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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: eppy on Sunday 24 February 13 16:25 GMT (UK)
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I have inherited an album of old postcards and I cannot identify where this one is. It may be the Hertfordshire area possibly 1930s.I would be very grateful for any help.
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Hi,
judging by the plant life, and the texture of the earth, I would say it is a seaside place - that course grass on the foot path, by the bike always grows in sand.
best wishes,
Copperbeech5
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Hello Copperbeech 5
Thank you for your help. I will bear that in mind,
eppy
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An odd subject for a postcard. Looks more like a family snap. Early 30's is about right for the period judging by the dress of the pedestrian.
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An odd subject for a postcard. Looks more like a family snap. Early 30's is about right for the period judging by the dress of the pedestrian.
I wonder if that is the photographer's bike leaning up against the fence. I like this - it's a very ordinary scene, and an ordinary slice of life.
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Good evening,
Shame the chapel didn't think to put a notice board or sign at this end where we could see it. But then that would make life too simple and take away half the fun of the chase.
John915
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I'd agree with Copperbeech5's seaside location, and wonder if the house on the left is a hotel or guesthouse, with a flagpole/mast out the front and what looks suspiciously like a pub sign under middle window.
Adrian
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The right hand side of the photograph has quite a lot of writing, including some at a Shell garage. Perhaps someone on this site would know where it was:
http://www.thevintagegarage.com/
Richard
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The house on the left seems to have a curved metalwork arch with lettering on it, at the entrance to the driveway.
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With the writing on the garage roof and sand about Ford garage dealer Christchurch seems likely, or a town name starting Ch or the garage owners name Christopher something
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Well spotted there, Dobfarm! I love these mystery photos!
The little hummock to the right of the house on the left looks as if it might be part of sand dunes - you can see what might be a sandy path leading over it. So we are looking for somewhere beginning with Ch.. with sand dunes.
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There appears to be a building on top of that hump,it seems a strange place since it appears to be right on the top.Can anybody read what it says on the back of the bench right foreground, I can see letters but not well enough to make sense.
Liz
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Could it be a retirement home? The park bench close by! And it that a flag pole to the left of the open window?
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The advertising on the roofs is an interesting point. You wouldn't put adverts like that on roofs in order that people on the ground would see them, cos people just don't look up. The intended viewers must be higher than ground level, either on a railway embankment or in a plane coming in to land.
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I think you would see the advertising on the roof from ground level well enough.
Look at the tall chimney on the left side of the house. Is that actually part of the house, or is it a taller industrial chimney further back?
Mike
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Oh, you're right Liz - there is a building on the top of that mound. Wonder what it could be: church, chapel, coastguard station....? Whatever it was, it must have been fairly well-used since the path to it is so clear of vegetation.
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Geoff e
To add to your post
The first building with white writing on the roof right of the 2 men on bikes says
....................................
CH(Chimney pot gap) T
AI.................................
Could it be airfield or airport
The "Fill up here with shell" sign is angled upwards as well
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I think that chimney which Mike pointed out is not part of the house but looks like something industrial, set further back. Incidentally I see the house to the rear left of the main one also has a flagpole.
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And is that a third flagpole immediately to the right of the Shell sign?
The two big buildings with writing on the roofs look industrial to me too. Possibilities that come to mind are things like feed mills, chandlers, etc.
On the main garage roof, I wonder if the top word is "tyres"
Mike
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I think that chimney which Mike pointed out is not part of the house but looks like something industrial, set further back. Incidentally I see the house to the rear left of the main one also has a flagpole.
Something like a brickworks, perhaps.
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There is an aerial view of part of Christchurch in the 1930s here:
http://www.petersphotography.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=238
Looks like similar terrain.
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A wildcard if someone has time to sniff around with the google map street view.
Bearing in mind its possible Hertfordshire? there is Christchurch road at Tring Hertfordshire.
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A wildcard if someone has time to sniff around with the google map street view.
Bearing in mind its possible Hertfordshire? there is Christchurch road at Tring Hertfordshire.
Just looked - nice idea but it's completely different terrain.
Mike
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There seems to be a 'street sign' on the big house under the tall chimney above the woman with the black hat, left of the two down drain/soil pipes under the guttering?
'memorial avenue' maybe
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There seems to be a 'street sign' on the big house under the tall chimney above the woman with the black hat, left of the two down drain/soil pipes under the guttering?
'memorial avenue' maybe
Eh? I can't even see a sign, never mind the words "memorial avenue"
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by the airport Christchurch New Zealand
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I have inherited an album of old postcards and I cannot identify where this one is. It may be the Hertfordshire area possibly 1930s.I would be very grateful for any help.
Can we see the back of the card please?
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I can't see a street sign either.... are we looking at the same photo? Oh, and if we were talking Hertfordshire, it wouldn't be a coastal settlement since Hertfordshire is inland and has no coastline.
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Can anyone do something clever with the shadows and season to work out which coast it is on?
Taking on board the suggestion of advertising to incoming planes, and the suggestion that it might be Christchurch, I did look up the history of Bournemouth Airport. It appears to have first been opened in 1941 as RAF Hurn, so perhaps too late for this photo.
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And do chapels tend to orientate themselves in any particular way?
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I don't see any need to involve an airport. Advertising on roofs was commonplace, and there are plenty of examples still around today.
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Thanks to all of you for your interesting observations. The only reason I suggested Hertfordshire is because several other cards in the collection are of that area. Following a request here is a scan of the back of the card but I don't think it will be much help!
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The inscription on the roof split by the chimney
I wonder if it says 'Chemist'
(I removed the quote as I had selected the wrong one)
Rosie
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The inscription on the roof split by the chimney
I wonder if it says 'Chemist'
It could well be chemist. I don't think it's likely to be the town name, ie Christchurch.
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Is that a lifebelt hanging in the porch of that big house. You can just make out half of it in front of the window.
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And do chapels tend to orientate themselves in any particular way?
I believe it is with the altar end in a general easterly direction. Whether this applies to more modern churches I don't know.
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And do chapels tend to orientate themselves in any particular way?
I believe it is with the alter end in a general easterly direction. Whether this applies to more modern churches I don't know.
I think that's a village hall or a church hall, rather than a church or chapel.
Mike
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Hi Mike, what's your thoughts on the alleged lifebelt.
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Hi Mike, what's your thoughts on the alleged lifebelt.
Well it's about the right size and shape to be one, and we seem to be in a seaside location, so quite possibly.
They must have been expecting a very high tide though ;)
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If the shadows are facing east at sun setting in the West, the night stars at early dusk North
(If they are stars?) and the chapel entrance facing east and that means the photo was taken
from the South South West (Maybe South coast, South Wales or South Suffolk)
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Would the length of shadows help at all? (short = noon long = dusk? :-\ )
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If stars are showing then its dusk
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Stars?? It's full sunshine.
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Stars?? It's full sunshine.
In June 9.45 pm to 10.30 pm ish you'll see both with long shadows
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Stars?? It's full sunshine.
In June 9.45 pm to 10.30 pm ish you'll see both with long shadows
Not in front of clouds and trees, you don't. They are speckles.
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Several of the windows of the big house are open, suggesting photo was taken in the warmer (?!) months
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Hi,
I have just shown this photo to my husband - he does not think that this is a scene from the 1930s.
The benches here have concrete frames, unlike the iron bench frames of the 1930s. My husband feels that the photograph dates from at least the late 1950s.
Hubby suspects a military area, judging by the concrete road where the car is.
Winslass.
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Hi,
judging by the plant life, and the texture of the earth, I would say it is a seaside place - that course grass on the foot path, by the bike always grows in sand.
best wishes,
Copperbeech5
The rough grass in what looks like sand in a small hill sand dune on above the bike by the fence bottom of the photo
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Hubby suspects a military area, judging by the concrete road where the car is.
I think concrete roads were quite common at one time. The estate that I grew up on certainly had them and that wasn't a military area.
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Right from the start of this thread, the 'feel' of the place puts me in mind of Thorpeness, in Suffolk. I don't think it is Thorpeness, mind you .... but then again .....
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Right from the start of this thread, the 'feel' of the place puts me in mind of Thorpeness, in Suffolk. I don't think it is Thorpeness, mind you .... but then again .....
On the east coast it possible coastal erosion may have taken place! if them road were close to the sea.
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The parked car in the background behind the 2 cyclists looks pretty old for this to be taken in the 50s - we had a 1939 car in the 50s ;D but that one looks a lot older than that. My very humble opinion is - late 20s, early 30s. (based on that car & the shoes worn by the lady in the foreground)
This is a fascinating thread - I love these mysteries!
Pat
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The car in the street does look old but if you look behind the trees to the left of the Fill up with Shell sign there appears to be a much more modern car?
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Cor blast me, Nashua, your eyesight's blummin' good! (sorry had to break into 'Norfolk' there ;D)
I think you're right!
Pat
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Can anyone read the detail on the gate of the property to the left of the bicycle ?
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In response to Winlass's husband - it is definitely not the 1950s. I was around then & didn't see anyone dressed like the lady on the card! Other cards in the collection are of Babbacombe, Devon which looks similar terrain. Thanks again for all your comments - but you do seem to be enjoying it!
eppy
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Great thread - I love these mysteries!
I have reasonable eyesight but I can't see most of what everyone has been discussing, and with the new scroll bar at the bottom of the picture it took me ages to even realise I was only looking at half of the photo.
Anyway, I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned (apologies if it has), but is that a street marker/ mileage thingy on the footpath between the two seats? Can anyone get a closer look at it?
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Babbacombe looks entirely possible.
Copyright image removed
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On the left gatepost to the main house there appears to be a round emblem with what looks like a 3 leaf clover. I wonder if this has any significance?
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Good evening,
I also can't see some of the things spoken about. But reference the dates mentioned I would go somewhere inbetween. There are no road signs, st names or business names hanging outside anywhere. I would say its WW2 era which could allow for all the cars and clothing.
John915
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I've just noticed something!
Above the gap between left of the chapel and the big house there is a big domed hill cover over with vegetation with a scare that is a path, on a close zoomed in view this it is a huge sand dune hill
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Well spotted there, Dobfarm! I love these mystery photos!
The little hummock to the right of the house on the left looks as if it might be part of sand dunes - you can see what might be a sandy path leading over it. So we are looking for somewhere beginning with Ch.. with sand dunes.
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Beach hut ?
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I've just noticed something!
Above the gap between left of the chapel and the big house there is a big domed hill cover over with vegetation with a scare that is a path, on a close zoomed in view this it is a huge sand dune hill
Beach hut ?
See replies 10 and 11.