date please and where?

[Borley Manor]

I suspect that is a pile of fire fenders in the middle back. I guess they were to stop rollong coals from getting on the carpets before the tiled fireplaces came in in the 40's and 50's. We had a cast iron one about the same size in the picture, perfect for sticking your wet gloves on when it snowed......

[IgorStrav]

Good size bit of trellis, too.  Grow a few roses up that, you could.   

I think this is the sort of emporium my parents used to call an oil shop.  Bet there'll be some mousetraps somewhere in the back, too.

Sorry, Harriet, we're being rather more useful reminiscing about the stock than finding you the location, aren't we. 

[maidmarianoops]

this site may help
it is interesting
sylvia

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Around-Carlisle-Old-Photographs-Britain/dp/0750913614#reader_0750913614

[Borley Manor]

I have this book and another one entitled Carlisle People and Places, there are numerous pictures in both that may be the photograph site, but, it's so difficult to find out. I had last year, a request on here for information pertaining to Carlisle Inns, I found some very helpful folk who live local and were very interested indeed. They gave me all manner of pointers...Maybe, I could find those same pointers for you and let you know what I come up with.....153 must limit the street names due to the length.....meanwhile, why not try a thread in the Cumberland/Cumbria portion of Rootschat....
Borley...

[Borley Manor]

http://www.cumberlandscarrow.co.uk/carlisle.htm

Try this for a while, it may be helpful, it was to me....
Borley

[Borley Manor]

There is also the Carlisle Records Office, which was in the process of moving when I was enquiring, trying to consolidate everything under one roof, maybe that has been done now...they are very helpful....

carlisle.record.office@cumbriacc.gov.uk

[2Harriet]

Hi and Thanks everyone,

It is indeed a great  photo and I am following all your links to no avail. I have sent email to Carlisle record offfice. It would be great to identify where it was and to pass it on for future reference. Still soldiering on...searching. 

Even on zooming in using higher resolution there is nothing electric. The flasks in the window are thermos brand. I wonder when they were invented? The Gillette razor blade sign indicates safety razors were in use .again I have no idea when they were invented.

I cant help thinking of the poor servants that had to use all the scrubbing brushes , polish the brass and tend to the fires.!

[2Harriet]

 Ok folks,
we are starting to get some facts here.....The first vacuum flasks for commercial use were made in 1904 when a German company, Thermos GmbH, was formed. Safety razor was patented about the same time and by the end of WW1 was commonly used.

So since the flasks and razors are not being advertised as a new invention, I assume they had been around for a while by the time of this photo. So looking like it was taken  maybe no earlier than 1910 .What do you think?

[Lynntony]

Even on zooming in using higher resolution there is nothing electric.

Looking at the kettles in the window, they appear to be on "legs" - as electric kettles would be, if they were to sit on a gas ring the legs would be superfluous. The items the kettles are sitting on are also very similar to very early electric toasters - the flat top would make them inefficient as heaters. Also, on the left hand side of the window, is what appears to be the base of an electric iron.

On June 6, 1882, Henry W. Seely of NYC patented the electric iron, at the time it was called the electric flatiron. Early electric irons used a carbon arc to create heat, however, this was not a safe method. In 1892, hand irons using electrical resistance were introduced by Crompton and Co. and the General Electric Company.
The History of Irons


Tony

ADDED take a look at the 1910 Captain kettle on this site

http://oldelectrickettle.co.uk/1901-1910.html