Although I never had one, my parents were staying down south and didn't have their passports with them, but their tour company offered a "shopping day trip" to Calais, which they fancied, and they went to (I assume) the Post Office and obtained a temporary paper passport with their photo on. I know I still have them around, just a case of going through all their memorabelia and finding it! If I do I'll post on here, but those temporary - or day passes - were certainly a thing.
Ah, the good old days before B.....