The Flickr based Preston Digital Archive is a truly fantastic collection of vintage Preston related images and ephemera dating from the mid nineteenth century to the late twentieth century. There are currently almost 12,000 images available for all to view in several ranges of photographic resolution and what’s more it is completely free of charge.

Over time, a few digitally scanned photos of unknown origin, location and subject have appeared and the guys at Preston Digital Archive would love to know if anyone could help with identifying people, locations and any other useful information regarding these photos.

Advertisements

Have a look at the images below and see if there is anything you recognise about them, in particular, people and places, including names if possible.

We start off today with mystery photo fifty-three, a digitised image from a glass plate and so it’s knocking on a bit. Is it possibly somewhere in Longridge? All the stone and the sloping ground indicate this but you decide if you can.

Mystery Photo fifty-three

The next image, mystery photo fifty-four, is truly a puzzler. Many people have had a go at guessing where this house is but as yet there is no definite location. It has all the hallmarks of a country house. See what you think.

Mystery Photo fifty-four

It has been suggested that mystery photo fifty-five could possibly be the two houses on Watling Street Road, near Fulwood Barracks, with the barracks in the background – It is thought that building has now gone and a more modern Sergeant’s Mess is further up. We’re just not sure about this one as the suggestion sounds good but is it really where this building is?

Mystery Photo fifty-five

Here’s an old dust cart in Preston from about 1896 in mystery photo fifty-six. The exact location is the problem on this one. The open arched building on the left may give someone a clue to where it is. Any ideas?One clue may be the downhill street in the background.

Mystery Photo fifty-six

In mystery photo fifty-seven we see a street scene captured around 1900. It is thought that this could possibly be a Whit Walks or a scene from the 1902 Preston Guild. Does anyone recognise this street from the past or does it even exist still?

Mystery photo fifty-seven

Now, the next one of a girls school group photo will surely be recognisable to someone out there. It seems very likely that there will be a young family member from years gone by in there somewhere that some people may just spot. Do you see a familiar face in mystery photo fifty-eight?

Mystery Photo fifty-eight

There will be people out there who have worked in the mills of Preston or at least will have had a family member who did. Mystery photo fifty-nine is very much a contrived photo for the occasion, but very interesting all the same. The thing is, what mill is it?

Mystery Photo fifty-nine

There have been many allotment locations in Preston over the years, not many nowadays but at one time they were quite common. Mystery photo sixty shows a local inspection by members of the Council. August 7, 1934 but where?

Mystery Photo sixty

Did you recognise anything in any of these photos? Even the smallest of details can very often give a significant clue as to their identification. So, if you have found something you might think of as being a lead, even a tenuous one, then please state your findings in the comments section below.

Click here for part 7 of the series – or – here for part 5