Ideas on this photo of my gt grandma Crawshaw WRY

[Claire64]

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!

[Claire64]

Does anyone think they are wearing some kind of uniform?

[Wiggy]

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   

[jim1]

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.

[Treetotal]

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

[Creasegirl]

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.

[jim1]

I so used to saying "I agree with Carol" it comes naturally.
I also agree with Wiggy.

[Claire64]

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? 

[Wiggy]

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