Traveling Thursdays: Mom Goes To Europe, 1955, Pt. 3

Back to Europe...the only information I have on this first photo is my mother’s caption, “Showcoach at Kentwood, Sept. 9, 1955.”

Next up we have a batch of shots all labeled Oxford, Magdalen Tower, Sept. 9, 1955. Magdalen Bell Tower is one of the oldest (and tallest) parts of Magdalen College, Oxford. Built of stone from 1492 and completed by 1509.





A shot of my Grandmother at Oxford.



Closing in for a view of what the well-dressed lady would wear in 1955. DO NOT forget the gloves!







The next day, my Mom and Grandmother visited Warwick Castle, on Sept. 10, 1955. It is a medieval castle in Warwick, the county town of Warwickshire, England that sits on a bend on the River Avon. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in 1068 and used as a fortification until the early 17th century, when Sir Fulke Greville converted it to a country house. It was owned by the Greville family, who became earls of Warwick in 1759, until 1978.



Getting literary on you...Shakespeare’s House, Sept. 10, 1955





Ann Hathaway’s (Shakespeare’s wife) family’s cottage:



Originally, the house was part of a 90-acre parcel. Not bad for a “cottage.”



Zooming in to the previous shot, you can see my Mom and Grandmother.



The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Sept. 10, 1955. The present theatre opened in April 1932 on the site of the original Shakespeare Memorial Theatre which had been destroyed by fire on March 6, 1926. It is now managed by the Royal Shakespeare Company and was renamed Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 1961.



See more vintage and contemporary photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: Mom Goes To Europe, 1955, Pt. 2

First, a few apologies on the rest of the photos from this series. One, the quality of the following photos is all over the board; my mom (admittedly) is not really a photographer and the weather (as one would expect) was often dark and cloudy. I did my best to yield some decent results, but am giving a pre-apology nevertheless.

Second, my mom’s memory of this 50+ year old trip are spotty at best, so if you’re looking for witty commentary, well...again, I will do my best. Fortunately, for most of these, she wrote down a few captions so generally I can give that much information.

These first few photos were labeled “Le Havre, Sept. 8, 1955,” obviously taken aboard the ship.





Finally on dry land, these shots were labeled “Hampton Court Palace, Sept. 8, 1955.” Hampton Court Palace is a royal palace in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, Greater London. It was originally built for Cardinal Wolsey, a favorite of King Henry VIII, circa 1514; in 1529, as Wolsey fell from favor, the palace was passed to the King, who enlarged it. It would serve as the location for the 1966 film “A Man for All Seasons.” It has not been inhabited by the British royal family since the 18th century, and is currently a major tourist attraction.





This photo was part of a batch labeled “Tower of London,” and shows the Tower Bridge.



Here are a few from the Stoke Poges Churchyard/St. Giles Parish Church, also taken on September 8, 1955 (it was apparently a busy day for mom!).



Thomas Gray's “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” is believed to have been written here, and his grave can be seen in the next photo.



Naturally, I had to zoom in.



“King of Siam’s Garden at Eton College, Sept. 8, 1955” was mom’s caption for this one:



The last ones for today are from (again, according to mom’s captions) Windsor Castle:



Even with these shots, I can’t control the inner sign-geek:













See more vintage & current photos at my main website.

Traveling Thursdays: Mom Goes To Europe, 1955, Pt. 1

As a college graduation gift, my grandmother took my mom on a trip to Europe. The two set sail for Europe on September 2, 1955, aboard the SS United States. Built in 1952, The SS United States was a luxury passenger liner designed to capture the trans-Atlantic speed record. Costing $78 million, the ship was the largest ocean liner constructed entirely in the United States, the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic in either direction, and even in retirement retains the Blue Riband (yes, correct spelling!) given to the passenger liner crossing the Atlantic Ocean in regular service with the record highest speed.





To minimize the risk of fire, the designers of The SS United States used no wood in the ship’s framing, accessories, decorations or interior surfaces. Fittings, including all furniture and fabrics, were custom made in glass, metal and spun glass fiber to ensure compliance with fireproofing guidelines set by the U.S. Navy. Though the galley did feature a butcher block, the clothes hangers in the luxury cabins were aluminum. The ballroom’s grand piano was of a rare, fire-resistant wood species, though originally specified in aluminum — and accepted only after a demonstration in which gasoline was poured upon the wood and ignited. Fortunately for music lovers aboard the ship, the piano didn’t ignite!





The SS United States operated uninterrupted in transatlantic passenger service until 1969; since 1996 she has been docked at Pier 82 on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, just rotting away.











Off in the distance is Ellis Island:



The Statue of Liberty:



My grandmother sure liked her Winston cigarettes; the guy next to her...doesn’t look like she cared for him very much.



Mom enjoying the salty sea air.



The height of trans-Atlantic travel fashion.



See more photos at my main website.