TO me, and I am sure others, one of the most impressive buildings in the Worcester suburbs is the large scale, Georgian-style block occupied by Kays in Northwick Avenue, Barbourne.

And, thanks to reader Mrs Mary Crawford of Bilford Avenue, Worcester, I am able to reproduce a superb, vintage view of this three-storey complex. The photograph was taken in Edwardian times, not long after its construction.

It was originally built in 1898, to become what was then one of the largest and most advanced printing plants in Britain, run by WE Tucker & Co. Ltd who had previously been printers and stationers in High Street, Worcester. Alas, Tuckers were soon hit by severe financial difficulties and only occupied the works for three years.

The premises were occupied next by Robert Henry Collins, a skirt and down quilt manufacturer from London, and became known first as the Barbourne Colour Printing Works and then the Barbourne Clothing Factory.

Collins was succeeded as head of the company by Robert John Collins, presumably his son, and this family firm remained in the Northwick Avenue buildings until the 1940s when they moved to Brickfields.

Kay & Company then acquired the premises and have occupied them ever since.

The old photograph, kindly loaned to me by Mrs Crawford, has "R J Collins' Works" printed on it and was originally sent as a picture postcard to her late uncle Harold Hemming - subject of another article in this week's Memory Lane.

He was aged eight when the postcard, post-marked March 1910, was sent to "Master H Hemming" by a relative who says she and a friend are to be found in the photograph, near the lamp-post in the centre of the scene. They were obviously employees of Collins' clothing works.