Hi all,
Thanks for all the suggestions. I confess that I didn't know about Geograph before so I'll be having a good poke around there to see what I can find. The idea of there actually be a list of shooting parties is quite enticing, though it feels quite a distant prospect right now given all the other uncertainties. Nothing ventured though ...
And, yes, while I'm very happy with the Castle Menzies attribution, it really is the 'Brougham Hall' location that has me in knots. I understand that at some point (1930s?), the Hall was significantly reduced in size, so the doorway may possibly no longer exist. I have written to the Hall but am not expecting an immediate response. I took at a look at Lowther Castle and I agree that the general architecture seems to fit: from the online images available though, I don't yet find a match. Maybe if Brougham proves a miss, I should write to Lowther next.
I'm also led to believe that the dates for the photographer Robert Irvine are 1817-1888 so, in one sense, that would seem to fix the absolute outer time margins.
Jim_1, I'm not even a novice with photodating: would you be so kind as to help me understand what elements pin these photos to the 1860s and 1870s. What should I be focussing on here?
Thanks again,
Richard