Genealogy Chat

Thanks Georgina - just found that on the google. Ozibird - thanks - will check that out.

Having seen the picture and also found a fashion reference book I had forgotten I had (too much wine)......I am backtracking to the late Edwardian period! I hadn't realised the tie for women had come in my then and everything else in the photo smacks of 1908-1910ish. Man's fairly tight looking striped trousers worn with a jacket with high lapels and a waistcoat with pocket watch and chain all fit with the time frame. The woman's tiny waist and very tight blouse with the really BIG leg o' mutton sleeves went out before WW1. Though the blouses were still tight fitting, the sleeves became tight at the top (I always think they would have had trouble reaching forward without something giving way!) The only thing that looks out of place in the photo is the woman's hair! This was putting me off when you mentioned it, as I imagined a ''flapper girl'' with a bob haircut - chin length at the front and cropped short at the back. That's not what we have here. Actually, I do wonder if she has a bun at the back and the majority of her hair isn't cut. You see there is no hair showing at all at the back of her neck, which would support this idea, but she seems to have had the front part cut in a rather manly way!! .....Just looked again. .....I DO think her hair is long at the back, but in a bun!!! In fact, are the parts at the sides actually going backwards towards the bun? Her hair is quite wavey, so it's hard to be certain.......the little fringe gives the impression of short hair, but I think it's just that.....an impression! How old are they?? Around 30?? I always find it difficult to judge! Finay say?? 1905 - 1910. Merry

I forgot to mention the rustic seat that are sitting on in the photographers studio!! I have some of my grandfather and his siblings as children sitting on the ''same'' seat, (except it's been moved to a photographers in Somerset!! lol).......because the younger ones are still kids I can estimate the photo to 1908ish ....... This didn't influence my earlier reply though, as I hadn't noticed it until afterwards! Merry

The photographers, A James, were advertising at their address in Ramsgate Street, Louth in 1885, 1889 and 1896 (From Kelly's directories on the Historic Directories website.) Then there's a gap in the directories until 1919, when the firm name had changed to Edward C Woods. You could try Louth Library for further Trade Directories in the gap, to see when Arthur James stopped trading from that address. Unless he continued using his old cards for printing the photos, this would give a safer estimation than our guesses about their clothing!! Merry

Ive got the photo now too and though I originally said 1905ish - looking at it I get a feeling its a bit earlier - though really still around turn of century.

Thanks everyone for looking at it for me, now just to find out who it is.lol. Tom

Merry - a shingle haircut is what you have called a 'bob' - longer at the sides and tapered up the back, the shaping done to the underlayers of hair leaving the top smooth. Victoria

Thanks Victoria! So, Tom.....if its earlyish Edwardian, could it be the people you are after? I still wish there had been some personal description columns on the census forms! Merry