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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Moray (Elginshire) => Topic started by: Calleva on Wednesday 20 September 23 14:19 BST (UK)
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Found this photo (1920s?) from a family source in Elgin showing a group of mainly happy looking folk of differing ages looking like they’re about to take a journey on a charabanc. I’m guessing Elgin but with no proof, unfortunately there is nothing on the back to help.
I would just like to share the photo and if anyone knows the occasion or (appreciate a very long shot) recognises anyone, that would be great!
Thank you very much!
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It is most likely to be 1930s as that is when the cloche hats were a slightly different as they had a brim.
Carol
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The vehicle looks similar to the 1929 Daimler CF6 coach in Edinburgh below:
https://www.mediastorehouse.com/heritage-images/1929-daimler-cf6-coach-creator-unknown-19664488.html
Tony
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Are the spiky things in the background at upper left trees or spires?
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I think they are spires and it looks like there is a statue which looks like a soldier, unless I'm seeing things ;D
Carol
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Brilliant, thank you Tony for identifying a likely candidate for the bus which validates Carol’s view of the occasion being in the 1930s.
Also I had never thought to investigate whether the pointed features are part of a building but I think I can see a gable end as well as finials, possibly a spire too? Very first thought was Holy Trinity Church. Elgin -
https://www.scotlandschurchestrust.org.uk/church/holy-trinity-elgin/
but I don’t think it has a spire so I think a red herring.
Thanks again both for such brilliant observations and deductions.
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There seem to be 4 small spires but Holy Trinity has only 2 small spires.
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Thank you Forfarian, I agree Holy Trinity Church does not look likely so will eliminate from further enquiries.
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I had a look through https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ2162 and https://www.geograph.org.uk/gridref/NJ2163 but didn't see anything else with similar spires.
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There appears to be a notice in one of the Windows over the head of the guy on the right. Maybe if you could get a high resolution scan of just the notice it may reveal where they are.
Carol
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Looking at the back of the bus, there is a railing and a lot of open space. I wonder if it could be on the west bank of the river in Inverness?
The Town House there has lots of small spires https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7480842
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There appears to be a notice in one of the Windows over the head of the guy on the right. Maybe if you could get a high resolution scan of just the notice it may reveal where they are.
I think there's also a destination board at the front, though it's mostly hidden.
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First, thank you very much to everyone for being so helpful.
I’ve looked at the possible destination details and poster on the side of the bus on original photo using a magnifying glass but no joy, I’m afraid. The photo is only 80mm x 55mm though.
Grateful for help on how I could get a high resolution image as Carol suggested.
A thought - since a location in the vicinity of Elgin is providing elusive, I’m wondering if the photo maybe shows some of the Gentleman family on my maternal Grannie’s side. They originally came from Hawick and went to Elgin before WW1 for family members to work as weavers in the Tweed and woollen mills before returning to Hawick.
Maybe a Border’s connection?
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Have you dismissed my suggestion that it was in Inverness?
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Sorry Forfarian, it was remiss of me to jump the gun. Funnily enough I’d Googled ‘4 Spires Scotland’ and the first link that came up is a view in Inverness -
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1454651
Following your message I went onto Streetview to see if there could be a possible location to match but couldn’t easily see one. So yes I think Inverness may not be right but as I live quite close will carry out a recce to be certain.
I’ll report after the visit, apologies again for not properly addressing your suggestion at the time.
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What about https://www.instantstreetview.com/@57.477746,-4.22444,244.95h,1.22p,0z,3OX9NNQQMdPB5P2dVHRTsQ ?
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Quick update - planning to be in Inversnecky at the weekend, also getting some expert help on whether the images can be sharpened to read the writing. VMT
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Inversnecky
:)
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https://nykdaily.com/2021/05/history-of-inverness-in-scotland/
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I agree with Forfarian's suggestion that the photograph was taken in Inverness, but not at any of the locations previously mentioned.
I stand to be corrected but I would hazard a guess that the photograph was taken in Bank Street, at some point adjacent to the river, between the Junction Church at Fraser Street, and the Free Church near the suspension bridge. (A Church outing perhaps)
The camera is pointing across the R. Ness and the 'spires' are those on St Mary's Church and adjacent buildings in Huntly Street.
The trees and railings fit, and when the photo was taken there was no flood protection wall above road level.
There appears to be a faint darker area in the photo, starting approximately half way up the back of the bus and extending to the right. Could this be a very out of focus deck on the suspension bridge.
The upstairs terrace of the Mustard Seed Restaurant makes a great vantage point, and the food is excellent.
Istrice
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Here's a photo of St Mary's Church on Huntly Street
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5853775
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Thank you very much Istrice and Forfarian. From Streetview it was interesting to see the layout of the modern road surface seems to match the extent of the granite setts under the bus in the photo. I may be able to have a look at the suggested location if I have time this weekend, and will take a photo to share. Oh and we’ve heard very good things about the Mustardseed and our arms would not need too much twisting!
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Here’s a photo I took this afternoon along the riverfront in inverness - thoughts welcome on whether it could be the same spot as the original. I tried a number of possible locations along the but this one looked the most hopeful, it’s looking roughly SE on Huntly Street with Ness Bridge on the right.
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Sorry, left out ‘along the western bank of the river’
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If the original does show the spires of the Town House, then I think the spot would have been upstream of the road bridge looking north-east.
A view from the spot where you took your photo would have included the suspension bridge where the present road bridge has been since 1961. See https://canmore.org.uk/site/13359/inverness-ness-suspension-bridge and https://www.ambaile.org.uk/asset/11352/
I am happy to be told I'm wrong about the Town House, but have you seen https://www.ambaile.org.uk/search/?searchQuery=town+house+exterior and https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5582325 ?