I RECOGNISE the Now and Then picture as being Bridge Street, Newport. I used to visit the Lyceum Theatre and remember seeing John Hansen in The Desert Song back in the 1950s. The theatre hosted many live shows at that time.

I was married in 1958 and my wedding reception was held in Ferris’ on the corner of the street.

The shops of that era looked the same with the neat awnings, and business was thriving back in those days. Both The Westgate and The Kings hotels were magnificent buildings and both held lots of functions. My father was a policeman during the war and I can remember taking his tea up to the town hall for his break.

It’s difficult to understand how Newport was a more busy and prosperous place during the war years than it is now.

Mr Clifford James

THE picture shows Lower Bridge St with on the left the Queens Hotel and the Lyceum Cinema with the statue of Queen Victoria. This picture shows Newport at its best when the now picture with the concrete block that is the post office only shows how dreary Newport has become.

Mr C P Robins

THE photo is Baneswell Square with Bridge St on the right and Baneswell Road on the left. The building to the left of centre is the Queens Hotel, still standing today as a Weatherspoons pub. In front of it was an underground gents’ toilet, at the foot of the steps leading down to the ‘offices’ was a penny weighing machine. In front of the toilets was a horse trough. The picture on the left was Wilf Cann, tobacconist.

Also on the left were the large brown-painted metal gates of the yard of HA Smith, wine and spirit merchants (their shop front was in Stow Hill). Over the cameraman’s left shoulder was Shufflebotham’s Arcade, a well-known china and glassware shop, then came the Lamb pub, followed by the Midland Bank on the corner of Bridge Street and StowHill.

The building to right of centre was the iconic Lyceum Theatre. On the near right of the photo was Fearis the grocers, where small boys could beg stale cakes. In silhouette on the left is one of the many massive and ornately cast lamp standards that adorned the town.

Dave Woolven, Malpas

The Now and Then this week is Bridge Street, Newport. The row of shops on the right are still there, only under different trading from when the photo was taken. I remember the first one on the corner was Ferris’, a high-class grocers and off licence, my wife worked there for a number of years and it’s now a travel agents.

There were an assortment of other businesses there, newsagents, building societies etc.

Opposite the row of shops is now the Newport Post Office and an eating establishment.

To the left is the road to Baneswell. I remember a garden and animal food shop, Alan Silvers, and also Cranes, a piano and music shop.

To the right is Bridge Street. It is still a busy area.

Herbert Williams, New Inn