What kind of building is this and where??

[Romilly]

Is that a stuffed dog...in a glass case, - at the front right of pic?

(Oh...someone say it isn't...!!).

This pic is starting to exert a macabre fascination for me...(I've been trying to finish some work all afternoon, but keep coming back to have another look:-)

Romilly.

[Tuscany]

The figure in the glass case, likened to ET is a stuffed monkey, I would imagine it is an automaton (worth a few pennies now) and quitely likely of German origin or possibly French.

As this is on glass and appears to be a staged piece could it be for one of those early viewing things, Victorian after dinner entertainment.  Then would it be possible to superimpose other things over the top, e.g. people, or could it be one of a set that slots into a circular drum that when wound round creates a moving picture? 

I'll bet an elderly photographer would be able to tell you or even someone who deals in antiques.

As for the ghostly apparition, don't go there.

[Lydart]

I keep coming back to this too ... what HAVE you started Martian1 ?

Since I last looked, I think the floor under the monkey in the case on a table, is starting to subside ... its definitely got a tilt on it now, which I'm positive wasn't there a few hours ago ...

[Tuscany]

Good vintage was it?

[Lydart]

Cheeky !

(And I don't drink anyway !)

[Tuscany]

You don't know what you're missing (in moderation).

Joking apart, this has been niggling at me because it reminds me of something.

There's a place on the edge of the New Forest, Paultons Park, now an awful theme park but it used to be a lovely natural area with shrubs,  a few animals, deer etc and the river running through with huge carp.  Before that it was Paulton's Hotel which burnt down, all that was left was part of the cellars and they are exactly as this structure in the picture.  In view of that could it possibly be France or even Italy?  From the point of view of the church appearance could it have been a private chapel under a large house?

If the truth ever comes to light please let us all know or we'll call upon the ghost.

That could even be the spirit of some long dead priest.  Do hope you all sleep well.

[Romilly]

You don't know what you're missing (in moderation).
From the point of view of the church appearance could it have been a private chapel under a large house?
If the truth ever comes to light please let us all know or we'll call upon the ghost.
That could even be the spirit of some long dead priest.  Do hope you all sleep well.

Hi Tuscany,

It reminded me firstly of an attic...but now that you've mentioned the private chapel under a house...

I've decided...it must be a crypt!!!

(I shall probably dream of this room tonight:-)

Romilly.

[geniecolgan]

Here's my 2 cents worth.... It looks like a crypt, turned into a bomb shelter as a safe place for the Bishop, whose cope (the ghostly apparition in the corner ) is on a dressing stand.
He's got all his personal treasures store in there too.
jc

[Gadget]

Can't see it as a cellar or crypt - it has a glass ceiling. i suppose it could be the home of a troglodyte family or a very forward looking 19th century Green 

Lydart - the monkey was always at an angle, with or without 

I still think it's a photographer/artist's studio in France or Germany.

Does anyone know anything about tapestry - that bedspread is interesting and could be sourced/dated?

Gadget