These two photos came to me, from
a source I have forgotten, many years ago and I published them in
Model Boats with a request to readers to help me identify the location.
No joy at that stage, so I shall try again here.
The scene is a model yacht pond in
an industrial town some time before, and probably very shortly before,
the 1914 war. The boats are fairly standard for the period and could
be 10-raters or possibly boats to the International Rule, though that
is much less likely. There are also one or two smaller boats that
appear to be commercial products. The presence of so many women and
children and the clothes that all are wearing suggests that this was
a special occasion, or that the wives and families had turned out
and dressed up for the photo call.
The buildings that appear in the
background, both residential and commercial all look to have been
built in the late 19th century and the small size of the trees round
the lake suggests that it is of relatively recent construction. The
steps down to the water level path are a distinctive feature and a
they again look to be fairly new, In the far background there is a
notice which if we could read it would tell us that the local town
council, in fierce letters at the top wished to prevent any number
of pleasurable activities from taking place in its newly minted open
space, provided under the terms of the Local Government Act of 1888,
which allowed councils to spend up to a penny rate on the provision
of public open space. Could this be the opening day of the new model
yacht pond?
Any ideas on where this might be,
or other information about the scene would be welcome
Russell Potts
Trevor has come up with
the answer. It's Belvedere, East London, south of the river.
