Can anyone help me date this photo?

[Alichi1]

Can anyone help me date this photo was taken at Chicheley Hall near Newport Pagnall. The caption says it shows Lady Farrar coming back form their other home in South after George Farrar's death but I'm very keen to prove this it was taken in happier times before he was killed (in a war related accident in May 1915) . For one thing, the old lady in black is George Farrar's mother and I'm pretty sure that's how she would have dressed anyway - and the woman at the wheel, who is Lady Farrar, is definitely not in widow's weeds - check out the hat! Also why put up 'Welcome Home' banners if they're coming home on a sad occasion? I'm pretty sure this picture dates from around 1913/14 when they returned from South Africa (I'm checking out the dates) - they were certainly in England when war broke out. Maybe this is a new car was delivered to mark their arrival home. The guy on the right is Mr George Salmons of Tickford works, later Aston Martin. Any thoughts gratefully received.
http://rsnr.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/65/2/183

[Alichi1]

The photo is about 2/3 way down the page:
http://rsnr.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/65/2/183

[Primrose11]

I think the huge hat might date it earlier than 1915. Surely the car also could provide a date, to those who know.
Hope you find out.
P

[ScouseBoy]

Can you read the registration number?    That will give a clue to the date.

[Andrew Tarr]

... I'm pretty sure this picture dates from around 1913/14 when they returned from South Africa (I'm checking out the dates) - they were certainly in England when war broke out. Maybe this is a new car was delivered to mark their arrival home.

Am I missing something here?  The caption says 'on return from South Africa' ?? (click on the photo to see it full-size).  And the car registration is obscured by a garland or something.

[John915]

Good morning,

Can you read the registration number?    That will give a clue to the date.

The only date that will give you is when the car was registered, not when the photo was taken.

John915

Added; surely if it was the delivery of a new car then George Farrar would have also been present.

[Ruskie]

I'm sure  China or Jim will be able to give you a date based on that huge hat?

I'm going to guess that your date estimate is correct for c 1911/12. Those huge hats were pre war. Smaller hats came in around 1913 so being a wealthy family you would expect them to be up with the latest fashions. I've seen different dates for styles of hats, so will be interested to see what China or Jim think.

Did the family appear on the 1911 census?

[John915]

Back again,

There is also the fact that it doesn't say she had returned immediately after his death.

John915

[Ruskie]

On the 1911 census there is a Lady Ella Farrar, age 37, married, as head of household living in London with 2 daughters and loads of servants. One daur b Chicheley Hall in 1902 and the other b South Africa in 1907. George is not with them.

Doing a bit of reading it seems that the family were back in England earlier than your estimate of 1912/13.

George was expecting to go to France and Belgium but instead was sent off to serve in South Africa where he died.

George was knighted in 1902 and became a Baronet in 1911 - whether that happened in England or SA you would have to try to find out. There may be records of these events.

The family may have travelled to and fro from England to SA - their children's births might help track their movements..