Another of the old photos from my mum's house, and this is interesting not only for the people it shows, but represents an industry that has vanished.
First, the people. My grandad and grandma with my mum on the right, walking along a street that at first sight could be almost anywhere. Judging from my mum's appearance this would have been taken in the mid or late 1930s.
The sign in the background, 'Osbert's Corner', led my thoughts in two directions. I began to research possible locations, and discovered that it is on the Lincolnshire Coast in Skegness, a popular holiday resort. A website of walking photos has an image with the same sign in the background. I also learned about the street photographers who would take a photo of someone or a family group, and give the subject a slip with a location and receipt where they could call the following day to purchase prints.
This was quite an industry in the inter war years and was found in many holiday resorts and some cities as well, providing a popular holiday souvenir. Judging by the numbers of this kind of photo that I've scanned, they were certainly popular with my mum's parents over quite a few years.
The industry declined in the 1950s, eventually being defeated by the growing numbers of people who had their own camera, and the cost of converting their processes to providing increasingly popular colour photos.
This print was in very poor condition, quite faded and with lots of fingerprints, but I was quite pleased with the result of this edited scan.
A lovely photo, you forget that these were not as frequently taken like today but I think a lot more will be kept from that era to this era where everyone just leave them on their phones!!
What a wonderful story. I’m originally from Scotland and I scanned a whole bunch of UK based photos over ten years ago. You’ve encouraged me to do a bit of research on them now.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I've really enjoyed the scanning of these old photos, and processing them to bring out as much detail as possible. It has been fascinating to have glimpses into the lives of my forebears. I feel I know them a little better than I did before.
fav
fav
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I've really enjoyed the scanning of these old photos, and processing them to bring out as much detail as possible. It has been fascinating to have glimpses into the lives of my forebears. I feel I know them a little better than I did before.
Ian
Thank you Paul - it's been a real journey of discovery!
Ian