social history 1

[floggle toggle 2]

I have 2 pictures of the same subject, but due to size, I am posting them as 2 different posts.
These are of "a brickworks" I believe they are the St Johns Tunbridge Wells brickworks. If this is correct, then the date would be 1850 - 1890; I can date it to this period as the brickworks are there on the 1895 OS plan, but mainly because on "brickworks 2 the man with the dog or one of the men either side is my Great Grandfarther X2 - John Ready Thurston 1838-1881 who lived in Southfield brickyard (a pair of  cottages) St Johns road.
Could someone be very kind and give them a little colour?
Tunbridge Wells produced mainly Red bricks.

[Suttonrog]

My try.

Rog

[silvery]

I love these photos of 'the workers'.  It is such wonderful social history.
Lovely bit of colouring as well by Rog.

[silvery]

Fancy 'handballing' all those bricks around!  No toe-tecors, hard hats, fork lift trucks!

[floggle toggle 2]

Thankyou, that's great!
What a great piece of colouring, they really come-to-life with a bit of colour.

If anybody would like to use this picture and the info' attached, please do.

[LyndonD]

Hi there
To get the most from these fabulous images you have to look at them side by side. If your dates are right and they are certainly early photographs, they are important and should be recorded at some heritage centre. Remember that the 1880s were not known for snapping all over the place unless you were very rich or on tour.....and these could just be earlier.
Also there are a few years apart; not too many but certainly three or more with the first having a look of the sea and also the wild west. The huge noticable item is the change in hats and I would suggest that it is fashion rather than season or need.
Also of note, the watches in the later picture ( possibly overseers)
.......and the clothes ( some still wearing same)
.......and a few family relations I would suggest.
.......Look at how the facial hair has diminished and the grey has whitened.
.......The wheels on the carriers are cast and pre-date rims and use of rubber.
All in all they are really good images for comparison but to you they contain your essence!!!
Best regards
Lyndon

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Thankyou, this is what it is all about, so people today can see how they lived then.
I think they are St John's, as John Ready lived there, he was in the "brick & tile business" - I have a trade card of his - and there was a brick pit there. However, it could also be on Ashdown Forest, in which case there is still a family connection.

[Smokey807]

Would you please post an image of the John Ready trade card.Any more info on him?

[Smokey807]

About Ashdown Forest. Was there a brickyard there? I yes what can you tell me about it.