Mystery Girl

[nelmit]

My father in law gave me some old photos recently. I know I will never discover who appears in most of them but this one intrigues me.

It's not clear in my upload but it was taken in Blyth, Morpeth, Amble Ashington. Blyth appears to be a small place in Northumberland so I thought I may have a chance of discovering who she is through census records if I can date it.

I'd love to know why her hair is so short and her brooch is interesting too.

Any comments gratefully received.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-903

Kind regards,
Annette M

[annpa]

What a really interesting photo. I hope you find out who she is/was.
Cheers
Annpa

[Muriel]

What an interesting photo. The brooch looks like a guitar (but could be a violin).

Her hair could be short because if she'd had scarlet fever or something similar her head would have been shaved - I have a photo of one of my great-aunts taken in the 1880s when her hair was growing back in.

Blyth is on the Northumberland coast north of Newcastle and, if my memory is right, was a mining community latterly altho' in might also have had fishing.

Muriel

[sporran]

Hello Annette,


Muriel's memory is correct: Blyth was built around the coal and fishing industries. Sorry, but I can not offer any help with the photograph other than to try RootsWeb and RootsChat. On the former board, Michael Dixon lives in Blyth and seems to have a good knowledge of its history.


Regards,

John

[Maisie]

Hi Annette

Blyth, Morpeth, Amble and Ashington are actually all separate places so maybe the photograher had studios in them all? In which case the subject could have lived in any of them.

Ashington is a pit village and was famous for the paintings produced by the local miners' art club, which included Brian Blessed's uncle. Morpeth is about five miles inland from Ashington and Amble is up the coast.

Sorry I can't be of more help, but she's wonderful isn't she! If the photo is early 20th century she could have short hair because she was a suffragette and it was a bit of a statement, or of an artistic bent, which might fit with the brooch. I really hope you find her because I'm getting more curious by the moment!

Maisie

[Pandabean]

Had a look on Google for the company and only one result came up.

http://www.soldiersofthequeen.com/page1 ... atman.html

This photo is dated c.1890, notice in the bottom right there is only one place name. Blyth.

Could that be when the person was starting out he had a place in Blyth and then built up the company to the other places?

If so that might date the photo early 1900s?

[Thrall]

Go for guitar says me, but whether there is any significance is another question. Probably only a "fancy brooch", hope very much you find a link.

Guid hunting,

Thrall.

[nelmit]

Thanks a lot everone for suggestions and local knowledge. You've given me many avenues to explore.

I'll get back to you if I find out anything about her.

Kind regards,
Annette M