I am looking at a picture of a group or workmen outside a house on South Meade and at first glance there doesn’t seem to be anything unusual about what I am looking at.
The men represent a cross section of skills, ages and experience, and may well have posed for similar photographs across Chorltonville.
But I know exactly which house this was and have already begun to discover its history which starts with the simple fact that it has been occupied by only two families in the century and a bit since it was built.
And so, while we will never know the identity of the men staring back at us, we do have the deeds, as well as a collection of documents relating to its construction, which will help tell the story of this particular house.
The first family to move in was Mr. and Mrs. Jones. In 1939 he described himself as a “Commercial Traveller in the Gas Industry”.
Everyone will find something interesting in the picture, with some focusing on the appearance of the men, the presence of the apprentice boy, and the flat caps and pipes.
The building contractor was Thomas Whiteley and a search might turn up something about the building firm, but I doubt that will extend to a list of employees.
For now, until Laura passes over its history for me to look over, we are left with the photograph of the workmen and the image of the house.
But for now, it is exciting that we are able to pin a group of craftsmen to one house sometime in 1911.
Leaving me just to ponder on Mr. and Mrs. Jones and a mystery which might be answered by those documents.
We shall see.
Location; Chorltonville
Picture; workmen outside South Meade, 1911, courtesy of Laura Hopkins
Special thanks to Laura, who kindly showed me the picture and has promised to lend me the house documents and to Jude who lives next door, and first told me about the picture.
But I know exactly which house this was and have already begun to discover its history which starts with the simple fact that it has been occupied by only two families in the century and a bit since it was built.
And so, while we will never know the identity of the men staring back at us, we do have the deeds, as well as a collection of documents relating to its construction, which will help tell the story of this particular house.
Everyone will find something interesting in the picture, with some focusing on the appearance of the men, the presence of the apprentice boy, and the flat caps and pipes.
The building contractor was Thomas Whiteley and a search might turn up something about the building firm, but I doubt that will extend to a list of employees.
For now, until Laura passes over its history for me to look over, we are left with the photograph of the workmen and the image of the house.
But for now, it is exciting that we are able to pin a group of craftsmen to one house sometime in 1911.
Leaving me just to ponder on Mr. and Mrs. Jones and a mystery which might be answered by those documents.
We shall see.
Location; Chorltonville
Picture; workmen outside South Meade, 1911, courtesy of Laura Hopkins
Special thanks to Laura, who kindly showed me the picture and has promised to lend me the house documents and to Jude who lives next door, and first told me about the picture.
Close neighbours Laura, Jude and Paula are building their very own history as 'The Golden Girls of Chorltonville' with their their wit, friendliness and charm; all very welcome to a couple of London refugees.
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