Family albums contain many memories. Now, one belonging, it appears, to the Boultard family has mysteriously turned up. LUCYA SZACHNOWSKI has a look at the album and lets us in on some clues ...

A FASCINATING document of local family history has turned up in goods offered for sale at a bazaar.

An old family photograph album, containing pictures and postcards belonging to the Boultard family, who lived in Beckenham and Bromley from the early 1900s until the 1980s, was discovered by bazaar organiser Bill Rowe, of West Wickham. He contacted the News Shopper to help him trace surviving members of the Boultard family.

Mr Rowe said: "The tattered old album contains quite a lot of family photographs dating back to about 1900 and also postcards from all over the world. The name on many of the cards is Boultard but I couldn't find anyone in the telephone book of that name.

"I am loathe to sell it at the bazaar because it relates to a local family and could be of historical interest. It may even have been thrown out accidentally."

From the messages on the backs of some of the postcards, it appears the Boultards lived at The Stables, Beckenham Place Park, Beckenham, Kent, from the 1900s until at least the 1930s.

Quite a number are addressed to Mrs M Boultard. Some start "Dear Mother" and are signed "Daisy". And, in 1929, Daisy Boultard appears to have been residing at 71 Queen's Gate, Kensington, London.

The family eventually moved from the Stables.

By the 1960s, a lot of postcards were sent to Mr C Boultard and Mr Frank at Fairway, 18 Gravel Road, Bromley Common. The last of these are dated around 1980.

The Boultard family was probably quite wealthy. The postcards indicate they took regular foreign holidays at a time when few could afford to do so very often.

Other postcards have short, personal messages such as: "Grandad is about again. Will write you in a few days. Your loving Mabel".

One, "Dear M, Just a line to wish you many happy returns", postmarked September 21, 1908, gives a clue as to Mrs Boultard's birthday.

Numerous other messages imply Mrs Boultard enjoyed needlework and sent regular parcels of her handiwork to her friends and relatives.

Other names which appear on cards are Mrs Travers, the Mansion, Beckenham and Mr Clements, at The Stables.

If you have any information, the News Shopper would love to hear from you.

Please call 01689 885734, email lucyas@london.newsquest.co.uk or write to Lucya Szachnowski, History, News Shopper, Mega House, Crest View Drive, Petts Wood, BR5 1BT.

November 8, 2001 9:07