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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Claire64 on Saturday 10 March 18 21:32 GMT (UK)
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This photocopy was sent to me many years ago simply entitled, "Some Donkersleys at a hunting camp". The gent on the far right was born in 1851 and the man next to him in 1880 which might help with dating. It's a photocopy so not brilliant quality. I'd like to know what they were hunting and why they had a cage/basket and trugs, and what looks like a shotgun. They lived in the West Riding of Yorkshire. And at "a camp"? I'm struggling with this one! Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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The trugs could contain a picnic lunch that has been brought to them. It's not clear, but they do look as though they may be eating something .
The cage could be a ferret hutch, although it seems rather over-sized for that.
Mike
Edit - rather than eating, they may be filling and smoking pipes.
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Eel hunting? Although you probably wouldn't need a shotgun for that.
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It could possibly be a "trap" or cage from which to release live pigeons for shooting - the forerunner of the clay pigeon trap.
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Thank you for your thoughts. I've had this photo on another forum and the thought there is that I may be over thinking this! It could be that the men were just posing in the yard of the place they were staying, the trugs were for their lunch and the basket is one a broody chicken would use. I've requested the original photo from the person who sent me this but no luck. I hadn't noticed they were filling pipes.
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Thank you for your thoughts. I've had this photo on another forum and the thought there is that I may be over thinking this! It could be that the men were just posing in the yard of the place they were staying, the trugs were for their lunch and the basket is one a broody chicken would use. I've requested the original photo from the person who sent me this but no luck. I hadn't noticed they were filling pipes.
They could equally be on a gamekeeper's rearing field, which would explain the shotgun. Pheasant eggs were traditionally hatched under broody hens.
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Good morning,
I'm no expert but given the birth dates this must be around 1900/1905. Need one of the experts to confirm.
They are Sussex trugs, made at that time mostly in Herstmonceux. Not sure how widespread their sales would have been at that time but I doubt much beyond Sussex. Other areas had their own designs of trugs and baskets.
As Claire said, broody hutches for hens, not for laying eggs as claimed by "an expert" on TV last night so they could be collected.
I doubt that even 5 Yorkshiremen would need 3 trugs to carry their lunch. They would be a little cumbersome for that, they would most likely have had a packed lunch in a shoulder bag or poachers pocket.
Given the evidence of hens in the vicinity, possibly after a troublesome fox or two.
John915
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I doubt that even 5 Yorkshiremen would need 3 trugs to carry their lunch. They would be a little cumbersome for that, they would most likely have had a packed lunch in a shoulder bag or poachers pocket.
Agreed - that's why I wonder whether they've had lunch brought out to them at the rearing field, or chicken field, whichever it is.
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Back again,
Mike could be right on with pheasant rearing. There is a stack of broody hutches behind them so maybe out to collect any eggs as well.
John915
PS, still shouldn't need 3 trugs for lunch though Mike.
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Back again,
Mike could be right on with pheasant rearing. There is a stack of broody hutches behind them so maybe out to collect any eggs as well.
John915
PS, still shouldn't need 3 trugs for lunch though Mike.
I think you're right - egg hunting. That'll be what the trugs are for.
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I doubt that even 5 Yorkshiremen would need 3 trugs to carry their lunch. They would be a little cumbersome for that, they would most likely have had a packed lunch in a shoulder bag or poachers pocket.
That really made me chuckle!!!
What about grouse? Though I think they breed on the moors. I should know this, living a few miles from Broomhead Grouse Moor. Though they do shoot pheasants round here too. The family were butchers, but I was told they never sold game because they didn't have a game licence. I'm the pacifist vegetarian in our family, the "black sheep"!! The eldest man is my great-great grandfather Brook and the one in the middle my great-grandfather Wilfred, the man between them another son of Brook. Norman was killed in the steelworks, where he'd been sent during the war. As the eldest son, Wilfred (1877) was allowed to continue working as a butcher. My grandad Brook (younger) carried on the family business.
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Evidently the game keepers took it in turn to stay overnight at a rearing field to keep an eye on the birds, so this is probably why it was called a camp.
Pat
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I have no idea what they are up to but they are a very good looking bunch of chaps. ;) ;D
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That really made me chuckle!!!
What about grouse? Though I think they breed on the moors. I should know this, living a few miles from Broomhead Grouse Moor. Though they do shoot pheasants round here too.
Grouse aren't reared, they are all wild-born.