The Aching Question

A photograph of unknowns from who knows where, on the back of which it gives the date: 24 June 1918. One is left with the aching question: did he make it?

Pictures From Nowhere : A Thing Of Beauty

An old faded print of so little significance that it has been long abandoned. A faded caption on the reverse commemorating faded relationships. A thing of beauty. Aunt Lily And Grandma Nunn

Pictures From Nowhere : Busy

There is nothing better than a busy photograph. Two tin baths, half a skirt, a branch cutting through a frown: this 1926 photo contains enough for a lengthy essay.

Trio With A Bow

Unknown Group : c1918 Sometimes you don't need to know who the people are. You don't need to know their story: their past, present or future. Sometimes the image itself is enough.

Oaks And Stone

PICTURES FROM NOWHERE : OAKS AND STONE, RUPERRA, 7th APRIL 1932 An old photograph of a young man walking near Ruperra Castle in Wales in 1932. The photo is entitled "Oaks and Stone", but that poetic title is the extent of my knowledge. This is a print from a tiny album of photographs taken in … Continue reading Oaks And Stone

Gone Skiing, Gone Supping

Unknown Man Up A Mountain (1930s) I won't be around next week, I'm going to ski down a mountain. To be accurate, I am going to sit at the bottom of a mountain looking after t'grandson whilst his parents ski down a mountain. To be even more accurate, I am going to sup a cold … Continue reading Gone Skiing, Gone Supping

The Confidence Of Post-War Youth

My first thoughts about this studio photograph of an unknown young woman was that it might have been taken during the Great War. There is a confidence about her - the kind of confidence which came from women working in the factories and workshops, a confidence that somehow rose above the dangers of the workplace … Continue reading The Confidence Of Post-War Youth

A Sinkhole In History Takes Us To A Missionary In China

This is an old photograph of a wedding party that must have been in a job lot of old photos I bought recently. Someone has kindly written some basic information on the reverse of the photograph: "Francis Henry and Alice Evangeline Mosse, Married at the Legation Church, Peking, November 8th 1921". Thirty years ago that … Continue reading A Sinkhole In History Takes Us To A Missionary In China

A Bedding To Dispose Of

Old Photograph Of Unknown Origins With Message On Reverse You will see from the other side that Mother is keeping better. I sent a p.c. on Saturday week and mentioned having a bedding to dispose of, you have not said anything yet. We want to know as we want it out of the way before … Continue reading A Bedding To Dispose Of