This time of year is a popular time for weddings, I've already been to one this year but for Sepia Saturday's theme of groups of course I'll go way back in time to this little gathering which I would guess is around 1914. The soldier is Jack Hewitt who's sister Isabel gets the chair because she's the bride. My grandmother Winifred Swindlehurst stands next to Jack and her brother William, the groom, is next, he was her only brother. His eleven sisters never called him William because he gained a nickname as a young boy of 'blurt' because he always we going off somewhere and shooting his gun. I guess that is either a dialect word or the blurt refers to the dictionary definition of "sudden or unadvisedly". I do not know who the couple on the right are but from looks perhaps the bridesmaid is Isabel's sister and the man is showing off his gloves to perfection.
Go forward a couple of years and this faded and battered photo which to judge from its cardboard backing at one time must have had another piece and have been on display. My Grandmother Winifred gets centre seat as the bride. Isabel, (seated left) who was always known as Aunt Bell now has a child. My grandmothers first husband Jack Taylor stands behind her and sadly was to die in the First World War. Photographs of this period always have poignancy from what we the viewers know from history that the happy group does not. I love group photographs for their variety of personalities, such as the little girl at the front with a hat just plopped on her head or the man at the back chewing on his pipe, even though I have no idea who the majority are. One thing I do know is where the photograph was taken for I have seen the doorway on many occasion, always featuring in the Swindlehurst family photographs - Hazelslack Tower Farm near Arnside, Lancashire. Depending on the time of year sometimes there is sometimes a glimpse of roses in flower on the porch. But look at the upper left window and two faces peer out to watch the excitement of the photograph, and is that a twitch of the curtain I see on the bottom right.
10 comments:
I love the details you've pointed out. How clever for those kids to get in the picture one way or another!
If I had eleven sisters, I'd be heading off somewhere to shoot my gun too! Great photo!
The gentleman on the right seems to be wearing someone else's hat. Doesn't it sit a little high on his head? Are the ladies corsages tucked into their bodices? Perhaps to save sticking a pin through the cloth.
I'm sure William made a good husband if he had eleven sisters to get him ready for the job. A fine looking group.
Two fine family groups that fit the theme so well.
A little detail that caught my eye was the soldier's belt buckle in the form of an 'S' on its side. The first belt I remember having had a buckle just like that.
Love the ticket! Infact it's JUST the ticket! lol Dxx
These are both wonderful pictures! The second one does have a lot of activity in it and I would have loved to see the video of that wedding and reception.
Kathy M.
Lovely photos. But doesn't isabel's husband look way too old for her.
The two peaking from the window. Priceless.
Nancy
Wonderful family wedding photos. Thanks for pointing out the details - makes it even more interesting.
Maybe the gun sounded more like a "blurt" than a "bang."
Thanks for all the info. What ever it takes right! They are a happy bunch that is for sure! Those hats are remarkable too!
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