Old Mystery Photo

[dave the tyke]

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

[trellisick]

definatly a big tea pot, remember them well!! and mugs too go with them, lovely!

[Jan_down_south]

Hello everyone  

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  

[trellisick]

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?

[Jan_down_south]

sorry guys forgot to re-post 

[carol8353]

Hello,

Just to add my two pennyworth 

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

[dave the tyke]

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

[trellisick]

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.

[carol8353]

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 

LOL

Carol