Dating and clean up please

[Barbara F]

I hope this is going to work as it is the first time I have posted an image - fingers crossed.   

I have been told that this is a photo of my great grandparents but would like to have your views on the date please.

Also if you could clean up the photo I would be really grateful.

Barbara

[RecycledHippy]

Hi Barbara

My clean-up for you

Hope its o.k - comment on any changes you require

Hippy

[Barbara F]

My goodness Hippy - what an improvement  Everything is so much clearer.

Thank you so much.

Barbara

[chinakay]

Hi Barbara, I'm thinking late 1870s or very early 1880s for this pic, going by the fussy skirt, severe hairstyle and the triple row of buttons up the bodice. There is an A J Bailey photographer who established a business in London in 1880, just says London, though, not Kensington so I don't know if it's the same one. If it is, then I think the photo is one of his first as a professional photographer, as the frilly flounces on the skirts disappeared very early in the 1880s.

Cheers,
China

[old rowley]

The only Photographer that I can locate and in the right area would be Henry Bailey b 1823 - d1873. He traded from 1 Regent Street circa 1864 and from 4 Newland Terrace Kensington from 1864 to his death (in Kensington in 1873) His widow, Emily, took over the business, staying at 4 Newland Terrace until her death in 1882. All this would fit in with China's dateline that she has given.

old rowley

[Barbara F]

Hello China and old rowley
Thank you so much for your advice on this.
I was told that this is a photo of George James Fewell born 1859 and Sarah Speller born 1861.   They married in July 1880.  At that time they were still in Leaden Roding, Essex but they moved to London between late 1881 and mid 1884.
They look very young in the photo and I thought maybe it was taken around the time of their wedding or just after they moved to London.  That all fits with a timeframe of late 1870s to early 1880s.
Pity that you cannot see Sarah's left hand.
Thanks once again for all your help - and China, I hadn't even realised that was a triple row of buttons on the bodice 

Barbara 

[chinakay]

Okay, then I'd say it was taken just after they reached London...that skirt is about to give way to the more graceful folds of the 1880s look.

The book Sarah is holding is to denote literacy.

Thanks for looking in, OR.

Cheers,
C

[Barbara F]

Hello China
Thank you for those extra thoughts.
Your comment about literacy had me running for my certificate box!
Sarah signed when she married and when her second daughter was registered (my grandmother).  However when she registered the birth of her first child she made her mark.  I suspect  the Registrar assumed she could not write.
Barbara

[chinakay]

Interesting about her signatures. I wonder if someone else registered the birth for her and just made a mark...could you do that sort of thing??

C