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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Treetotal on Saturday 25 September 21 13:12 BST (UK)
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I would love to know where this property is. I bought this postcard in Minehead. The back has no writing on it. it is undated but I would guess at 1950s/60s
Enjoy the search, as I bought it to give the chatters something to do ;D
Thanks for looking.
Carol
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Pentillie Castle? :-\
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I will have a look Ruskie, thanks.
Carol
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I think maybe the proportions and details are not the same, but this image looks a bit similar:
http://www.serlefamilyhistory.geoff-searle.co.uk/art_serle/pentilliemag.php
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There are similarities, the castellated tops and windows look the same but I'm not sure it is the same building.
Thanks for looking.
Carol
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Nearest I can see so far is Halsway Manor
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thanks for that Gadget, I will take a look.
Carol
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Similarities to Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire - maybe. :-\ The windows are wrong though.
I feel it is a Victorian mock castle - or even a Victorian municipal building masquerading as a castle.
Nell
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I'm getting the feeling of something ecclesiastical, though I don't have any definite ideas. Possibly not grand enough for a bishop's palace, but maybe a deanery or somewhere else on a cathedral close (note the road and relatively small forecourt).
The number plate on the left hand car looks as though it might yield something with a high-res scan - would you be able to do that, please?
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Thanks for the replies so far and for taking the time to look.
Hope this helps.
Carol
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This is better.
Carol
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Thanks, Carol, that's much clearer.
The left hand car is an Austin A30, which according to Wikipedia was made between May 1952 and Sep 1956. A registration number beginning SGF would be consistent with that, and would have been issued in London - October 1955 onwards. (Source: http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/registrations/reg-letters.htm)
The other car is a Morris Traveller (the estate version of the Morris Minor). The slatted front grille came in in Oct 1954, and the split front windscreen went out in 1956, so it dates from around 1954-56. The best match I've found in registration letters to fit that date is a series beginning DM (ie DMA, DMB etc - 15 in all), which were issued in London in 1954.
Based on this, I'd tentatively suggest the building might be in the London area.
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Thanks for that Arthur, that's a big help and gives a big clue to where it could be.
Carol
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I didn't manage to find it so I guess this one eithers so it will probably end up in the "Unknown Pile" ::)
Thanks for your help.
Carol
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The other car is a Morris Traveller (the estate version of the Morris Minor). The slatted front grille came in in Oct 1954, and the split front windscreen went out in 1956, so it dates from around 1954-56. The best match I've found in registration letters to fit that date is a series beginning DM (ie DMA, DMB etc - 15 in all), which were issued in London in 1954.
Based on this, I'd tentatively suggest the building might be in the London area.
The traveller reg looks like D- MT which puts it in 1955 Registrations. But how old is the car?
And it's not currently registered.
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I didn't manage to find it so I guess this one either so it will probably end up in the "Unknown Pile" ::)
I couldn't find it either - though I suppose it could be outside London, and just a coincidence that two London cars were there. Never mind, it filled some time....
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Thanks Arthur, I appreciate your time ;) Yes Dobfarm, I thought it must be 1950s as my Uncle had a Morris Traveller.
Carol
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Can you remember whether this was with a similar group of postcards or was it just random?
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It was one on it's own Gadget.
Carol
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I still think it's more likely to be from the Somerset area or, at least, the South West. The cars could belong to people on holiday or visiting for some other reason.
A friend's father had one of those Morris Travellers ;D
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Yes that did occur to me too Gadget, I think that what we are seeing could be part of a larger building.
My Uncle's was green and he had one of tartan car rugs, he kept it for quite a long time and was very proud of it.
Carol
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I still think it's more likely to be from the Somerset area or, at least, the South West. The cars could belong to people on holiday or visiting for some other reason.
I agree that there's a kind of West Country/provincial town feel to it, but thinking back to a time when people didn't drive as much as now, I couldn't come up with any very plausible scenarios for two small and relatively cheap runabouts to be seen together 100 miles or more from where they came from. Back in the 60s in Yorkshire, an out-of-area registration plate was still something you might comment on. (Well my dad did, anyway.)
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Hi Carol,
Haven't posted for quite some time, but still enjoy these building searches.
Could it be Twyford Abbey - at least a part of it. It used to be a huge building, now derelict, sadly.
http://www.artprintsforpleasure.com/royal-families/twyford-abbey-park-royal-west-london-england-11282210.html
Yorkslass
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Twyford Abbey looks to be rendered whereas the building we’re discussing is ashlar.
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My first car was an Austin A30 built in 1953, the original version, which I bought second hand in 1966 - I'd spent a year out from college working in an Architect's office and bought the car with a totally unexpected tax refund. :D The people I bought it from had used it to tour various places in Europe so a well traveled little car. Loved it, always needed some maintenance attention but so easy to maintain/repair; wouldn't mind having it now as so frugal petrol wise.
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Hi Carol,
Haven't posted for quite some time, but still enjoy these building searches.
Could it be Twyford Abbey - at least a part of it. It used to be a huge building, now derelict, sadly.
http://www.artprintsforpleasure.com/royal-families/twyford-abbey-park-royal-west-london-england-11282210.html
Yorkslass
Hi Yorkslass, I'm glad that you joined in because I did think of you when I posted it and wondered if you were around. That really is the closest match up to now and food for thought. Thanks for that.
Carol
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I'm going off London - take that as you will, but on this occasion I'm referring to my earlier suggestion. This is because the stone is relatively clean, suggesting a non-industrial location, and probably not too much of a conurbation either. The first Clean Air Act was in 1956, but I don't think it was until the late 1960s that there was any major effort to clean the soot etc from the outside of buildings. So if this picture dates from the late 50s or possibly early 60s, the buildings have probably never been particularly dirty.
And another thought about a possible location: in front of the building there's a drive, then a lawn sloping down to the road, with a large tree. The road itself is hidden by the wall on this side of it, but on the right hand side there are steps going down. It's possible that there's a ditch or moat immediately in front of the wall (as we see it), with bushes growing in it, and the grass in the foreground could be the bank on this side.
So what I'm wondering is whether we have our backs to a castle, some of the features of which were imitated in the building we can see. As Little Nell said (Reply #7), maybe it's "a Victorian municipal building masquerading as a castle".
For those of you waiting for my sun and shadows analysis, it's springtime (daffs on roadside, some leaves on tree but not that many), and the sun is relatively high producing quite strong shadows. So more or less middle of the day, meaning that this side of the building faces more or less east.
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Any chance of a higher resolution scan of statue on RH side of door please?
Haha, just noticed it's the boughs of the tree & shadow :-[
Does the round column look slightly Scottish baronial? And is the building at right angles to a higher one with chimneys?
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Thanks Arthur for your in depth analysis of the building and surroundings, I too considered if it was the rear of the building that we see, also, to the right, is an additional part of the building that is out of view. All the points that you make are worth investigating.
Thanks also to Josey, I am unfamiliar with architecture so ideas are worth consideration.
Thank you both for looking and taking the time to respond.
Carol
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I had a look at Twyford Abbey (Yorkslass suggestion in reply#22). The windows are similar as are the long slit type windows in the turrets. Twyford Abbey was designed and built by William Atkinson. Could this be another building designed by him?
Chris
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I keep being drawn to Nonsuch Mansion in Cheam, I know it's not the house we are looking for but it has similarities in style. http://www.rootschat.com/links/01qyr/
Thinking along the same lines as ChrissieL ..... Nonsuch Mansion was rebuilt by Jeffry Wyatville early 1800's, some other buildings he designed are listed here.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffry_Wyatville
Still going through the list
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Thanks for joining the search Jool, I was hoping that you would join in too, thanks also to ChrissieL you make a good point.
Carol
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Surprisingly, Twyford Abbey featured prominently in the opening scenes of this weeks episodes of “Silent Witness”!
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Ah...I thought I had seen it somewhere before ;D
Carol
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Mabeldon Manor, Kent, looks like a pretty good match.
http://www.mabledon.co.uk/
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01qyw/
Trish
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You’ve done it yet again ;D
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Great find, Trish ... well done
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Well done again Trish ;D I am amazed, please tell us how you managed to find it.
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Below is a link with a history of the building and gives a good idea of what it was used for around the time Carol’s photograph was taken
https://www.rootschat.com/links/01qyx/
Trish
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Well if anyone was going to get this, it would be Trish ;D - very well done, once more.
Some more photos - https://cbtwblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/16/mabledon-house/
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Jools, I was looking at the newspaper archives and searched with the description ‘castle house’. There was a family notice which mentioned Castle House, Tunbridge Wells. I then searched for that on Google and up popped the Manor House along with several others!
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Jools, I was looking at the newspaper archives and searched with the description ‘castle house’. There was a family notice which mentioned Castle House, Tunbridge Wells. I then searched for that on Google and up popped the Manor House along with several others!
Brilliant!
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Amazing Trish! Well done
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I’m so glad this has been identified. Good on you Trish! ;D As is usual with these finds, I am thrilled to see that it is still standing.
Beautiful photos in Arthur’s link.
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Wow! Thanks so much Trish and for the informative link on its rich history. I'm thrilled that it is still standing and the photo appears to have been taken in the 1950s. I feel a future trip to Tunbridge Wells could be arranged ;D
Thanks to all those who showed an interest and joined in the search :-*
I would warn you though, there is another unknown property pending, so watch this space.
Carol
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Yes please Trish. I live in hope that I will be able to solve one one day, but the fun is in the research. (despite the frustration at times). :)
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Well if anyone was going to get this, it would be Trish ;D - very well done, once more.
Some more photos - https://cbtwblog.wordpress.com/2018/09/16/mabledon-house/
Thanks so much Arthur for link showing the amazing interior, What a shame that I'm a bit too late for The Hertage Open Days last month ::)
Carol
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Glad we’ve found it Carol and it’s still standing!
I’m sure I speak for all of us who love these mysteries (the ‘through the keyhole crew’ ;D ) will be waiting with anticipation for your next ‘Who lived in a house like this’ photograph!
Trish
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I would warn you though, there is another unknown property pending, so watch this space.
Carol
;D ;D ;D ;D
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Oooh Jool, I just love it when we have a mystery to solve!
I’ve just realised that when you asked earlier what search terms I used to stumble on the building it was actually ‘castle houses southern england’. Thanks to arthurk’s research on the vehicle registrations I narrowed down a very random search! Good on you arthurk, you are much more visually literate than I am.
Trish
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Good on you arthurk, you are much more visually literate than I am.
Visually literate.... thanks, I don't think anyone's ever said that about me before. I must remember it for next time I write my CV. 8) ;) ;D
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You've done it again Trish!
So pleased it is still standing.
Very well done!
Yorkslass