I wonder if it is a photo of a 'Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Society'?
These were Men's Societies, usually attached to a Church - who met -- as the name suggests -- on a Sunday afternoon. It was supposed to stop them from going to the pub!!
There is a very similar photo of the 'Zion Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Society' below. Many towns had them in the late 1800s - early 1900s.
I posted a similar photo on the photo forum asking for a date and the purpose of the gathering
I closed the topic see below
thanks for all the help
lesson learnt that access to the original photo will maximise chance to get a result
learnt that others looking always gives a different perspective
learnt that speculation helps but can also send you down blind alleys
what I can say
probably a club or society gathering, highly likely in London
roughly circa 1900-1909, although likely in the earlier part of that range
No one mentioned the pleasant sunday afternoon societies but now it makes more sense than any of the other responses particularly after reading the article on google, link below
https://www.richmondhistory.org.uk/wordpress/history-of-richmond/richmonds-congregational-church-vineyard/pleasant-sunday-afternoons-late-victorian-richmond-glimpse-1893-94/
In the article it states the movement started in the West Midlands in 1875
quote
The popularity of the meetings spread over the next ten years throughout the Black Country, across the Midlands and then beyond. The first meeting in London were held in 1888 in Tottenham and five years later the movement spread south of the Thames to Richmond in Surrey.
This is very informative and as the location of my great grandfather in that period was in SW London the purpose of the gathering could well be a pleasant sunday afternoon society.
regards
Tony
Very interesting Tony ..your photo is very similar to the one I posted and I notice some of the gentleman in your picture also have what looks like badges in their lapels...learn something new every day 🙂
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