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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: cazza59 on Sunday 28 June 15 16:14 BST (UK)

Title: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: cazza59 on Sunday 28 June 15 16:14 BST (UK)
This should be easy unless it's been torn down.  Quite an elaborate arcade. Shame the quality of the pic is quite poor though.

Caz
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: groom on Sunday 28 June 15 16:28 BST (UK)
Thought it was Burlington Arcade, but the pitch of the roof is wrong I think.

Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Flattybasher9 on Sunday 28 June 15 16:33 BST (UK)
Similar to Hepworth Arcade, Kingston Upon Hull.

Regards

Malky
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: rutht22000 on Sunday 28 June 15 16:35 BST (UK)
Hull looks really close to it....especially with that wide band in the glass roof.   None of the others I can think of.. Leeds, Southport, Birmingham have that band although Leeds does have the right roof but its a bit more ornate.

the only sign looks like it says "quality" something....outfitters?  shame no name.

Is that a 5 MPH sign there to?!   Its definitely 5 something  ;D

Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: cazza59 on Sunday 28 June 15 16:39 BST (UK)
Looks like Diagon Alley!  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: arthurk on Sunday 28 June 15 17:37 BST (UK)
The curved glass roof is similar to the Central Arcade, Newcastle and the Exchange Arcade, Nottingham, but the bars between the panes look different in both cases.

Also, in the WAI picture, is there another (larger?) aisle at the end going off in another direction? If so, that might help with ID....

Arthur
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: silvery on Sunday 28 June 15 17:47 BST (UK)
I don't think it's Chester - very similar
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ministry/3659774104/in/photostream/
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Flattybasher9 on Sunday 28 June 15 17:48 BST (UK)
Arthur,
" It’s the only L-shaped Victorian arcade in the country, which makes it unique,"

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Arcade-s-ornate-splendour-captured-canvas/story-11963338-detail/story.html

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fkb/

See photographs

Regards

Malky


Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Jool on Sunday 28 June 15 18:15 BST (UK)
It could just be the graininess of the photo, but to me there looks to be writing at the bottom, can anyone else see it?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 18:19 BST (UK)
I don't think it's Chester - very similar
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ministry/3659774104/in/photostream/

That one in Chester, I believe,   is relatively New Build in recent years, maybe the last 30 years or so.
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 18:25 BST (UK)
If I remember correctly,  the one that used to be in Southport had a wider paved area in the middle.  and may have had seats down the centre line.   But, were there more than one arcade in Southport?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 18:30 BST (UK)
Hull looks really close to it....especially with that wide band in the glass roof.   None of the others I can think of.. Leeds, Southport, Birmingham have that band although Leeds does have the right roof but its a bit more ornate.

the only sign looks like it says "quality" something....outfitters?  shame no name.

Is that a 5 MPH sign there to?!   Its definitely 5 something  ;D
The 5   denotes a price, I think,  Like 5 shillings possibly.

I think it says "Quality Papers"  for a stationery shop.

Can you enlarge the Police Officer please?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Mike in Cumbria on Sunday 28 June 15 18:39 BST (UK)
Can you enlarge the Police Officer please?

There isn't a police officer in WAI 104.
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: KGarrad on Sunday 28 June 15 18:41 BST (UK)
Cardiff is know as the "City of Arcades" - maybe one of theirs?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 18:50 BST (UK)
I think some of us  are getting confused by a Picture of an Arcade in Post two.

At first I thought it was an attempt at  cleaning it up, but I was wrong.

Did all seaside resorts have this type of Arcade?  Llandudno;   Bournemouth; scarborough;           Then what about Spa towns such as Harrogate; Bath;  Buxton; Matlock?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Mike in Cumbria on Sunday 28 June 15 18:53 BST (UK)
I think some of us  are getting confused by a Picture of an Arcade in Post two.

Is that the royal "some of us?"
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: groom on Sunday 28 June 15 18:58 BST (UK)
Shall I remove the one on post 2 if it is confusing some people - I just added it to show it wasn't Burlington Arcade?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 19:02 BST (UK)
Yes please.   I am sure that I am not the only person to be confused?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Mike in Cumbria on Sunday 28 June 15 19:06 BST (UK)
Yes please.   I am sure that I am not the only person to be confused?

Based on which posts?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 19:10 BST (UK)
I remember at least one arcade in Southport as late as the 1970s.

I also remember arcades in Manchester City centre in the 1970s

Look at the clothes in this one.         But also look at the bicycles.

The photo was possibly taken between 1920 and 1939,  But when was it built?

1890  or earlier?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 19:31 BST (UK)
Is it Wayfarers Arcade in Southport?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: arthurk on Sunday 28 June 15 19:32 BST (UK)
Arthur,
" It’s the only L-shaped Victorian arcade in the country, which makes it unique,"

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Arcade-s-ornate-splendour-captured-canvas/story-11963338-detail/story.html

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01fkb/

See photographs

Regards

Malky

Another picture of the Hull one here:

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/images/localworld/ugc-images/276270/binaries/8%20Hepworth%27s%20Arcade.%20Picture%20Paul%20Lazenby.jpg

(Story at http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-s-11-best-buildings-10-worst/story-26278152-detail/story.html)

The tracery (pattern of bars etc between panes) still looks wrong to me, but as Hull suffered major bombing in WW2, I wonder if it might have been rebuilt to a slightly different pattern? More research on that would be needed.

I wasn't too sure about the L-shaped comment - the Newcastle one is on a triangular site and has a central aisle with 3 smaller aisles coming off it as entrances, so from some angles they might look a bit L-shaped. Not that it looked right anyway.

Another one for the reject pile (I think) - Walsall.

One of the problems with this one is that shopping centres are more prone than churches to major renovations - and demolitions before anyone thought of listing them. There's no end of modern pictures, but I've yet to find a good source of old ones that would give a better comparison (cf comment on possible bomb damage).

Arthur
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 19:39 BST (UK)
Have a look at   www.wayfarersarcade.co.uk

It looks identical to me.

Southport,  Lord Street.  built 1898
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 28 June 15 19:44 BST (UK)
It could well be Hepworth's Arcade in Hull...as you look at the photo...you are entering the walkway from Silver Street off Whitefriargate....at the bottom there is a left turn to a shorter walkway that leads to the market place as you turn right.
Fanthorpe's Music shop is on the corner and has been there since Adam was a lad  ;D

It looks very different now  ::)

Carol
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 20:14 BST (UK)
It is Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street  Southport in the County of Lancashire.
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: arthurk on Sunday 28 June 15 20:17 BST (UK)
It is Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street  Southport in the County of Lancashire.

Sorry, I'm not convinced. The tracery is wrong, and Wayfarers looks a lot brighter and airier - wider in proportion to its height - than the one we're looking for.

Arthur
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: groom on Sunday 28 June 15 20:27 BST (UK)
I agree Arthurk - I don't think the proportions, even allowing for modernisation, are correct.
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ..claire.. on Sunday 28 June 15 20:33 BST (UK)
Hi

I think the tracery looks quite similar to the City Arcade in Birmingham

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3523/3182692690_c98e3c107e_z.jpg?zz=1

claire
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: ScouseBoy on Sunday 28 June 15 20:38 BST (UK)
It is 125 years since it was built. It  now has much improved lighting installed.

Look at all the detail on www.wayfarersarcade.co.uk  and the description that there is a narrow entrance lobby, before it opens out  and gets wider.

The mahoganay woodwork looks the same. Even some of the shops sell the same items as they did in the photo.  The Barbers shop for example is still there.
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: groom on Sunday 28 June 15 20:43 BST (UK)
Sorry, I still think it is too tall. The problem is, because a lot of the arcades were built about the same time, most of the details will be similar eg narrow entrance from the road.
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: arthurk on Sunday 28 June 15 20:45 BST (UK)
Hi

I think the tracery looks quite similar to the City Arcade in Birmingham

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3523/3182692690_c98e3c107e_z.jpg?zz=1

claire

I think you may be right, Claire. See this picture too:

http://images.birminghamhistory.co.uk/coppermine/albums/userpics/10014/Midland_CityArcade__c_1905.JPG

(Discussion at http://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=38345)

Arthur
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: heywood on Sunday 28 June 15 20:47 BST (UK)
Arthur  :o

I was just going to post that one. I was just thinking ... At last ....  :D

Yes I agree. Well done Claire- sorry meant to add that!

Heywood
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: groom on Sunday 28 June 15 20:48 BST (UK)
That looks far more like it Claire. Well done.
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Jool on Sunday 28 June 15 20:52 BST (UK)
Claire, I agree, have a look at this photo, particularly the area at the far end

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3098/3182693206_34d8ac8785.jpg
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Jool on Sunday 28 June 15 20:58 BST (UK)
Well done Claire!!  Here's the same photo as Caz has, but named  ;D

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64196730@N00/3181860857
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: janan on Sunday 28 June 15 21:04 BST (UK)
Brilliant. Well done Claire :D
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: silvery on Sunday 28 June 15 22:26 BST (UK)
I don't think it's Chester - very similar
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ministry/3659774104/in/photostream/

That one in Chester, I believe,   is relatively New Build in recent years, maybe the last 30 years or so.

The old arcade (off the rows) is 1910 or so, the Grosvenor Precinct is mid 60s.    They're joined together now, whereas the old one used to exit into Newgate street.   
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: Treetotal on Sunday 28 June 15 22:37 BST (UK)
Well spotted Claire... 8)
Carol
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: cazza59 on Monday 29 June 15 00:34 BST (UK)
Hi

I think the tracery looks quite similar to the City Arcade in Birmingham

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3523/3182692690_c98e3c107e_z.jpg?zz=1

claire

Great work Claire!  8) 8) 8)  Thank you so much. Another new name to the Honour Roll.  ;D ;D

Don't think we've had any from Birmingham yet, so I hope there are more.  Many thanks for taking the time to search.  :) :)

Caz

Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - Shopping Arcade
Post by: cazza59 on Monday 29 June 15 00:36 BST (UK)
Thanks to everyone else as well, looks like this one caused some debate.  Thanks also for the additional pics, particularly the ones with a dash of colour.  So far I haven't got any with coloured tints, so that might have to be my next hunt.  :)

Caz

Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Jool on Monday 29 June 15 00:39 BST (UK)
Caz, is there writing on the bottom of your photo, or are my eyes having a wobbly  ;D
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: cazza59 on Monday 29 June 15 01:18 BST (UK)
You have excellent eyesight and I saw the one you posted with writing on it, but mine does not, at least not that I can see. There are ones with writing on the back (handwriting that is), a few Frith ones which I can easily identify, plus ones that I actually know.  I have also identified ones of a certain area once one pic has been identified (e.g. Liverpool) which leaves about two thirds of them with nothing to identify them except landmarks, which are the ones I'm posting.

I also want to assure people I do own these photos, and I was rather affronted by the suggestion on another thread (not by Jool  :-*) that I had googled the image.

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=724125.9

Caz
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Flattybasher9 on Monday 29 June 15 08:13 BST (UK)
Well done Claire, although the Kingston Upon Hull one was close, the one you found is definitely closer.

Regards

Malky
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Treetotal on Monday 29 June 15 09:06 BST (UK)
I agree Malky....I did have doubts about it being Hepworth's Arcade though as the walkway looks longer in Caz's photo than the one in Hull but that could just be perspective....but...there does look to be a left turn at the bottom of the walkway. 
Carol
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 29 June 15 09:15 BST (UK)
Window at the end missing in Caz's photo? Or was photo taken from other end of arcade?
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: janan on Monday 29 June 15 12:35 BST (UK)
Window at the end missing in Caz's photo? Or was photo taken from other end of arcade?

I can see the window at the end :D
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 29 June 15 12:54 BST (UK)
Window at the end missing in Caz's photo? Or was photo taken from other end of arcade?

I can see the window at the end :D

I mean there is a squarewindow above the arch here:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3523/3182692690_c98e3c107e_z.jpg?zz=1
Which isnt in Caz's photo
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: janan on Monday 29 June 15 13:00 BST (UK)

Window at the end missing in Caz's photo? Or was photo taken from other end of arcade?

I can see the window at the end :D

I mean there is a squarewindow above the arch here:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3523/3182692690_c98e3c107e_z.jpg?zz=1
Which isnt in Caz's photo

Sorry I hadn't seen that one - looks, as you suggest, as if it was taken from the other end of the arcade.

Jan ;)
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 29 June 15 13:04 BST (UK)
It is a bit different isn't it?  :)
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: arthurk on Monday 29 June 15 15:52 BST (UK)
It is a bit different isn't it?  :)

Yes, but look at the link Jool gave here (my emphasis):
Well done Claire!!  Here's the same photo as Caz has, but named  ;D

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64196730@N00/3181860857

Click left and right in the photostream, and you'll see lots of other photos of the same arcade, and the windows at the end are different according to which way the camera was pointing.

Arthur
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Jool on Monday 29 June 15 19:01 BST (UK)
Sorry to keep harping on about the writing on Cazza's photo  ::) but I'm sure I can see something.

It appears to be handwriting in black, just above the white border at the bottom on the paving of the photo, starting just past the man closest to the camera on the left and running most of the way along the photo.  I think I can see "something" E47 "something" Note04 "something"   ??? ???

Or am I just cracking up  ;D  Someone please put me out of my misery  ::)
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: janan on Monday 29 June 15 19:35 BST (UK)
OK Jool, I can see writing but it is too small/unclear to read. I tried tinkering around with the contrast to no avail.
I wonder if Caz could do a high res scan of that area?

Jan ;)
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Jool on Monday 29 June 15 19:47 BST (UK)
Thanks for looking Jan, hopefully Caz can do a high res scan as you suggest.

At least I now know that if I am seeing things, then so are you  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Flattybasher9 on Monday 29 June 15 20:14 BST (UK)
87"3" or "5"1 top circle
"E" or "F"47 bottom circle

Regards

Malky
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Jool on Monday 29 June 15 20:26 BST (UK)
Thanks Malky, E or F47 is what I saw but I hadn't noticed the writing in the top circle. 
Title: Re: Where Am I? No. 104 - City Arcade in Birmingham - id by Claire.t
Post by: Ruskie on Monday 29 June 15 23:32 BST (UK)
It is a bit different isn't it?  :)

Yes, but look at the link Jool gave here (my emphasis):
Well done Claire!!  Here's the same photo as Caz has, but named  ;D

https://www.flickr.com/photos/64196730@N00/3181860857

Click left and right in the photostream, and you'll see lots of other photos of the same arcade, and the windows at the end are different according to which way the camera was pointing.

Arthur

Oh yes of course. I see the same view as per Caz's photo.  :)