The Tims Collection
The Tims Collection of photographs was taken between 1895 and 1920, by the late John Tims, formerly of Chessington Road Ewell.
His grandson, Edred Tims who controls the copyright of these, has lodged them in Bourne Hall Museum for public viewing.
Although this website is not planning to reproduce collections held already in Museums and other archives, the Tims Collection is included as it is such a great example of family photos that could have remained hidden, had it not been for the foresight of the present Mr Tims, who has recently retired from the same profession of photographer, having carried on the family interest which started in 1876!
The Bonesgate Inn
from between 1895 and 1920
The Tims
Collection
The Bonesgate Inn & Customers
from between 1895 and 1920
These photos are
copyright The Tims Collection and appear courtesy of Mr Tims
This gate hangs well
and hinders none
Refresh and pay
and travel on
Close up, it's possible to see that the proprieter was a Mr Geo Phipps, who features in another photo from 1890. Although "Teas" are advertised clearly, the man in the apron holds a "Bass" tin tray, so he was selling beer as well as teas in those days
In his letter giving me permission to use the photos on this web-site, Mr Tims says
"Of course you may use the photographs that are available in the Bourne Hall Museum, that is the whole idea of making them available for public examination as they had been hidden from view for nearly 100 years and, with the growing interest in local history and the years "gone by" it seemed a good opportunity to share my grandfather's skills with others"
My skills with a scanner don't match Mr Tims' skill with a camera and the museum copies should be viewed to see the original clarity, as he never kept a photo that was out of focus
He goes on to tell how John Tims took 98 lantern slides on a journey he made by rowboat from Teddington Lock to Oxford.
They include pictures of "towns long since altered and fashions long forgotten"
As I believe the lantern slides were made of glass, the weight of them in a rowboat, added to the other photographic equipment, would have been considerable
The Tims
Collection
The Tims Children
John Tims had children called Annie, Herbert & Basil - I'm not too sure if these are the same children, or who the man is, but will check with the current Mr Tims
Look at the casual way the youngest boy has placed his hand on the man's head
Having a photographer in the family gave a rare chance for informal shots such as this, at a time when most families were only recorded in formal studio poses, such as these of
The Tims Ladies
The
Tims Collection
"fashions long forgotten"
The Stall at the Bonesgate
I have been sent this photo of The Stall at the Bonesgate - the two cottages stood on the south side of Chessington Road, facing the Bonesgate alongside the stream. The stall was run by Mrs Ford, and the ground floor of her cottage was run as a tobacconists and sweet shop. It would have been quite isolated in the 1920s when the photo was taken, as the surrounding estates weren't built until the 1930s
Mrs Ford's grandaughter Robyn Mullins has been in touch, from Australia, as a result of seeing the photo, if anyone has any further information about the people in the photo, please email the webmaster to pass it on to Robyn
The cottages were so near the stream they sometimes flooded to about 18 inches
The sign above the door says they sell postcards and minerals (soft drinks), and on the stall are beautiful glossy apples and pears, probably grown in their orchard behind the cottage, where chickens and goats lived.
It seems Batey's ginger beer advertising was their strong point. As they didn't become a household name into the next century, unlike their competitors RW White's who are a well-known brand today, maybe their advertising was better than their drinks
As well as the ginger beer bottles wrapped in brown paper there appears to be a bottle of champagne on the stall - maybe this was perry, made from local pears?
Another Bonesgate view - the signs say Bones Gate - Fine Ales & Stout
Spencer Weston's shop Licenced to Sell Tobacco & Spirits, stood on Kingston Road, Ewell
The signs in the window show they sold "Wild Woodbines" ( a cigarette brand known as Wills' Wild Woodbines, sold in a green pack with brown writing) "Westward Ho" (presumably also a cigarette brand) + Gold Flake tobacco. Also advertised are Lyon's Tea, Nevill's Bread, Hudson's Soap, R White's Matchless lemonade, old style ginger Beer and Kaola, an early version of today's cola
Nevill's bread was one of the first sliced wrapped loaves, costing 8d a loaf
More Tims views atKingston Road Ewell - coming soon
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