Mystery Photos

Romsey Local History Society has a large collection of photographs, more than 30,000, mostly of Romsey and the surrounding area. We spend a lot of time cataloguing them and arranging them into groups so that we can find them when they are needed.

Some pictures that we cannot identify go into a group called 'Not Known' which makes them more-or-less unusable. We have decided to post some of these 'orphans' now and then in the hopes that you can help us identify them.

If you can help then please use the 'contact us' form or send us an e-mail at romsey.history@gmail.com with the details.

1. Mystery Photos

Left Click on photo to enlarge and see more information

17501 - New The photo was taken between 1860 and 1899. Could this house be or have been in the vicinity of Whiteparish? There could be a "haha" in the foreground.	17504 - New This photo is of a Man in Woodyard. The wood is clearly bundled for a very specific use. Making hurdles perhaps and who is he?	64568 A tumble-down wooden building. Was it a hen house and where was it? The picture has no date.
17502 - New Where are these "newly built ‘detached bungalows’? Could they be in the Romsey area or perhaps in the Salisbury area, or maybe elsewhere?	17503 - New This maybe a photo of a funeral in World War taken at the entrance to a local church. Which church could this be? One suggestion is that it might be St John’s Church, North Baddesley but that metal archway has a cross rather than a lamp.	61557 - Solved Nov. 2024 Do we know in which village the Hursley Hunt has its kennels in 1978? Richard Jacobs said that the Hursley Foxhounds had their kennels at Braishfield - at Dores Lane near its junction with Dummers Lane. The 6th person from left of photo is Hugh Dalgety who was Master of Hursley Foxhounds 1975-1978.
61030 - Solved Nov. 2024 This gas pipeline was laid across the Test valley in 1976. Where was the photo taken from? Richard Jacobs believes that this was taken from Mottisfont Lane (road between the A3057 and Mottisfont Village). It is looking NE and the woodland at Park Farm, Michelmersh is on the horizon just left of centre.	69281 (1) Archaeologists at Pipeline site in Test Valley - but where is it and who are the people?	69282 (1) Test Valley Archaeological Trust at Pipeline site in Test Valley - but where is it and who are the people?
61031 - Solved Nov. 2024 This gas pipeline was laid across the Test valley in 1976. Where was the photo taken from? Richard Jacobs says that the pipeline went under Mottisfont Lane, now marked by a red and white post, and the photo shows its route going towards the River Test.	69533 Possibly 1940's or is it earlier? Which School in Romsey and who are the pupils?	69476 (2) Which School and who are the children?
69531 Possibly taken in 1920's or is it later? Which School and who are the pupils?	64897 Does anyone recognise this school photo? It is undated.	69599 This helicoptor landed on Cupernham School playing fields in the 1990's - Why? Is the small cross on the door a clue?
69578 Musicians outside Boots in the Hundred at Christmas 1990 - who are they?	69579 Singers outside GA Property Services (Estate Agents), Romsey at Christmas - Who are they and where was the Estate Agents?	69496 Roof King at Unit 27 on Romsey Industrial Estate off Fishlake Meadows in 1990's - who are the people and what was the trophy for?
Mystery Bungalow This bungalow was designed by John Davies, the surveyor, probably in the 1950s or possibly a little later. We have not managed to identify where it is, but it seems likely that it was built in the Cupernham area.	69453 (1) Where is this house?	Mystery Cottage Photo 61104 A distinctive thatched cottage - but does anyone know where it is? SOLVED. Andrew Hurst has identified it as The Coombe, Church Lane, Awbridge.
Mystery House - Photo 6391 Maybe a farmhouse or an old vicarage - but where?	64467 Off Licence promotion, mostly Strongbow cider 1983. Where and who?	64468 Off Licence promotion, mostly Strongbow cider 1983. Where and who?
62600 A ghostly church, but which one? No date	60631 This shows tractors baling wheat straw in 1974, but where are they.	62417 On 1st April 1980, some wit put notices on every post box in Romsey saying that it was closed for stocktaking. Where is the pillar box featured in this photograph?
63653 - Where is this Chapel? It is suggested that it was at Queenwood College once near Broughton? Can anyone confirm this?	61032 Construction work on the River Test valley in 1976. Where was the photo taken from? Partly SOLVED - Rod of "Romsey Revisited" says that this was taken from Middlebridge towards Broadlands. But what where BRIMS doing?	Tractor (TAA196P) Photo 60947 Does anyone recognise this tractor and who once owned it?
Tractor Photo 60946 Does anyone know who may have owned this tractor at one time? Reg. No. TAA 196P	Mitchell's Garage Photo 10039 Photo of a crashed vehicle being recovered from a lane - somewhere in the Romsey area maybe?	Mystery Location 17188 This is a photograph taken by one of US army who was stationed at Lockerley in 1944 in time for the D-Day landings. It looks like Salisbury to me. Most of his photos were in the Lockerley/Thytherley area, with one or two in Romsey and Southampton. When he got to France, he was taking pictures in colour.
1-10-29-2010_016.JPG Chris Levy took this photo in the late 1960's in Roger Gunner's gym at the rear of his shoe shop in the Hundred. Jayne Luffman is front row far right. Can you identify any of the other children?	VE Day 1945 This picture is said to be of VE celebrations in Romsey (8 May 1945) but who are the people and where was it taken?	Mystery Play 3-3441 3441 (from K09) is a play put on by Crampmoor (or Woodley WI) I know nothing about it, such as when or who or what, although I have a series of photographs.
Mystery Photo for August 2014 - These children and some grown-ups are celebrating VE Day on 8th May 1945. Are they in the Market Place or behind Osborne House in Church Street, or somewhere else? Let me know if you can recognise anyone or you know where they are.	Mystery Photo for May 2014 - This has the feel of the Romsey Show about it, possibly in the 1950s. Does anyone know better? Who are the people?	Mystery Photo No 1887 for March 2014 - Here are the cub scouts in the 1960 Gang Show in the Crosfield Hall. Many of them probably still live in Romsey, but I have none of their names. Can you help? Valerie May says that the boy in the front row on the left is David Thebes and the one on the right is Alan May.
Mystery Photo for May 2013 - A Dennis Sillence photo of the Romsey Fire Brigade showing Les Palmerino, but can you name the other men? In this picture Les (no 1) is leading a procession through the Market Place on Coronation Day, 2nd June 1953. (ref. 13405).	Mystery Photo No 13408 for May 2013 - A Dennis Sillence photo. The annual Fire Brigade dinner was one of the town's social highlights. This picture was taken in 1958. No 2 is Alf Mitchell, 3 is Bob Doling, 4 is Nigel Keel, No 5 is Dennis Barge who went on to be Station Officer in charge of Romsey, 7 is Doug Pragnell, 9 is "Polly" Curtis, 10 is Nick Carter, 13 is the mayor of Romsey George Mackrell, and 15 is Henry Sclater of Strong and Co. Who are the others?	Mystery Photo for October 2012 - These men clearly work for Strong's brewery, delivering beer. Who are they and where was the photograph taken. The obvious answer would be somewhere in Strong's brewery in Romsey, but none of us can recognise the building in the background. Nowadays drivers would not be allowed to go to work with holes in their clothes.
Mystery Photo No13402 for April 2013 - A Dennis Sillence photo of the Romsey Fire Brigade showing Les Palmerino, but can you name the other men? This photo was taken in 1946 when the Fire Brigade were part of the National Fire Service. Les Palmerino is no 13. (ref. 13402). Christine Tresise thinks the man numbered 6 is probably Henry (Polly) Curtis of 66 Cherville Street.	Mystery Photo for May 2013 - A Dennis Sillence photo of the Romsey Fire Brigade's 1958 carnival float. I have not numbered the people but do you recognise them? (ref. 13407)

2. Mystery Photos

3. Mystery Photos

4. Mystery Phtos

5. Mystery Photos

Have you got an Old Local Photo Mystery?

If you have an old photo that you think may be of a local scene or contains local people that you cannot identify then why not email us at 'romsey.history@gmail.com' with your digital image or bring us your original and we will scan it.

If we cannot identify it and think that it is relevant to the local history of this area then we may feature it on this page to see if someone else can recognise the place or people in it.

Romsey Local History Society

Mystery Photos

17501 - New

The photo was taken between 1860 and 1899. Could this house be or have been in the vicinity of Whiteparish? There could be a "haha" in the foreground.

17504 - New

This photo is of a Man in Woodyard. The wood is clearly bundled for a very specific use. Making hurdles perhaps and who is he?

64568

A tumble-down wooden building. Was it a hen house and where was it? The picture has no date.

17502 - New

Where are these "newly built ‘detached bungalows’? Could they be in the Romsey area or perhaps in the Salisbury area, or maybe elsewhere?

17503 - New

This maybe a photo of a funeral in World War taken at the entrance to a local church. Which church could this be? One suggestion is that it might be St John’s Church, North Baddesley but that metal archway has a cross rather than a lamp.

61557 - Solved Nov. 2024

Do we know in which village the Hursley Hunt has its kennels in 1978? Richard Jacobs said that the Hursley Foxhounds had their kennels at Braishfield - at Dores Lane near its junction with Dummers Lane. The 6th person from left of photo is Hugh Dalgety who was Master of Hursley Foxhounds 1975-1978.

61030 - Solved Nov. 2024

69281 (1)

Archaeologists at Pipeline site in Test Valley - but where is it and who are the people?

69282 (1)

Test Valley Archaeological Trust at Pipeline site in Test Valley - but where is it and who are the people?

61031 - Solved Nov. 2024

This gas pipeline was laid across the Test valley in 1976. Where was the photo taken from? Richard Jacobs says that the pipeline went under Mottisfont Lane, now marked by a red and white post, and the photo shows its route going towards the River Test.

69533

Possibly 1940's or is it earlier? Which School in Romsey and who are the pupils?

69476 (2)

Which School and who are the children?

69531

Possibly taken in 1920's or is it later? Which School and who are the pupils?

64897

Does anyone recognise this school photo? It is undated.

69599

This helicoptor landed on Cupernham School playing fields in the 1990's - Why? Is the small cross on the door a clue?

69578

Musicians outside Boots in the Hundred at Christmas 1990 - who are they?

69579

Singers outside GA Property Services (Estate Agents), Romsey at Christmas - Who are they and where was the Estate Agents?

69496

Roof King at Unit 27 on Romsey Industrial Estate off Fishlake Meadows in 1990's - who are the people and what was the trophy for?

Mystery Bungalow

This bungalow was designed by John Davies, the surveyor, probably in the 1950s or possibly a little later. We have not managed to identify where it is, but it seems likely that it was built in the Cupernham area.

69453 (1)

Where is this house?

Mystery Cottage Photo 61104

A distinctive thatched cottage - but does anyone know where it is? SOLVED. Andrew Hurst has identified it as The Coombe, Church Lane, Awbridge.

Mystery House - Photo 6391

Maybe a farmhouse or an old vicarage - but where?

64467

Off Licence promotion, mostly Strongbow cider 1983. Where and who?

64468

Off Licence promotion, mostly Strongbow cider 1983. Where and who?

62600

A ghostly church, but which one? No date

60631

This shows tractors baling wheat straw in 1974, but where are they.

62417

On 1st April 1980, some wit put notices on every post box in Romsey saying that it was closed for stocktaking. Where is the pillar box featured in this photograph?

63653 - Where is this Chapel?

It is suggested that it was at Queenwood College once near Broughton? Can anyone confirm this?

61032

Construction work on the River Test valley in 1976. Where was the photo taken from? Partly SOLVED - Rod of "Romsey Revisited" says that this was taken from Middlebridge towards Broadlands. But what where BRIMS doing?

Tractor (TAA196P) Photo 60947

Does anyone recognise this tractor and who once owned it?

Tractor Photo 60946

Does anyone know who may have owned this tractor at one time? Reg. No. TAA 196P

Mitchell's Garage Photo 10039

Photo of a crashed vehicle being recovered from a lane - somewhere in the Romsey area maybe?

Mystery Location 17188

1-10-29-2010_016.JPG

Chris Levy took this photo in the late 1960's in Roger Gunner's gym at the rear of his shoe shop in the Hundred. Jayne Luffman is front row far right. Can you identify any of the other children?

VE Day 1945

This picture is said to be of VE celebrations in Romsey (8 May 1945) but who are the people and where was it taken?

Mystery Play 3-3441

3441 (from K09) is a play put on by Crampmoor (or Woodley WI) I know nothing about it, such as when or who or what, although I have a series of photographs.

Mystery Photo

for August 2014 - These children and some grown-ups are celebrating VE Day on 8th May 1945. Are they in the Market Place or behind Osborne House in Church Street, or somewhere else? Let me know if you can recognise anyone or you know where they are.

Mystery Photo

for May 2014 - This has the feel of the Romsey Show about it, possibly in the 1950s. Does anyone know better? Who are the people?

Mystery Photo No 1887

for March 2014 - Here are the cub scouts in the 1960 Gang Show in the Crosfield Hall. Many of them probably still live in Romsey, but I have none of their names. Can you help? Valerie May says that the boy in the front row on the left is David Thebes and the one on the right is Alan May.

Mystery Photo

for May 2013 - A Dennis Sillence photo of the Romsey Fire Brigade showing Les Palmerino, but can you name the other men? In this picture Les (no 1) is leading a procession through the Market Place on Coronation Day, 2nd June 1953. (ref. 13405).