Thank you all for your helpful responses.
Like japefalkes and mazi I started off thinking it might be Hawthorns because of the size of some of the items but wasn't sure that the clothing matched that era. I hadn't spotted or thought about the electric lights!
Following up on jim1's post I compared the photograph to some in a book I have on RSAF and I have to say the attire does look very similar to that worn by workers in photographs of them celebrating success in the Boer War so late 1890s early 1900s. I didn't think to do that before because I had decided that was the least likely option
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Treetotal it is a postcard, sorry I did not include the back I'll upload it now. The writing on the back is my Grandfather's but no help at all in identifying the photograph I'm afraid. This is a feature of many that I have, I get all excited because there is writing on the back and it is often totally unrelated to the subject, travel itineraries and telephone numbers were particular favourites
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tomkin thank you for identifying some of the machines for me.
I am now starting to wonder if the young man back right, holding his lapels could be my Grandfather. He was still at school in 1901 and in 1911 he was an experimental engineer at an india rubber works.
Thank you all again for your input.
Pinetree
treedahlia your post just popped up, thank you also, I did think that about the clothing, no aprons etc - thought they had possibly dressed up for the photograph.