Where were these construction workers in London, when photographed?

[nigelp]

There are various bits of information which should be brought together.

We know that Edward Gatfield was born in 1868. How old does he look in the photo? If the photo was taken in, say, 1905 or 1906 he would be about 37 or 38.

From the excellent research by Shaun we know that Solomon Simons was at this location between 1905 and 1912 (Solomon Simons is listed at this location in the 1912 Post Office Directory). We also know that Carl Andre was at this location as late as 1912 and was present much earlier. We also know that there was work to widen Mare Street and which ended at The Triangle during the period 1899 - 1906, although the work shown in the photo may not relate to this.

Can anyone provide better time limits on when Carl Andre and Solomon Simons were at this location?

My own view is that the photo is probably about 1905. Any other views?

Nigel

[Nick29]

Can anyone provide better time limits on when Carl Andre and Solomon Simons were at this location?

My own view is that the photo is probably about 1905. Any other views?

Nigel

I did look up the Simons family on the 1911 census, to see if the births of his children could pinpoint when he had moved there, but sadly not.   It's quite amazing how much information we have managed to glean from this photo, but I don't think we are going to pinpoint the time it was taken any more accurately, with no vehicles in the picture, and no other hoardings.  The only thing that I'm still puzzling over is something between the man at the back with the bowler, and the man to his right.  There appears to be a stone base of some description - maybe a stone horse trough ?

[nigelp]

...... and no other hoardings......... 

There are two other hoardings which might be legible or interpreted from a street directory. The first is the white ones in the windows on the north side of Westgate Street. The other is the one behind and beneath the Simons hoarding, visible just above the railings and between the left hand tree and the buildings.

Nigel

[chinakay]

The foremost standing man on the right is standing on a beam that seems to have a word on it...has this been discussed?? I played with the contrast but I don't have proper photo software.

Heehee...the file name is almost twice as big as the photo

[kath davis]

GNR?
Kath

[Keith Sherwood]

Hi again, Everyone,
I had tucked the photo away, somewhere where it could not come to any more harm (in my hands).  But by popular (Poplar?) request I'll reluctantly and nervously get it out again - kid gloves, hardly daring to as much as breathe on it - and give it the once over for any further clues...
keith

[jim1]

The man standing at the back with the boater has a 2 1/2"  starched collar first seen around 1905,a short lived style that was replaced by the end of the decade by the smaller 1 3/4" collar so, a date of 1905-10.

jim

[Keith Sherwood]

Didn't Shaun's post 34 tell us that the Andre firm only became a music school AFTER 1910, which might more precisely date the photo, could indeed be 1910 itself...
keith

[nigelp]

Didn't Shaun's post 34 tell us that the Andre firm only became a music school AFTER 1910, which might more precisely date the photo, could indeed be 1910 itself...
keith

From knowledge of my own family's business the descriptions in the Post Office / Street Directories are not always comprehensive, consistent or entirely accurate. For example, one of my ancestors is described as a cabinet maker in a directory and although that is correct he was also a retailer of furniture and china with the precise description varying in other years. I'm not sure that it can, therefore, be said that Carl Andre did not have a music school at the location before 1910.

In the 1912 Post Office Directory Selfridges of Oxford Street has the description of 'drapers' although the store sold a wide variety of goods.

Nigel