The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.48 No.3 | December 2021

Local Group Programmes

One of the houses was used as the fictional home of one TV’s Howards Way characters. We circumnavigated one of the largest houses in Old Bursledon – Greyladyes. Originally called Elm Lodge, it was occupied in the late 1880s by Captain and Mrs Shaw-Storey. After the death of her husband at Christmas 1904, Mrs Shaw-Storey built a mausoleum for his body. Eric noted many locals were unaware of this building and recounted the story that the entrance was found to be too small for her husband’s coffin. The family are now buried in the land just outside the building. Mrs Shaw-Storey converted to Catholicism and built a chapel in the house. This remained a Catholic chapel until 2005. The chapel is now home to Greyladyes Arts Foundation (GAF). As usual we must thank Eric for his enthusiasm and knowledge. He managed to show us places that even those who had lived in the area for many years never knew existed. (September) Dating Old photographs – Steve Gill. This was another Zoom meeting. Steve specialises in old photographs and has written on the subject. He started by explaining there is no one way to date a photograph but he teaches an approach to be used. Using a couple of examples, he demonstrated that when we look at a photograph, we are not seeing what the photographer can see, or thinks he/she is seeing through the viewfinder. Our view is often skewed by the main subject and we don’t see details which can often be useful. Early Daguerreotypes (in use until the 1850s) were very expensive with one image costing a month or two wages. Therefore, those paying for portraits must have been well off. These were followed by the Ambro types until 1870’s and often identified by their design of the surrounds. These were followed by the Ferrotypes which can be identified by having a notched corner. Care needs to be taken with these as they can appear back to front. Carte de Visites can be dated by their corners – square before 1870, rounded after 1870. Photographers before 1860 didn’t need to advertise and so didn’t need to identify themselves on their products. Thereafter competition meant they did and progressively used more embellishments. As technology developed photography became more affordable and people were able to take their own photographs from 1890 onwards. In 1920 faster film allowed better photographs of movement. After 1907 post cards did not include the words Inland Postage. In the USA photographs were taxed in the 1860s and contain stamp markings. Steve recommends looking carefully for clues. Is there a frame? Are summer or winter clothes being worn? Are they wearing best clothes, polished shoes, medals which may indicate a special occasion. Are there notices or averts in the background which can be dated? Has it been re-touched which implies a professional input? Do they have flowers or rings. Steve recommends re- photographing rather than scanning old photographs. (October) Members Evening Old Photographs. This was the first indoor meeting of the Fair Oak group since March 2020 and it was good to see familiar faces and some semblance of getting back on track. It was decided this should be a member’s evening and the subject was prompted by last month’s Zoom meeting - Steve Gill’s excellent talk on dating old photographs. Everyone contributed to the evening and the photographs prompted much discussion. It was clear that the Zoom meeting had been very useful as there were references to curved corners, stamp marks and dividing lines on post cards, photographer’ labels and using background

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