A street scene postcard from the 1920’s taken in Wem, Shropshire by M. Audin-Wood which has helped solved the mystery of the ‘Wem Ghost’. See SWNS story SWGHOST; A famous photograph which supposedly showed the ghost of a schoolgirl standing in an inferno 15 years ago was actually copied – from an old POSTCARD. Amateur photographer Tony O’Rahilly took the snap while photographing a blaze which destroyed Wem Town Hall in Shropshire on November 19, 1995. After developing his film, Tony claimed he had captured an image of a young girl wearing old fashioned clothes standing amid the flames staring into the camera lens. Tony, who died in 2005, always denied doctoring the photograph – nicknamed the ‘Wem Ghost’ – and the image made headlines around the world. Locals even claimed it was an apparition of 14-year-old Jane Churm who accidentally set fire to the town hall in 1677.

, Wem. Shops include Mortons on the left, and Jarvis Ironmongers on the right. This postcard was franked on September 11, 1922. The message on the back was: ‘11.9.22. Dear Shie (?? difficult to read), This will give you some idea of the quaintness of Wem. There are heaps of ideal places to be snapped, but the sun is not too obliging. We are leaving this afternoon for the ‘Grange’. George’s sister telephoned me this morning. Love to all. Reg.’ It was posted to Miss Sewell (? difficult to read), 89 Maring (?) Road, Tooting Common, London. This postcard was published by F. Hiden, Wem. Picture loaned by Ray Farlow, Bridgnorth postcard collector, who is happy for his pictures to be ordered. Library code: Wem nostalgia 2010.