Well, what can I say?
Some tremendous restoration work as always. - Maggie you've done a fantastic job - well done! Paula Too - That's a really beautiful colour job, just perfect.
As for the various stabs at what, where and why. These are my thoughts...although I must say that you've all really got me wondering as whether you might be onto something.
I think the building and setting just has to be real. I've always thought it was an outhouse of some sort. I agree that there are some strange looking inconsistencies, and the lighting is a little weird, (I'm no expert, but I think it may have been taken late afternoon or early morning). The fence/bush area is strange, but the more I look at it, the more I think that that 'bush' may actually be a stain, blemish, or something else entirely.
As for whether they are butchers or not, I really think we don't have enough to go on to make a decision one way or another. The instrument is a very strange addition. I must confess that I originally thought it was a shovel! The various knives could easily be used by a butcher, or a chef or anyone else that needed to cut something, so no real clues there. Remember that a hundred years ago there wasn't the huge range of implements available to all and sundry that there is now. All I know is that my Great grandfather back to my GGG Grandfather where all butchers - and I don't eat meat! I've been in contact with the Worshipful Company of butchers to see if they can help - but no reply yet.
I'm going to see if I can be sent a scan of the back to see if that helps -
A massive thanks once again to you all - this picture seems to have caused quite a lot of interest, which is after all what the whole genealogy game is about - picking the wheat from the chaff.
Jules
