c. 1913, but where?
We've been sent this photo by Sean Olson, who asks for help identifying the location:
I wonder if your expertise or that of your contributors can put a name on the place.
It is of my great aunt Elizabeth Warnes (nee Olson) and is part of a set of her leaving the house, posing outside the front door, neither of which I can find at the moment,and then posing on the pavement for this shot. She died in HK in 1917. All I can tell you is that her brother, my grandfather, John, raised his family in Morrison Hill Road, so perhaps this is nearby. For further info her father, my great grandfather, after he retired from the booze business lived in Caine Road and finally Wanchai Road.
I don't suppose there is enough detail to say where this picture was taken. You can post it if you feel it worthwhile.
I think we can agree that the car is a Ford Model T!
Any ideas?
Also, how about the date? The Model T was produced from 1908, so I've chosen 1913 as the mid-point between 1908 and 1917.
If there are any 'old camera' experts out there, it looks like she is holding a box camera. Does it help narrow down the date?
This is my last post for the day, and the year... Happy New Year!
Regards, David
Date picture taken (to nearest decade for older photos):
1913
Comments
1913?
Nice photo. The lot is quite substantial and there is wall surrounding the building front. The presence of the wall suggests that there is another level below the ground floor entrance and that the land may be built on sloping ground.
The building is of European style architecture which is similar to those found in the Mid-Levels.
Shadows & pavements
A couple more ideas:
From the shadow on the path, and the shadow on the face, the sun was low in the sky when the photo was taken.
If it was taken early morning, we can take the sun as shining from ESE, casting a shadow towards WNW. That means the road runs from SSE on left to NNW on right, with the building on the WSW side of it.
If it was taken in the late afternoon, the sun is shining from WSW, casting a shadow towards ENE. The road runs from west on the left to east on the right, with building on the north side of the street.
Another hint is the distance from the road to the front of the house. Many of the mid-levels roads are quite narrow, with building fronts close to the street. In this photo there's a broad pavement between road and wall, then a further gap from wall to house.
1913 - But where?
I think the style of the building, with impressive columns, may help. The old hospital building near the junction of Hospital Road and Bonham Road is similar in some respects - not sure if David's accurate description of its' probable orientation would fit though. I cannot identify other similar buildings, but the old Military Hospital at Borrett Road, or perhaps one of the prestigious schools might have had such a facade?
1913 -But where?
Mention of the school by Tony Carroll prompts me to say that my great grandfather's home at 33 Caine Road was close to The Italian Convent. Might that be a clue?