three men and one woman – three generations – that I would like to imagine.
Hope you can help and look forward to hearing from you.
John Clifford
Norfolk