RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (West Riding) => Topic started by: Jan_down_south on Saturday 14 January 06 16:23 GMT (UK)
-
This picture was found taped to the back of a more modern picture that had been taken down for re-framing.
It belonged to my Aunt but, at the moment, I have no idea exactly when or where it was taken.
Judging from the picture I would say it's a Christmas lunch, possibly held at a pub (bars on the windows) and very likely to have been in Halifax, possibly at the Cherry Tree pub.
Does anyone recognise it? Any idea what year or era?
TIA
Jan ;D
-
Hello
What a fantastic picture
Reminds me of my younger years - it looks for me as if the photo was taken in the 1950's
I think this period because of the Chrismas decorations and the fact that my Mum and Gran wore simlilar clothes and the pinny's worn by the ladies was so popular at that time
Were any of you relatives in the photo - this would help date it better
Best regards
Peter
-
Hello Jan
I was going to suggest you contacted the guy who was asking about the Cherry Tree Inn in Golcar on another thread that I put in touch with someone, but having read your entry again you are talking about Halifax not Huddersfield - although they are very close to each other. Is this a common pub name or not?
Secondly, have you written to the Huddersfield Daily Examiner? You can email the photo to them and they can put it in their paper and ask for readers' help (although it might want scanning again as it is a bit out of focus). You can email them at editor at examiner.co.uk
(replace the at with @)
Or the Halifax Courier via their website on http://www.halifaxcouriertoday.co.uk/contactus.aspx
Newspapers love all that sort of stuff
Good luck
Louise
-
To "Isitdust"
That's the very crux of the matter, there's nothing written on the back of the photo and it's not known why it had been hidden behind another. The faces have been looked at but no-one looks "that" familiar.
You think it's as late as the 1950's? I thought the clothes looked older?
I'm going to contact the Halifax Courier to see if they will print it. They printed the Cherry Tree pub one for me back in the summer, so you never know.
To Louise
Thanks for reminding me about the Halifax Courier - I will contact them as they printed the Cherry Tree pub one for me back in the summer.
Cheers
Jan ;D
-
Hi,
I've had a good look at this photo and tried to enhance it a little, not much success there.
Just a few thoughts.
The clock looks like it could be 10.05 - light outside so it is am. and therefore may not be a pub.
No glasses on the table - again not a pub
People wearing coats - cold - no heating - post war?
Possibly Womens Institute - all female staff and most of the people seated.
Wondering about the picture over the first lady's head, I think I have seen similar but I can't put a name to it and is that a light shade in the background? or one of those copper things that are found hanging from pub ceilings?
Is the dark square object on the wall between the windows a light switch? could it be Bakelite?
The decorations certainly look 50's or 60's (we were using paper chains in the 50's)
Regards Dave
(http://)
-
I just wondered if it was a 'below stairs' sort of staff picture? The windows look like they may be below street level, in 'the area'.
Just a thought...
RuthieB
-
my guess is the 40/50ties there seems to be a lack of males present is that a clue? kali.
-
Hello
Can I have another try at the years - I agree it could also be the 1940's
BUT
Look at the picture very closly and you will see that some of the women are wearing hats or bonnets very similar to those wore by the Salvation Ary
Best regards
Peter
-
if only we could see the 3 pic's above the first lady on the left, they could possibly give a clue to what the hall/room was used for. as for the hats i think they do look like sally army but it was also the style around the timeand i don't think they all look the same?
kali
-
More thoughts
Definitely not below stairs, the windows would then appear to be black. Much of Halifax is in a valley so the 'horizon' seen in the windows could be hill tops or buildings 'across the street'
Could be war years indicated by lack of men but all the ladies and gentlemen are old, I think that would be a red herring. Besides there is no indication of blackout curtains.
The age exceptions are the 2 'staff' ladies nearest to the windows they may be wearing a uniform of sorts?
What is the 'staff' lady in the center rear holding? is it a very large tea pot?
The Sally army were wearing bonnets at this time and would have had to have been in full uniform or none at all.
I must confess a vested interest in this picture having been born in Halifax at the end of the war.
regards
Dave
-
definatly a big tea pot, remember them well!! and mugs too go with them, lovely!
-
Hello everyone ;D
I passed on your comments to the family member who found the photo. Two of his thoughts were:
the ladies are dressed just like gt aunt florrie used to dress with a dead fox round her neck (aunt florrie was born in 1890 and lived until 1976).
was wondering if it was taken in ST JOHN HOSPITAL GIBBET ST or possibly STORTHES HALL in HUDDERSFIELD
He also re-scanned the picture in black and white and it is much clearer.
Yes we think they are possibly snow covered roof tops that can be seen through the windows.
Yes, that is a tea-pot and yes it is a light shade hanging at a slightly strange angle.
Yes, the dark square on the back wall does look like a light switch to me and seems to have a wire connected to it.
Any other thoughts?
Jan ;D
-
looking again they all seem to know their table ettiquete, look at the way they are all holding the cups and sauceres, is that a birthday cake in front of the little old lady sitting second from left? and why is that lampshade at that angle?
-
sorry guys forgot to re-post :-\
-
Hello,
Just to add my two pennyworth ;D
My immediate thought was a works do,with only two men at the table possibly they were the bosses.And yes I agree late 40's early 50's- my grandma is dressed just like those ladies in many photo's.
However now it's been 'cleaned up' you can see the second 'seated' lady is quite elderly so unless she's the owner or mum of the boss it's possibly not a works do ::)
Is that really a lampshade? It's a very modern one if it is.
Carol
-
Revised thoughts,
The lightshade has wires or string attached which run to-wards the window.
I now think that the party is in a billiard room. the light would be lower than normal and so would be pulled up out of the way.
There are what look to be cues leaning against the wall behind the first lady.
Could be a scoreboard behind the 3rd lady.
Pubs are normally too small to have full size billiard tables and I'm not sure when the smaller ones and pool tables started to be used. I'll leave the pub option open.
The time on the clock now looks totally different so ignore the earlier comments.
The 2 ladies by the window now seem more likely to be wearing similar dresses (tops).
I don't think it is a private house, the clock is in the wrong setting and there are no tie-backs for the curtains.
The windows have top openers of an 'establishment' type, ones that open in-wards at an angle. The lower part is of the 'sash' type. This fits with an hospital but the ceiling and the billiard table don't
Could the 'bars on the windows' be railings? (most were cut down for the war effort).
The ceiling has distinctive lathes showing and possibly an open beam.
I now think the picture/s behind the 1st lady may be soldiers the middle one may be holding a drum.
All for now
Dave
-
the idea of the lampshade being for a snooker table did cross my mind and at that time pubs etc. had either bagattele tables or a game similar called skittles played like snooker but with no pockets and obviously a much smaller table? the birthday cake is now a cake plate since the clean up (sorry about that), kali.
-
Just noticed there are two vases of flowers on the table- at the far end.
Can anyone work out what they are and we'll give Alan Titchmarsh a ring and see if he can tell us what time of year it would be ;D ;D ;D
LOL
Carol
-
just had another look, what you say could be cue's i think is just the beading on the door, but what? if anybody can see that well is on the hats off the 5th lady standing and the 5th lady sitting they both seem to have the same thing on the hat, is it some sort of emblem? would it be a flower associated with some sort of function like the conservatives primrose day parties? any horticulturists out there.
kali.
-
More thoughts,
I think I can make out tips on the cues when I enlarge with photoshop, there looks to be at least 2 and possibly one of those long reach ones.
The thingy on the hat - is it a rosette?
The 'staff' all look to be happy but the people at the table mostly look as if they are there under duress and there looks to be as many staff (carers?) as there are guests.
One of my Gran's kept her clothes for ages, I think she had coats and hats that were 30 or 40 years old, they were kept for 'special' occasions, especially the 'furs'. There was a lot of poverty in and around Halifax (and indeed most textile towns of the North) just after the war and for that reason I think that dating the clothing will give a false impression of the period.
Dave
-
Hello all ;D
My cousin, who has the photo, has tried enlarging it again.
He tells me that there are tulips and dafodils on the tables so I very much doubt it's Christmas, more likely spring? But why the paper-chains. Could it be as late as 1952 and the Queen's coronation perhaps? She was crowned in June 1953 which may have been a little late for those spring flowers. (Where are you Titchmarsh? ;))
The lady(s) have feathers in the hats and the picture on the wall, divided into three, have a rose, a thistle and a daffodil.
The "cues", as already discovered, are the door and casing.
Jan ;D
-
The only thing I can add is that no oneappears to be drinking anything but tea.
I also seem to think that Storthes hall used to be a mental institution ( at least my grand parents used to say of anyone unusual, that they ought to be in storthes hall). That would fit in with no alcohol and the barred windows.
Denn
-
denn, have a look at the little old lady 2nd from left sitting, she seems to have a glass of something in front of her, and is she giving the fella across the table the glad eye, p.s. storthes hall mental hospital in huddersfield (now a university) nothing changes.
-
If it's a mental institution perhaps that's why the lady in the middle with the "mad" grin appears to have the tea being poured into her hat!
;) Jan
-
and the third one down from her is eating the flowers!!!! but we shouldnt joke this is somebodys families here.
-
lololol yes and it just might be MY family, or at least someone I'm related to! ;)
-
sorry jan,
i promise not to look for any more strangeanomalies in the photo but you have to have a giggle dont you?
-
Hi
Just a thought about the photo. This looks to me like a typical Womens Institute tea. Any Mileage in trying to contact the local branch with a copy of the photo?
STsmith
-
Hi Jan,
If! it was a mental institution that may even explain why the photo had been hidden.
Also it may even be possible to find information from Storthes Hall as to wether or not records are available to prove or disprove wether any of your ancesters were ever there.
Denn
-
Just googled Storthes Hall -there are 100s of results, it sounds like a spooky sort of a place - stories of ghosts, strange experiments on inmates ect ect.
Also if you want to follow this line of thought I did find the following references to the place on the bg forums site.
1/ "write to the Archives at Wakefield, as they hold the records for Storthes Hall. It's just that they are so slow in replying .... "
2/ "We do hold the records of Storthes Hall here – and there are casenotes to be found for John **********in the hospital casebooks – his details given as No ****, admitted 14 Mar 1911, age 35 and died 7 Oct 1923 on his index card.
However, there is still a 100 year closure imposed on patients’ records. You will need to contact Christine Parker, Records Manager, St Lukes Hospital, Crosland Moor, Huddersfield HD5 5RG – tel 01484 343900 – for written permission for access. Once you have received the permission you could send it to us and we could cost how much photocopies would come to, if you required these. Contact us again when we can be of further help to you.
Regards,
Geoff Brown
Archivist
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield Headquarters
Newstead Road
Wakefield "
Denn
-
Jan,
I do hope that you will let us know if you have any response from the news paper archives.
We seem to have really gone to town on this photo without knowing much about it at all, it's really surprising what a group of people can come up with when they work together.
Good hunting
Dave
-
What a super old picture.
I see that no one has suggested an OAP gathering. There are usually less men at those affairs than women.
Interesting that the seated people are wearing coats while the standing ones have removed theirs.
It looks as though the man and woman on the far side of the table are centred in the picture. Could it be an anniversary tea party for an elderly couple? Might explain the decorations.
Having spent a little time at a Mental Institution around 1960 I would discount that explanation as a locale.
I know, I know, I worked there!!
Beth
-
Of course Beth,
we spotted the hats and coats earlier but didn't attach the proper significance - They came to the do from outside. Even some of the staff are wearing hats, they too are from outside. You wouldn't put on a hat if you were already 'home' so the people are not inmates or residents of the place where the party is being held.
Thanks
Dave
-
in them there days we didn't have the luxury of central heating etc. so even at a do like this you would keep your coat on, also it was part of your show of attire, (sunday best) so why would you take it of?
kali.
-
Thinking about the coats and hats and institution theory......... we know it's spring (from the flowers) so it would be cold out................if moving from the building you live in to a communal building (scene of photo) ........... you would put your coat on!
-
This is really getting everyone going!!
I just wondered, is there a prize for the winner when it is found out exactly what where and when the photo was taken??!!
STsmith
-
lolol you can't blame someone for trying!
Glad you're all enjoying the different theories, I know I am!
Jan ;)
-
We didn't call it central heating in those days, but we certainly had the big old radiators in hospitals and the school I went to had a massive fan which pushed hot air from a boiler around underground passage ways and into the classrooms via ducts. Maybe if it was spring the heating would have been turned off.
What are the strange square designs on the lady's hat near the far end of the table?
The 'staff' look more WI than 'nurse' or 'carer' I think the 2 at the end in similar dresses, uniforms? could be permanent staff to the building, whatever it is. They look younger..... and board.
Dave
-
Just a suggestion, but could this picture have been taken on 3rd October 1952, the day that tea rationing ended after the war? They do seem to be making much of the whole "tea" thing, and their clothing could certainly suggest they were dressed for a slightly less than pleasant October, which is apparently what the weather was like in that year
"1952 Cold and changeable, with some night frosts. It was often stormy and with some heavy showers. A tornado hit and caused some damage in Londonderry (NI) on the 23rd."
(Source: http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~taharley/british_weather_in_october.htm)
Just a thought, but it makes sense to me.
Glen
-
Just a suggestion, but could this picture have been taken on 3rd October 1952,
Nice idea but spring flowers in October???
-
Fake ones? Autumn crocuses rather than tupils? I'm no botanist - I still don't know the difference between a weed and a flower! - but the leaves don't look like the tupils or daffs I've seen. Are they definitely tulips and daffs?
Yes, that bit was the only flaw in my otherwise perfect logic ;D
Glen
-
After the war there was no housing etc - I'd say late 1940's - maybe '46 - '47
was this an old Army camp or something where people were staying ?
Till the new houses were built - maybe prefabs ............ !
what holiday was around Easter - or was it Easter?
It really does look like the WI or a church group who would feed the less
fortunate on the holiday !!
Fiercely independent older folk didn't want to be thought of as unfortunate -
hence the Sunday - go - to- meeting clothes and the not so happy faces !
Annie :) :) :) :) :)
-
Hey Annie , remember?
"Down in the jungle living in a tent,
Better than a prefab - no rent !
:-))
I think its the 1940's. It could be early 40's too, looking at the waved hair of the ladies in the back. That fashion, I believe, was left over from the 1920's and perhaps worn also in the thirties. The apron's look very 40's and the dresses at the back with spots are 1930's fashions.
I remember a relative having a dark green dress liike that with a frill round the bottom, and loose frilly flaps on the sleeves. The spots were grey/cream and looked like eyeballs . It was like one spot overlayed on top of another . She called the colour "bottle green". I know when the spots fashion came out because she told me she had bought it in the thirties but hardly worn it as she was not fond of the colour.
Looks like a Christmas tea for the local seniors, to me .
-
Griz ! - I'm a Lanky - I never heard that song - is it Yorky then??
;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
-
Annie, It is a bit from an old Radio comedian Tommy Handley . I don't know why it stuck in my head. It was chanted to the sound of 'jungle' drums. There was also don't forget the diver,Sir.!" (along with bubbly noises,) and Mrs Mop, his char, "Can I do you now sir? "
I am a Cheshire cat with relatives from in Lancs, and Yorks. :)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/journey/stars/tommy_handley/itma.shtml
-
Griz! - I'm sorry but I don't remember Tommy Handley!! ::)
but I remember me Mother - saying to me Dad "Can I do you now Sir?" ........ !
has quite a different meaning now - now I come to think of it!! :P
I enjoyed that site though and even though I've seen it before - I've found some new stuff - thank you! - lots of things to make me laugh!
Sorry - I thought you were a Yorky!! ::) though I have to say I have some in my family too ! ..... we just don't talk about it!!
I'd better go duck now !! :) :)
-
Hi Annie,
re Yorkshire relatives, we just don't talk about it!!: LOL .
Its interesting about origins, sometimes one gets a surprise. That's the fun of genealogy of course. My Pope family, as far as I knew, originated in (Alvanley)Cheshire. Some of them may have lived in Liverpool. There is/was a 'Pope St.' in Liverpool I understand , hmmm?
After looking on that site that tells you where the predominanace of certain names is, and was, http://www.spatial-literacy.org/
I was surprised to see 'Pope' originated mostly on the South Coast and the South West. Perhaps they were a seafaring family and that's how they ended up near Liverpool. :)
I am barely able to remember Tommy Handley the comedian myself, but I know my parents loved him.
Re the 'old mystery photograph', I do love looking at these old photos and I know most other people do. I think its amazing how they can be enhanced for clarity.
Its so nice when people share them too. I hope more of this sharing happens. It is marvelous to find a picture of a relative when you didn't know the photo existed!
That has happened to me twice now. I was doing a random search in archives one time and up popped the name I was casually looking for. It was a picture of my great grandfather! (Frankish family, of Yorkshire)I was able to get a copy of this picture. :)
It was being held in Manchester archives. Wonderful!
The second photo was given to me by an older relative, it was of my great grandmother and grandmother, and again, I never knew this photo existed. I was very moved to see the face of my G.grandmother.
-
from lookim closley at the pic on my imager i lightened the pic behind on the wall it has got wrightin but i cant make it out hubby thinks it cud be a portrait of a lady hubby seems to think its a pensioners lunch i wud definatley say its a games room in a pub an maybe the lady with the thing on her hat cud be wvs i looked on the net but cant find a pick of the uniform from that era the pic on the near left has got a big crack in it the 3 little pics under are attached to it an are flowers of some sort
-
Blast from the past - I found this wedding photo from 1942. The wedding of May Ellis and Jack Bentley. In the photo were relatives and in-laws and I thought I recognised the long face of one of the ladies. I am not sure of the names of the two in the insert, possibly
Hannah Mary Tordoff b 1874 Alice Collinson 1900 - 1956 is the older one.
Jack and May were from the North Bierley and Birkenshaw areas. If the two ladies are the same ones as in the original then the field is narrowing a little !!!
-
"Looks like a Christmas tea for the local seniors, to me ." - Griz
That's what it looks like to me as well.
I think it's the local Anglican Christmas Lunch, served to the members of the 'Sunday Lunch' group by Church volunteers.
I don't think it's a Methodist group because Methodists don't usually have serviettes at their lunches and the crockery, which any member of the Methodist Church would recognise the length and breadth of the country, is clearly not that crockery.
Catholic Christmas lunches usually have something stronger than tea in evidence!! :)
The Christmas Lunches have always been popular and well attended by both the seniors and the volunteers, which is why there are so many volunteers. As well as the catering and transport for the elderly, the Vicar and some of the volunteers might have been entertaining the guests with songs and monologues.
-
Hmm...Intriguing information about Methodists. ;D
-
Jan,
My Gran - Edith nee Ellis used to joke about a connection to the Jagger who broke the bank at Monte Carlo. Do your Jaggers have a connection ? If so that could be a link to the people in the photo. What is the surname of your aunt who had the photograph ?
Dave
-
Hi Dave
My connection to any Jaggers is, as yet, still unchartered mainly because when my great grandparents married, the bride, Hannah Jagger, named her father, Henry, who was still livingat the time because he was a witness, but I've been unable to pinpoint the family in the Census taken before the marriage.
However if I find a connection I will try and remember to let you know!
So how was your gran connected or reputed to be?
Regards
Jan
-
I would go for a works dinner in the mid 1940s. Only two men visible and they both look over military age. Not Salvation Army, the only was they go into a pub is to sell Warcry!
-
Jan,
I never found the link. Gran used to joke that we would never see any of the money he won.
The connection might have been via Samuel Brook's marriage to Esther Ann Jagger 1876 but I didn't find the link. I think the Monte Carlo one retired to Pepper Hill at Northowram.
Redroger
They all look well past 'works dinner' age. I favour the Senior Citizens or Senior Parishioners Christmas treat
Dave
-
True, even allowing for wartime staying on past retirement age! However, they could be former employees having a retired workers party.
-
Can anyone see what the food on the table is? that would give a clue to the type/season of the meal.
The flowers suggest Spring/early Summer- maybe Easter/Whitsun .
The "half" curtains suggest a cafe or similar as do the type of chairs. ( if it was a chapel "treat" in chapel rooms or a civic hall , fold-up chairs would be more likely, perhaps)
It seems incredible, but I can remember seeing older people in clothes like the ones pictured when I was a child in the 1950's: wrap-around flowered pinny-overalls, fox-fur tippets incl.fox's head and feet!, hats indoors etc.
-
Looking at the food on the table and the time on the clock.
Afternoon tea, jampot and buns is a sure sign.
Bars on the windows suggest to me a cafe.
Brian
-
I think we postulated earlier that the megaphone type lampshade could have been over a billiard table, it is possible to see the strings which pull it to the side. There is what looks like a billiard cue next to the door at the left of the photo. The 'bars' on the windows are on the outside and could well be railings. Too many staff for a cafe and I don't think we had many around earlier than the 60's, besides it wouldn't be the right venue for 'a bit of a do'
A social club could well be the venue.
-
Wooden "Windsor" chairs so far as |I can see. The flowers appear to be daffodils, possibly an Easter event.
-
The places are not set for a dinner, it looks like afternoon tea and cakes. The war time rationing ended for canned and dried fruit, chocolate biscuits, treacle, syrup, jellies and mincemeat in May 1950. It was 1953 before sugar was taken off and 1954 before meat and bacon were taken off and rationing finally ended.
one of the cake stands looks to have butterfly buns on it and are those slices of rich fruit cake that I can see to the right ? taken together with the buns and jam pot spotted by Brian I guess that adds up to some time after 1953. Around Easter time as suggested by Redroger. What do you think ?
-
Just come across your great thread ...... had me in stiches ....... but gosh...I feel old....
Jean ...... forgotten what i was looking for initially .....LOL
-
Jean - Collinson s ?
Jan do you recognise any of these people or names ?
May Ellis 1942
Also in picture are her husband Jack Bentley (24 years old in picture), her husband`s father Tweedaledale Bentley (70) , her mother Alice Collinson (42 yrs), her father`s cousin Harry Ellis (42 yrs), her husband`s mother Hannah Mary Tordoff (68 yrs)
-
Morning Dave
I don't recognise any of the names. The only thing that seemed familiar was the format of the photo. This is one from about 1928 ;D
However, it did make me look more closely at my mystery photo again and I think I may have come up with an answer but I need to see what my cousin thinks first. I'll let everyone know if the mystery is solved!
Cheers
Jan
-
This seems to be the standard wedding format for the time, as confirmed on the wedding groups of my mother and her two sisters. Wait in anticipation for the soluition.
-
I have such a teapot purchased at great expense £3.00 from our local village hall 'get rid of our rubbish 'sales. In our village in rural Yorkshire we still have the occasional birthday party and special aniversary. Some of our older inhabitants still like a get together at the village hall.
-
HI another 4pennyworth ,
I would say definitely 40s era,as the ladies standing and serving are possibly a generation younger than those sitting ,maybe its an old folks treat for christmas,or works party for the retired.the picture on the wall behind 1st lady appears to be 3x caricature's ,is it a political club building.
All speculation i'am afraid,regards Trevor.
-
I pop in on the West Yorkshire board occasionally to see if anything relevant to my ancestors from the Halifax area has been posted. Hadn't expected to spend over an hour reading through five pages of a thread about a mystery photo that has gone unidentified for over four years.
My thoughts, after enlarging the photo: The clock in the background reads either 4:40 or 5:10 (p.m., obviously). When the picture is enlarged three or four times, the wide tail of the hour hand becomes clear, pointing to 10.
Someone knew how to set a table. The flowers in the glass vase on the table are real. There is a water line in the neck of the vase, with a dark shadow visible on the right side. Because the vase was tall, it was filled up to the neck to keep it from being tipped over by someone passing a dish or reaching for the last piece of pastry.
The serviettes (or whatever you call them in Yorkshire; we call them napkins where I live) are folded to look like bishops' miters. When I worked as a dining room waiter while I was on a hiatus from university, we used to fold our serviettes/napkins that way. It allegedly brought a touch of class to the table.
The woman holding the tea pot and the two women to her left seem to be staff members of establishment where the event is taking place. Those two women to the right of Ms. Tea Server are interesting because they are dressed both to serve and to take part in the event. Both appear to be wearing aprons and the one next to the woman pouring tea is wearing a hat, like a number of the guests. I think those three serving tea are also guests at the do. They are smiling at the camera, unlike the two younger serving ladies in the background. All of those standing, if they are guests, would be seated behind the gentleman in the right foreground.
The table has nine or ten settings. With a modest 18 inches of space per setting, the table would be twelve to fifteen feet long.
All of that said, I have no idea when (year or decade) or where the picture was taken. The spectacles make me think 1940s.
John :o :o :o
-
Excellent thoughts John, I have done my best (400%) zoom on the caricatures, I can't see quite enouigh to say exactly what they are, but they remind me of no period political caricature I have ever seen.
-
Jan did you ever post this photo on the Photo Restoring and Dating boards ? or leave a posting on there referring to this thread ?
Dave
-
John, the glasses look to me to be early NHS ones - see this site
http://gallery.e2bn.org/image657871.html
The NHS was post war, 1948 I think, so I still opt for 50's. I remember my gran still wearing her 1930's fur coat way past it's sell by date in the 60's. Come to think of it I have a pair of flared trousers in the wardrobe. Us Northerners tend to hang on to our clothes longer than perhaps we should. :)
Dave
-
I think that the earliest feasible date is Easter 1949. Is it worth looking in local newspapers to see whether this or any similar photos of the event were ever published?
-
John, the glasses look to me to be early NHS ones - see this site
http://gallery.e2bn.org/image657871.html
The NHS was post war, 1948 I think, so I still opt for 50's. I remember my gran still wearing her 1930's fur coat way past it's sell by date in the 60's. Come to think of it I have a pair of flared trousers in the wardrobe. Us Northerners tend to hang on to our clothes longer than perhaps we should. :)
Dave
My thinking in estimating the date of the photo is influenced by the image of Katharine Hepburn and that Archie Leach fellow (can't recall his stage name) in "Bringing Up Baby." He wore very round, black-framed spectacles, similar to those worn by two of the women in the photo. The film is from 1938, which is why I went with the 1940s.
Of course, one has to make allowance for the difference in styles in the U.S. (Hollywood) and the U.K. at any particular time, though when I was eight or so I had a pair of glasses identical to the tortoise shell frame (second from the top) in the image on the NEN site. I still have the glasses stored somewhere, as well as the odd pair of bell bottoms.
John :o :o :o
-
My grandmother wore glasses all the time I can remember her (c1943-1953) which always had frames that looked like the early NHS glasses, so perhaps the dating period for the photo is wider than I first thought.
-
Hello everyone ;D
I just thought I'd have a look at my thread and am amazed that it's still creating interest four years later!!
Johnnyboy - many thanks for your input, marvellous work! Redroger many thanks for your thoughts too.
The photo was recently reproduced in the newpaper "The Halifax Courier" but there was only one positive response and that gentleman was going to contact someone else who lives in France. He believed one of the gentlemen in the picture is his grandfather. As yet nothing more has been heard but if I do I'll update this thread.
Thanks guys ;D
Jan
-
Hi Jan: Thanks for the compliment. (Had to post something, since I am not being notified of replies to the thread.) Waiting with bated breath until word comes from France!
John :o :o :o