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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: southistle on Monday 02 January 17 23:50 GMT (UK)

Title: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: southistle on Monday 02 January 17 23:50 GMT (UK)
This photo was taken in the 1930's.

Do any of you recognize the place?
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: Trishanne on Tuesday 03 January 17 11:51 GMT (UK)
It looks a bit like Salcombe Devon.
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: Milliepede on Tuesday 03 January 17 11:59 GMT (UK)
I immediately thought Torquay so Devon also.
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: StanleysChesterton on Tuesday 03 January 17 12:16 GMT (UK)
Salcombe, Devon. Probably taken from the deck of the old ferry.

Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: MaecW on Tuesday 03 January 17 13:02 GMT (UK)
The hill to the right of the picture behind the town doesn't look right for any of the Devon ports (too high, too close) and the style of some of the buildings doesn't fit with the Torquay/Salcombe/ English Riviera architecture of the period.
Is there anything to indicate that the town is in the British Isles, or could this be either in the Mediterranean or, possibly, the Italian lakes ?

Maec
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: purlin on Tuesday 03 January 17 17:01 GMT (UK)
The hill to the right of the picture behind the town doesn't look right for any of the Devon ports (too high, too close) and the style of some of the buildings doesn't fit with the Torquay/Salcombe/ English Riviera architecture of the period.
Is there anything to indicate that the town is in the British Isles, or could this be either in the Mediterranean or, possibly, the Italian lakes ?

Maec

I agree the slope of the roofs looks Italian.
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: southistle on Tuesday 03 January 17 17:45 GMT (UK)
Thanks for you thoughts. I wonder if it could have been taken from a troop ship then during WWII.
My father went via South Africa to the middle east. I don't know what route they took home.
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: Jool on Tuesday 03 January 17 21:13 GMT (UK)
Is there something written on the front of the life boat in the foreground.  Can you see it any clearer on your original photo?  It may give a clue or it may just be a scuff on the boat  ::)
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: southistle on Tuesday 03 January 17 22:29 GMT (UK)
The original is tiny, no writing to be seen. It was with my parents pre war holiday snaps. I know that they went to Margate, Isle of Wight, Skegness, Lowestoft and my mother as a teen went to New Brighton, near Liverpool.
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: Gadget on Tuesday 03 January 17 22:45 GMT (UK)
Isle of Wight

Could it be Cowes:

http://www.cowes.shalfleet.net/images_town/cowes_waterfront.jpg
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: loobylooayr on Tuesday 03 January 17 23:06 GMT (UK)
Is there something written on the front of the life boat in the foreground.  Can you see it any clearer on your original photo?  It may give a clue or it may just be a scuff on the boat  ::)

Looks like a word beginning South on the lifeboat.

There is a distinctive stretch of  white wall along the front, looks to be sunbeds on the beach and two domed buildings one small, one larger side by side . Perhaps these buildings could help identify location. I'm not sure where it is unfortunately.

Looby :)
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: Gadget on Tuesday 03 January 17 23:14 GMT (UK)
Check the link I gave in the previous post, loobyloo. You'll see some of the buildings asn the small ?harbour as on the 1930s pc.

Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: Treetotal on Wednesday 04 January 17 00:00 GMT (UK)
Isle of Wight

Could it be Cowes:

http://www.cowes.shalfleet.net/images_town/cowes_waterfront.jpg

I think that is a match Gadget  8)
Carol
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: trish18 on Wednesday 04 January 17 00:04 GMT (UK)
I think it may be Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

http://www.bartiesworld.co.uk/postcards/ventnor.htm

Trish
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: Jool on Wednesday 04 January 17 00:04 GMT (UK)
After Gadget's Cowes suggestion I had a look for more photos and spotted another possibility. Ventnor, Isle of Wight.  Have a look at this pic, you can see domed buildings mentioned by Loobyloo.

http://picclick.co.uk/Isle-of-Wight-postcard-Ventnor-Looking-391467412608.html#&gid=1&pid=1
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: Jool on Wednesday 04 January 17 00:05 GMT (UK)
Wow Trish, we posted at the same time  ;D
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: loobylooayr on Wednesday 04 January 17 00:08 GMT (UK)
I'm afraid I need to go to Specsavers because try as I might I can't see a resemblance to Cowes  ;D

Looby
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: loobylooayr on Wednesday 04 January 17 00:10 GMT (UK)
Ohhh  :D

Well done Jool and trish, I ignored the red warning of other postings at my peril .

Yes I agree Ventnor , Isle of Wight. The two domed buildings/bandstands are clearly visible.


Looby :)
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: trish18 on Wednesday 04 January 17 00:16 GMT (UK)
Hi Jool...what a coincidence!  :o To be honest, I should be trying to get some sleep, not touring around the Isle of Wight. I just can't resist these lovely old photograph mysteries!
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: Jool on Wednesday 04 January 17 00:20 GMT (UK)
I can't resist them either Trish.  Some credit has to go to Gadget too, if it wasn't for the Cowes suggestion I wouldn't have been touring around the Isle of Wight either  ;)
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: trish18 on Wednesday 04 January 17 00:23 GMT (UK)
Yes I agree Jool, Gadget was spot on with the Isle of Wight and thanks to Gadget I can now go to sleep..night night  ;D
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: southistle on Wednesday 04 January 17 01:07 GMT (UK)
Thanks guys, They were staying at Shanklin IOW
Title: Re: Unidentified Seaside Town
Post by: barryd on Wednesday 04 January 17 05:30 GMT (UK)
Went to the Isle of Wight twice. I remember my dog fell into a boating pond and I fished him out. A Labrador so he was none of the worse for his mishap. Second time on a British Railways all inclusive few days rail and hotel included. With my American wife. It rained every day. Last day it cleared up and the hotel let us stay a few more hours so we could swim in the pool. The train was the electric rolling stock with the corridor on one side and the sliding doors to each compartment. Long gone.