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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs => Topic started by: Claire64 on Saturday 09 February 19 19:09 GMT (UK)
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This is a photo of a group of young ladies. My great grandma Clara Crawshaw, born 1889, is on the front right. They look quite smartly dressed but I don't know if their clothes signify anything. I'm hoping some eagle eyed forum members might be able to assist!
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Does anyone think they are wearing some kind of uniform?
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Other than that they are nearly all wearing aprons/pinafores, then don't look very uniform. :-\ :-\
They do look late Edwardian though. That particular hairstyle belongs to late first decade of 1900s I believe.
Where did she work? At home, or in a 'big house' maybe? Why would you have your photo taken with your apron on - unless it was part of your daily 'uniform'?? :-\ Just thinking and guessing.
The one behind Great-Grandma has big starched cuffs, and a watch pinned to her blouse - sort of nurse like - and of them all, she doesn't appear to have an apron.
Wiggy
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Agree with Carol re the date.
I've noticed the lady on the right is wearing a wedding ring so not someone in service & the
girl in front left is wearing a dress with a bell sleeve, I've never seen this later than the early 1860's.
There are also 3 different styles of apron which indicates they have been provided by the girls themselves.
The don't look as though they are doing any sort of domestic work.
My first thought was nanny school.
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I don't think it's related to occupation, if I have the right person she worked as a Cotton Reeler in a Cotton Mill in 1911. They all share similar features apart from the girl in the middle.
I think you meant Wiggy Jim :)
Added: Wrong person!
Carol
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My first thought was maybe an arts club. Reminded me of the way Charles Rennie macintoshs wife etc dressed. The hairstyles around 1910 and they all well dressed. Girl at right hand side wearing choker so look like they dressed up in good clothes.
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I so used to saying "I agree with Carol" it comes naturally.
I also agree with Wiggy.
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Just for comparison, this is Clara's younger sister, who WAS a nurse. Proper uniform.
Clara was born in 1889 and married in 1910
As far as I know, the only job she had was in the Umbrella Works, and that was a mucky job! Her brother George remembered her and her sisters setting off to work: “When they went to work almost every one of them had their shoes blackened and shining and all wore shawls made of wool which covered their heads and shoulders and came well down their backs, practically weatherproof”. One girl said, “There were no toilet, and if you wanted to have a wash (it were dirty work) there were just a bucket for is, and some soap”. [Stocksbridge Umbrella Girls booklet]. These were definitely not work clothes!!
Clara's mother was in the local Methodist Sisterhood which I think promoted Temperence. I wonder if it was anything to do with that?
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Definitely not full on nursing . . . ;)
Following on Jim's mention of the bell sleeves and their date, Could they have been 'dressing up' for something? Same lady's dark skirt also seems to be quite big.
They certainly look a bit clean to be doing much work.
Wiggy
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I so used to saying "I agree with Carol" it comes naturally.
I also agree with Wiggy.
And I agree with all three :D
I was wondering if they could be servants of a large house but given the info from the 1911, I'm not sure. Could it be some kind of pre-Wakes week walk photograph :-\
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Did she have an older sister?
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Did she have an older sister?
no, she was the oldest girl
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Is there anything on the back Claire?
Carol
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Did she live in Stocksbridge or Bradfield before she married, Claire?
I've been looking through some old newspapers for Stocksbridge and there seems to have been a few fetes, gatherings for good causes that they might have attended.
Gadget
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The photo came from someone else in the family, so I will ask them if there's anything written on the back.
As far as I know, Clara lived at Horner Houses, Stocksbridge, all her life until she married. Then carried on living there. She was a scholar in 1901 aged 12, then married in 1910. I only know she worked as an umbrella girl because her brother published a booklet of memories. Who knows what else our ancestors got up to between census returns?
I was wondering if it was to do with Whitsun, when all the children got new white clothes...though these are young ladies. I do know that her brother Winfield Crawshaw anf his friend Willie Crownshaw, were members of the Primitive Methodist Church, and that on Whit Monday 1915 the two young men, who had joined His Majesty’s Forces, broke camp and returned to Stocksbridge to carry their Sunday School banner in the procession”. [I wonder if they'd gone AWOL, and if so, what punishment they incurred?] My point in mentioning it it that the family were active members of that church.
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There was an article about a Wesleyan fete to raise funds. I'll have to see if I can find it again.
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I wonder if it is a celebration of some kind . A family one maybe.
I keep going back to the photo and they look like sisters to me.
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I wonder if it is a celebration of some kind . A family one maybe.
I keep going back to the photo and they look like sisters to me.
Definitely not sisters. I'm now wondering if they could be cousins?
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I wonder if it is a celebration of some kind . A family one maybe.
I keep going back to the photo and they look like sisters to me.
Definitely not sisters. I'm now wondering if they could be cousins?
It might be me but they look so alike in my opinion. Cousins is a possibility.
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Is there anything on the back Claire?
Carol
Sorry, I'm being dumb. This is the back. Someone has tried to date it.
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This is Clara in 1905 with her baby brother
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The information on the back is correct. Stamps were 1/2d until 1918 when they went up to 1 1/2d.
Pre 1905 (I believe 1907) as postcards weren't accepted overseas until then.
Divided back postcards arrived in 1902.
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You beat me to it Jim...I was just about to make the same comment.
As I mention earlier there is a strong resemblance in the features of the girls with the exception of the one in the middle.
Carol
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I'm looking at the married woman with her hand on Clara's shoulder. As you know this indicates a close relationship.
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I wonder if they could be her Aunts , Cousins wouldn't have such a strong resemblance.
Thought I'd just throw that it in to see what everyone else thinks ;D
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I wonder if they could be her Aunts , Cousins wouldn't have such a strong resemblance.
Thought I'd just throw that it in to see what everyone else thinks ;D
It's something to think about. With such large families they could be a similar age. My nan and her aunt were the same age. I'll put it to my family and see what they think.