Mystery Picture

[deb usa]

Hi again

The Boer War was happening around that time ... so maybe there is a war/military connection.

another thought.... what about posting the photo in a local newspaper , you never know, someone may recognise the men and place.

Wish I had a pic of my gr granddad 

deb

[Little Nell]

I wonder if the guy in the hat is the gamekeeper?  Bowler hats were originally designed for gentlemen of that occupation.  In which case, definitely more of a shoot than a hunt.

Nell

[Arranroots]

Probably the best route is to investigate the named individuals in the photo.  Perhaps local directories will help?

What name is it btw?

Just to be a pain, here's a hunt photo of kennels in the right period - note the hats!

http://www.foxhuntingvoices.org.uk/northants_library_kennels2.htm

 

Googling produces photos of Berkeley Hunt kennels and they were brick built, rather than stone (certainly the ones IN Berkeley).

[acceber]

Many thanks for all of your replies!

My Grt Grandfather was William Sellick b.1881 in Doynton Glous, then his father Thomas moved up the road to Wick where he was farmer for the remainder of his life. Thomas' brother John inherited the Sellick's farm in Upton Cheyney (Bitton) which their father (also called William) had bought in the 1860's. John died in his early 40's in 1902 and his the farm was sold, the total value of the estate being approx. half a million in today's money.

So apart from my Grt Grandfather, William (with the crooked neck) I have no idea who the others are in the picture, whether they are relatives, friends or work colleagues.

To add to the hunt or shoot debate, I googled hunts in doynton, and found that currently there is a Wick and District Beagles(!) hunt, who hunt hares. So perhaps the picture was of kennels and not stables as I previously thought, and maybe my grt grandfather worked with the dogs or was involved in the hunt.

Thanks,
acceber

[Viktoria]

just a thought ...the guy to the far right is not wearing boots .... I recall on the armed forces boards that military guys wore 'something' that looked like what he is wearing.

For the life of me can't remember what they were called. Puttees--Viktoria

were any of your gr grandda's siblings military guys?

Also, to me, it looks like the man in tophatbowler hat (thanks Stoney  ), left of your gr grandad, may have been a gentleman/owner ...his boots are highly polished and his clothing seems to be that of a wealthy man.

deb

[scrimnet]

Actually they are not wearing either beagling or hunting kit...

The chap far right is wearing puttees...

I would punt that they are the beaters for a shoot....

Yes they are in a Victorian stable yard...the bricks are "cut" thus for ease of washing down / sweeping.

All the boots and puttees would point to the needing to "get out there" in the gorse and bramble etc.

Only x2 appear to be wearing breeches though.

Stag, otter and beagle hunts have very specific types of "uniform" for each activity. Even an am amount of the hunt followers. These do not, so that's why I'm going for "beaters" 

Your Gt granddad with his head tilted...Any family history of spondylitis??

Or was he injured in some way (WW1 etc?)

[Jean McGurn]

The two doors behind the men look like stable doors although the bottom half of the doors looks a bit high.

Jean

[scrimnet]

The two doors behind the men look like stable doors although the bottom half of the doors looks a bit high.

Jean

Don't forget that due to poor nutrition etc, most men were only around 5' 2-6" in height....

I know most of my family were from their Army attestation sheets....And they were mainly farm hands /estate workers etc. I even had a Gt Gran who was 4' 8"

I reckon this is why the lower halves look high...

[deb usa]

hi

i have a question....

Acceber ..you say that the photo is of your Gr grandfather William Sellick b 1881 .... on the 1901 he is 19 ...your Gr granddad looks  older than 19 , if the pic was taken circa 1900. Maybe his cap makes him look older .... sorry don't mean to be rude

or do i have the info wrong? 

deb