Published: Thursday, 22nd January, 2009 9:00am

Retro: Cottage mix-up

by David Cliffe

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THIS postcard has been stuck in the research box for at least 10 years by the look of it, so perhaps it's time it was rescued and catalogued.

Written on the back are the words: "Wellington Cottages, B.H.," and someone else has added: "Reading. Wellington Cottages, Wellington Street (now Lorne Street)."

There is no mention of the photographer, or the publisher of the card.

It is true that until about 1870, Lorne Street in Reading was called Wellington Street.

When I was considering the Marquis Of Lorne pub in Friar Street in this column last year, it became apparent that the Marquis came to public attention when he married Princess Louise, fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, in 1871.

This postcard, though, dates back only to the 1920s or 1930s by the look of it, and I cannot believe that Lorne Street in Reading looked anything like this at the time.

I think that whoever wrote the note about Wellington Street Reading was barking up the wrong tree.

What we appear to have here is a row of three brick cottages, by a bend in a country lane, or is it the junction of two lanes? The left-hand cottage has a slate roof, and the two to the right are thatched.

Those initials "B.H." are intriguing.

Can they stand for anything as obvious as Beech Hill? It's not a village I know well. Though I did go for a walk round it in spring this year, I don't remember these particular cottages.

Can anyone help, and maybe verify that these charming country cottages are indeed in Beech Hill?

Contact Adam Hewitt on 0118 963 3152.