Digging for History

While pulling up floorboards at West Street during recent renovation works on the property, we uncovered this enigmatic wedding photograph of an unknown couple. The image is undated but would appear to have been taken during the late 1800s and is marked with the name ‘Marshall - Clair House, Duke St, Henley-on-Thames’.

An article by A G Taylor produced for the Assendon e-Museum outlines how Henley-on-Thames had various professional photographers at the end of the 19th century: “In the 1880s and 1890s, Cartes de Visites (CDVs) became popular. People would have their own portraits taken and presented on a card measuring 2.5 inches by 4 inches. Collecting CDVs of celebrities was also a popular pastime. ”

How the photo ended up under the floorboards of a shop along the high street of Old Market we will just have to leave to speculation.

If you love anonymous and unusual found images take a look at thefoundphoto gallery which specialises in vernacular and extraordinary photographs.