Postcard of the Month: January 2026
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Pulborough Swan Wharf
Two postcards showing a similar view of the wharf and part of the riverside. Both were sent to the respective senders’ mothers.
The top card is a Christmas and New Year greetings card in the Kingsway Real Photo series titled ‘Pulborough from River’. The small wooden hut which served as a base for hiring rowing boats is visible in the centre. It was posted 23rd December 1911 in Midhurst and sent to Mrs. Penfold (addressed as “Dear Mother”) of Hangleton Farm, Ferring. The text mentions that everywhere is flooded. This is not an unusual occurrence in the Arun Valley, as described elsewhere on the website (see Houghton and Amberley Floods).
The second card is rather faded but clearly titled ‘G.Foate [sic], Boat House, Pulborough’. In fact, the gentleman was George Floate who ran the fleet of rowing boats, shown drawn up on the bank, for many years. He was a well-known figure, mentioned in some of the local history books, and is probably the man standing in one of the boats wearing a yachting hat. This card may have been published either by David Dinnage of Amberley or possibly Corden of Pulborough, judging by the design on the back. It was sent to a Mrs Weiss of East Dulwich (“Dear Mum”) and contains the line “caught fine lot of fish today”. The river here was well known as a productive fishing area, and large numbers of anglers from London would arrive by train on a regular basis.