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.

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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.

This week’s mystery photos are somewhat of a mixed bunch with some real head scratchers among them. First off is mystery photo sixty-one and this is one is of a televised celebrity quiz possibly in a pub somewhere in Preston. There is no date attached but hopefully someone may possibly recognise the location or maybe, even the contestants in view.

Mystery photo sixty-one Image courtesy of Marty Hopkirk

Next is a black and white postcard which has only the title ‘A Preston House’. Where could this be and what year do you think this mystery photo sixty-two was taken?

Mystery photo sixty-two

Mystery photo sixty-three is of a Preston based electrical appliance shop and suggestions that have been made are, Wildings of Lune Street, Loyds 120 Church street, Moxhams Arkwright House, Edward Dewhurst 47 Fishergate, or Melling and Gleave 35 Church street. See what you make of it.

Mystery photo sixty-three

Next up is a January 1916 group capture in mystery photo sixty-four of somewhere is Walton-Le-Dale of an unknown Regiment. Do you know anyone in this photo and the exact location and perhaps even the regiment?

Mystery photo sixty-four Image courtesy of John Lacey

During a Royal visit on 8 July 1913 the band seen in mystery photo sixty-five was outside the Moor Park gates. Does anyone know what the name of the band was?

Mystery photo sixty-five. Image courtesy of the IBEW website

Mystery photo sixty-six is of a school group captured between 1910 and 1915. It could have been at a school somewhere in the Town centre or even the Ashton area. The faces of the sitters seem a little more happier than most of the school group photos from around that time.

Mystery photo sixty-six

Not very much is known about Mystery photo sixty-seven other than it is a capture of a ladies tea party of circa 1905 somewhere in Walton-le-Dale. The only real hope here is that a descendant of one of the ladies may just recognise one of the sitters.

Mystery photo sixty-seven

Mystery photo sixty-eight is of a terraced street in the Plungington area of Preston and may well be demolished and the land rebuilt upon by now. This was captured circa 1982 by Beth Hayes of the Preston Historical Society. Any idea of which street it is?

Mystery photo sixty-eight. Image courtesy of the Preston Historical Society

Next up in mystery photo sixty-nine is an Unknown assembly, possibly the Preston & District Butchers Association members and was captured during Preston Guild of 1952. Does anyone recognise any of the men in the procession and the possible location in Preston?

Mystery photo sixty-nine

Finally, in mystery photo seventy, the only clue is that it states on the back that this is Class ‘W’. Preston School. It has been suggested that this could possibly be a girls cricket team. What do you think?

Mystery photo seventy

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 6 of the series