Spot the difference: Whitmore Reans in 1905 and 2016

These postcards reveal how Whitmore Reans looked in the early 1900s, a world away from how it looks today.

The first picture looks down Newhampton Road at the dead-end spur in the tram tracks, which was the original terminal point when electric trams were first introduced to Whitmore Reans.

Trams began running to Leicester Square in 1902, in time for the opening of the Wolverhampton Arts and Industrial Exhibition of that year.

By August 11, 1902, the tram tracks had been extended the entire length of Newhampton Road. The tracks joined the tram tracks on the Tettenhall Road to serve Newbridge, but this through service was a short-lived operation that ended in late 1903.

The incredibly detailed image depicts shops and houses on the left hand side of the road, young schoolboys looking into the camera and one of the earliest cars driving into the distance.

The second picture features clear skies while people travel via horse and carriage and mingle in Leicester Street.

Dave Clare, who runs the Wolverhampton in Old Photos Facebook Group, has accumulated a collection of thousands of postcards depicting Wolverhampton scenery over the last 40 years.

The retired university learning centre manager, 66, said: "That one is the end of Leicester Road and the other is looking down Newhampton Road.

"They are from about 1905 or 1906, when there was really a boom in postcards.

"They were done from black and white photographs, with the colour added in afterwards. I think it really brings them to life.

"I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

"The thing is, if you go down there and try and take pictures now, it's so busy. You have to jump in between cars. It used to be quite an upper to middle-class area in Whitmore Reans, so it looked very different to what it does now.

"A lot of people have commented saying what a lovely area it used to be.

"It's quite a busy group really, we've got about 14,000 members.

"A lot of people are active on there, having a look at the page every day, liking and commenting on the pictures.

"It's good for people to be able to look back on the old days."

Facebook commenters reminisced about the Whitmore Reans of old.

David Langford said: "It was a lovely place when I was young."

Sue Morey agreed. saying: "What a lovely area Whitmore Reans was.

Ann Cunio added: "Loved growing up there, spent all the summer holidays in the West Park on our own, cannot let kids out of sight today, very sad."

The second image is particularly picturesque, showing a lone cyclist crossing the road with the tram in the background.

A row of several shops lines the left side of the road while groups of people can be seen chatting and going about their daily business.

Group member, Chris Challenor, said: "I never tire of looking at this photograph, so evocative.

"My childhood shopping experiences with my mum in the early fifties.

"Nothing changed in Leicester Square for many years."

Milo Maragliano, added: "Used to love Whitmore Reans. Not that keen at the minute but hey, there's still some good places you can still see."