I have a sneaking suspicion that this photo shows the road leading up to the upper block of Mount Austin Mansions where Martin Booth used to live. If not then it may be the road leading to Lugard Road from the umbrella seat. That little boy bottom centre of the photo could it be...?
I'd never noticed the little boy til I read your comment! Fred was there in the late 1950s, so unfortunately it couldn't have been a young Master Booth.
Its that little lookout spot with a small shaded bench between The Mount Austin and Peak Gardens. I never really understood why its called the umbrella seat, my guess is because its a little indent along the ridge line when viewed from the harbour. Apologies for referring to it by such an antiquated name.
Around the World in Seventy-Two Days By Nelly Bly - 1889
[from the Peak Tram Upper Terminus] "It required three men to a chair ascending the peak. At the Unbrella Seat, merely a bench with a peaked roof, everybody stops long enough to allow the coolies to rest, then we continue on our way, passing sight-seers and nurses with children. After a while they stop again, and we travel on foot to the signal station."
And it is the same today - just a bench with a little roof - an "umbrella" and a seat.
Comments
Mount Austin
I have a sneaking suspicion that this photo shows the road leading up to the upper block of Mount Austin Mansions where Martin Booth used to live. If not then it may be the road leading to Lugard Road from the umbrella seat. That little boy bottom centre of the photo could it be...?
Re: Photo
It may be where Findlay Path meets up with Plantation Road
Umbrella seat?
I think the umbrella seat is the likely location. Fred took another photo from the same spot, and I was able to stitch them together to give a clearer view of the area.
I'd never noticed the little boy til I read your comment! Fred was there in the late 1950s, so unfortunately it couldn't have been a young Master Booth.
Umbrella Seat
'scuse me ignorance gov'ner, but where/what is the umbrella seat?
Re: Umbrella Seat
Its that little lookout spot with a small shaded bench between The Mount Austin and Peak Gardens. I never really understood why its called the umbrella seat, my guess is because its a little indent along the ridge line when viewed from the harbour. Apologies for referring to it by such an antiquated name.
aha
thanks J. It's an area I still haven't explored (along with many others). Cheers, Phil
Umbrella Seat
Around the World in Seventy-Two Days
By Nelly Bly - 1889
[from the Peak Tram Upper Terminus] "It required three men to a chair ascending the peak. At the Unbrella Seat, merely a bench with a peaked roof, everybody stops long enough to allow the coolies to rest, then we continue on our way, passing sight-seers and nurses with children. After a while they stop again, and we travel on foot to the signal station."
And it is the same today - just a bench with a little roof - an "umbrella" and a seat.
more at http://gwulo.com/umbrella-seat-the-peak