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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: boltzmann69 on Thursday 09 December 10 16:37 GMT (UK)

Title: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: boltzmann69 on Thursday 09 December 10 16:37 GMT (UK)
Hi All,

Any ideas on the photograph below? It came from Wales but obviously that doesn't mean it's in Wales. I think the only real distinctive thing is the building. Any ideas/input would be great.

Paul.

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5246935048_29fd338873_z.jpg)
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: Ermintrude46 on Thursday 09 December 10 22:12 GMT (UK)
I remember my mother telling me how disappointed she was when she wasn't allowed to join in the maypole dance for May Day at her school because she didn't have a white dress to wear - this would have been in the late 1920s.  Would think this is a school yard, and a similar occasion - there seems to be a bell on the top of the building on the left hand side??
Ermy
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: boltzmann69 on Saturday 11 December 10 20:54 GMT (UK)
I remember my mother telling me how disappointed she was when she wasn't allowed to join in the maypole dance for May Day at her school because she didn't have a white dress to wear - this would have been in the late 1920s.  Would think this is a school yard, and a similar occasion - there seems to be a bell on the top of the building on the left hand side??
Ermy

Unfortunately I think health & safety curtail a lot of Maypole dances now rather than what you're wearing.

Yes it does look like it might be a school. Just hoping someone might recognise the style of building as it seems quite distinctive. That's if it still stands of course.

Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: sandra B. on Wednesday 15 December 10 07:14 GMT (UK)
Hi there,
This kind of detailing is on most of an estate in Wales near Treharris, Mid Glamorgan. The name of the estate is Cilhaul. Haven't seen this anywhere else though.
Sandra
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph, possibly Wales
Post by: boltzmann69 on Wednesday 15 December 10 15:30 GMT (UK)
Hi there,
This kind of detailing is on most of an estate in Wales near Treharris, Mid Glamorgan. The name of the estate is Cilhaul. Haven't seen this anywhere else though.
Sandra

Thanks Sandra, it gives us something to go on. I'll have a look around.
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: boltzmann69 on Wednesday 15 December 10 18:07 GMT (UK)
I think 'Diaper' is the brickwork pattern.

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/835775
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: sandra B. on Thursday 16 December 10 00:44 GMT (UK)
Hi,
The design is far more elaborate on the school than on the houses.
Sandra
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: chinakay on Monday 20 December 10 07:09 GMT (UK)
Just out of interest, how is the word "diaper" pronounced, and what does it mean?

In North America, as you probably know, it's pronounced DYper and it means a nappy :P :P :D

Really lovely buildings in the photo, very distinctive.

Cheers,
China
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: Geoff-E on Monday 20 December 10 08:27 GMT (UK)
Just out of interest, how is the word "diaper" pronounced, and what does it mean?

I would say it's not in common usage but the meaning is known because of TV and films. :)

Dictionary definitions include a diamond pattern. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/diaper
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: Redroger on Monday 20 December 10 14:18 GMT (UK)
If the brickwork pattern is named "Diaper" then I guess it is named for its creator, who, if he is in fact American deserves all our sympathies as does his relative? who had his name given to the nappies.
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: oldtimer on Monday 20 December 10 15:31 GMT (UK)
"Diaper" isn't named after a person - it is a very old English word for material with a pattern of diapers on it i.e. diamond shapes. When, what we call nappies were first made, they were, I think, diamond shaped, so they were called originally diapers.

The name stayed in the US, but in Britain, they eventually became called nappies, short for napkins.

The word "faucet" has a similar history - many British people think of it as a strange American name for a tap, but it is actually an old English word that was gradually replaced by "tap".
Title: Re: Identifying an old photograph
Post by: Redroger on Monday 20 December 10 15:44 GMT (UK)
So did the person I knew named Diaper get his name from nappies or diamonds? Or from the old  English version? Also I have seen the word faucet spelt Fawcett in American publications, and with a capital F. The implication to me was that a person named Fawcett had patented the tap, and it was named after him, in much the same way as Thomas Crapper became associated with toilets.