Leeds Army/Civilian unit - any ideas?

[liverpool annie]

With all those women at that place, I would expect that they needed a good slack handful of supervisory chaps to keep them in order and to stop them gossiping...

My word, I won't tell the thought Police, lets hope no-one else does.     

Don't worry Dave ...... I'm watchin' him !! 

Couldn't be a choir or something could it ?? .... looks like theres all types there !! 

[winston]

HI Flakdoger

Has your friend considered maybe asking the local paper of Leeds if they would print it one of their editons?

It might just catch someones eye who hasn't got access to the internet



Wendy

[spof]

As someone who has family connections of nearly 180 years confirmed connections with Mill Hill Chapel up until 1880ish, I'm very fascinated by the photo and the story.

Glen

[Flakdodger]

Wendy,
yes we are going down the route of local inquiries, and will certainly post any results on this thread.
Glen,
you definitely need to visit http://www.leodis.net/
  I think you will be thrilled at the photographic coverage, and much more.
Cheers
Dave

[millymcb]

That's a fabulous photo for anyone interested in women's fashion..Edwardian ladies are so often depicted in their long fancy dresses.....it's not often you see such a variety of "every-day" civilian dress as that.... some of it looks quite contemporary. And the simple hairstyles are very interesting too.   

Milly 

PS - Behave Scrimnet

[millymcb]

The men appear to be from lots of different regiments - must have been quite a logistical job to organise a photo when they were all home. Perhaps that means it is towards the end of the war/ just post war? Although they don't look too happy so perhaps not around armistice time? (Just a thought for what it's worth)

Milly

[scrimnet]

That's a fabulous photo for anyone interested in women's fashion..Edwardian ladies are so often depicted in their long fancy dresses.....it's not often you see such a variety of "every-day" civilian dress as that.... some of it looks quite contemporary. And the simple hairstyles are very interesting too.   

Milly 

PS - Behave Scrimnet

I would if I could, but I kent so I shent, so I ain't agunna!!!

Anyone would think she was vying for the post of "SWMBO"

It is indeed a good reference point for any WW1 female living historians out there...Or indeed budding ones...

[Flakdodger]

Just an update for followers of this thread.
An article in the Yorkshire Evening Post produced one response - which shifted the site of the photo to the northern wall of the Chapel, so placing it 'twixt Priestly Hall and the Chapel.
Further digging found:
http://www.millhillchapel.org.uk/chapel_history.htm
where it is stated:
"During the Great War, Priestly Hall and school were adopted for wartime use from 1915 to 1919".
An e-mail exchange with them provided no further info.
So we know where and when - but not who and why.
Ah well...
Dave

[Duncan39]

Dear Flakdodger
Sorry this is such an old link but I have just found it. The photograph you showed appeared in Your Family Tree magazine a few years ago and I was able to obtain a larger detailed picture to analyze. In front of the seated people are a number of gravestones which I was able to manipulate using photoshop to help identify them. One of the gravestones is to Henry John Sykes aged 3 who died in 1830, son of Samuel and Sophia Sykes. The only one I can find who matches this description was born in London in 1826  around St Mary-le-Bow. so perhaps it is not Leeds but London. I am attaching the photo. What do you think?

Duncan