An American journalist once said that a picture is worth a thousand words; very true but only if you know what the picture is showing you. Here at the History Centre we have tens of thousands of photographs, most we can identify but a few are a mystery. Some are really good photographs but their historic value would be much greater if we could identify the places and people.

 Image No. P32082
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Among our unlocated photos I found three similar to this one. When these were catalogued years ago the staff did not have access to the Swindon newspapers; we now have these on microfilm and it was an easy matter to check the Swindon Advertiser for 6^th June 1919 and discover that these photos were taken at an outing of between 300 and 400 members of the Swindon and North Wiltshire Workers Education Association to Uffington White Horse.

Led by the well known Reuben George they travelled by rail to Uffington Station, and then walked up the hill. The 86 year old Bishop Browne, formerly Bishop of Bristol, was waiting for them at the top, but before he gave his address they sang the WEA song, I said it in the meadow. Bishop Browne spoke of the old time village feasts and his memories of stalls, fairings, gingerbread, cricket matches and some villagers showing ‘the national tendency to excess’ by staying too long in the public house. The feast had been the annual celebration of the dedication of the church and there was once an all night vigil but the excesses had brought about the end of the feast. He also spoke at length on King Alfred, after which there was morris dancing and tea.

Here are a few photographs we would like your help in identifying.

Image No. P31311

The day that the circus came to town, but which town? We should know but can’t quite recognise the street scene.

Image No. P31952

Early wedding photographs are not that common although more are to be found for the higher social classes.

Image No. P40967
 

These stereoscopic photographs are from 1889; it is unlikely that we will ever find the Wiltshire location unless you know differently!

Image No. P42181

An isolated church with no tower but a belfry for two bells.

Image No. P43213

Around 1900 there were three Nag’s Heads in Wiltshire; at Great Bedwyn, Urchfont and Devizes. None of them were listed as hotels and it is possible that this one is not in Wiltshire. A shame if that’s the case as it’s a splendid photograph.