Identify this photo please

[horseshoes]

http://tinypic.com/us...SMJwpoTS1Joh4l5k2TGxc

I don't know if anyone can help. Do you recognise the hotel? What do you think this is? I notice that there are no women or children present - perhaps a recruiting drive. Do you know what make car is? I'd like your ideas. Thank you all in advance.

[TCL-MUMPING]

I doubt it's the King's Arms Hotel since the writing showing above the entrance is two words rather than three. If it were a funeral, would there not be folk wearing black armbands? I don't know if the plate on the front or the car is a registration plate (if it's an army vehicle did they have them?) or a rally plate. The original plates were single letters followed by up to four digits and then two letters followed by digits and the letter "C".was used for the Yorkshire area until 1912. A while ago a found a site you could input the registration number and it would show the year and area of issue but I can't find it again.

[dothawkes31]

Hi TCL, the pub could have had a name change, the building does look likely though, I mentioned the Yorkshire connection of the plate earlier on, but looking at the people congregating they really do not look like Yorkshire folk! People did not wear black arm bands for civic funerals , maybe the military did, but if it is a funeral for the lifeboat crew the soldiers wouldn;t either. Also any rally held in winter would be less well supported than this seems to be, do you think that is a camera man with a tripod on that second window top?

[jno]

I was looking at the King's Arms yesterday but the building in the photo looked too long. I also think it's two matching porticos and a bay window, and the porticoes are higher than street level, which the present doorway is not. The only possibility, since the current building is much plainer, is that they have somehow stripped it down to what it was in the 17th century or something, removing bay window, weatherboarding and old porticoes. But it doesn't seem to me like the same place.

You could email the picture to the current owners and ask if their hotel ever looked like that.

[dothawkes31]

No steve that only started annually in the late 1920s after the original one back in the 1890s.

[Vagrant]

London-Brighton only allows pre 1905 cars - the AA badge is later than that according to earlier posts.

[dothawkes31]

The whole mood of the crowds watching is sombre and reserved, if it was a recruitment or celebration they would be flag waving and smiling, it has to be a funeral or memorial procession, it could be the dedication of the memorial i suppose. If we are assuming it is also the same place as the other two postcards

[DSJ]

This mystery photograph has created such alot of interest that it would be nice if somebody could post another for us to investigate. Even if the poster knows the location (which could later be revealed) it would be fun for the rest of us!

[horseshoes]

I'm not very good with technology I'm sorry to say. I'm more than happy to post some more cards, but last time I had such difficulty. Can anybody tell me a simple way to do it, or a better place to post them to than Tinypic.com.

With regards to the picture, I'm sure the name over the door is "something HOTEL" It just seems to be the correct length. You'e al really kind offering all this help, and DSJ you're right it is interesting and fun. Bye for now.

[jno]

but Dot wouldn't they have hats off and hands out of pockets if it was anything funerary?

[dothawkes31]

yes i made that point before jno, if the hearse had not reached their part of the procession route they would only remove them as it approached and passed them

[lchaloner]

my other half thinks the car is a de-dion bouton car and it looks like the london to brighton race

[jno]

ooh I dunno, Dot, I think they'd have the hats off for the whole procession unless it went on for hours.

[dothawkes31]

anyone any ideas yet on what that white thing is hanging next to the driver?

[jno]

what white thing? Where? [wipes specs]

[dothawkes31]

I mentioned it earlier, it';s like a lifebelt hanging off a white pole next to the driver

[dundurn]

It's a spare tyre, Dot, with a canvas cover on it to keep the wheel in good condition while it's exposed to the weather.