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Another photo has come to light which puts the cat amongst the pigeons. This one is almost certainly my great grandfather, George Middleton -  1845-1932, as we can match his appearance in other, later, family photos,  and if we assume that he was aged about 16 or 17 in the photo, that would date it to about 1862.  The photographer is the same as in the photo above  -  D.Nottle, Beckenham. Is it assuming too much that as the photos have come down the family together, the photos were taken at the same sitting? If so, who paid? The gentleman at the top, who if he was George's father, Thomas, would have been in his mid 50's?  Sadly I don't have access to the backs of the photos at the moment.   

... and this I think is the same little girl in nurses uniform with her husband.  Any clues here?

David Nottle was born in 1845 in Pimlico.In 1871 he is a stationer.In 1881 he is at 3 Clifton Terrace, Beckenham as a bookseller.  In 1891 he is a photographer and stationer with his daughters Edith and Rosetta working as assistants. So I would say the photo has to be after 1881 and probably nearer 1890 or thereabouts.

Thanks.  that's really interesting, and bears out my "gut feel" about the photo.   I don't know of any clergymen in the family  -  that's another line to follow.  I did wonder about the apparant dog-collar, but I also thought that was a style sometimes used in either late Victorian or early Edwardian times?

I don't have immediate access to the photo as it belongs to a cousin, but I'll scan the back sometime and reactivate this post when I have it.  Many thanks.

Thanks Carol  -  that's lovely.  I'm not sure what Topsy's reaction would have been to all this attention, but by all accounts, her views would have been forthright! I always found that whenever people spoke of her, a broad grin would automatically come to their faces  -  she was that sort of character!    My father even named his boat after her  -  "Topsy-G". 

This is Topsy Georgina Middleton  1875 - 1957.  She was one of the great characters of her generation, a shrewd business woman in the mans world of haulage, and my father's favourite aunt.  He said she instinctively knew what boys wanted! This photo was recently discovered.  According to her grandson she was 18, so perhaps taken in about 1893.  The photo I scanned was only about 3" high so I think the definition is quite impressive.  I have a larger image if that would be more helpful.  I would be so grateful if anything can be done to restore this photograph.