Postcard dated around 1910 showing the front of Hernecliffe Gardens terrace at centre top of image, in the process of sea erosion. At left top of image is Hampton Farm House, one of the last buildings to be demolished in the 1920s. Photographed from Hampton Pier, possibly from the end of the demolished old pier.

The remaining border of this image is important for researchers of this photographer. Some photographers trimmed their images more than others, and Palmer has a reputation for producing smaller postcards than other early 20th century UK photographers. He took his own photos, developed them in-house onto postcard-backed photographic paper and trimmed them himself. It is worth adding that during hand-developing the border is actively masked with equipment which both crops the picture and causes the white frame or border to appear on the paper. This frame is part of the design and is one of the reasons why the quality of Palmer's work is so interesting, and why there is an article and category for him on English Wiki. Researchers need to see exactly where the edge of the postcard is. This postcard has no white frame, but the edge of the card is the edge of the composition. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Points of interest

• The stumps in the water in the foreground are the remains of old Hampton pier and of structures built by the Oyster Fisheries in the 19th century.
• Photographs of Hampton Farm House are rare.
• The sky has been overpainted clumsily; this is not typical of Palmer's work, although it does possibly improve the composition.