Dragon Posted 16 March , 2009 Author Share Posted 16 March , 2009 (edited) Database extracts deleted to save space! Edited 18 March , 2009 by Dragon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 16 March , 2009 Author Share Posted 16 March , 2009 (edited) Database extracts deleted to save space! Edited 18 March , 2009 by Dragon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPAE Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Phil and Chris, Thank you so much for the follow up on the West Somerset idea. We had 2 infant grandsons all day yesterday and laptop time was limited. They seem at home digging and hiding stuff underground, just like a previous generation. I think I was foolish and deluded by the White Capitals, for these may be on hundreds or even thousands of such snaps, and over a long period too. The Stogumber picture is said to be early 30's by J. Stretton, but even if I were to contact him he may know as much as us about 'our' photo as us. I know nothing about drillhalls but am aware that identifying this one is key, or perhaps the Spite*ull connection may be followed up by having a word with somebody connected with the restored West Somerset line. Will report any progress! Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewb Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Hi Gwyn Your last post is getting a little closer to home now as I live in Gloucestershire (you already have some of my drill hall pics for Dursley on your website). Some of the names in the Gloucestershire list can be eliminated I think. Berkeley is not in a valley but on the Severn Vale, Stroud would be far too built up for the location shown. Tetbury was the terminus for a short branch line and again there would be more housing. Wotton-under-Edge never had a railway station and is several miles from the nearest line which runs along the levels towards Bristol. Westonbirt had no railway nearby and Yate is also fairly flat and built up. Someone has said this previously but it does remind me of the Chalford/Brimscombe area in the valley leading out of Stroud. Along this valley runs the GWR Stroud-Swindon railway line, the Thames & Severn Canal and the main road to Cirencester. However I've been looking at some local maps and can't convince myself as generally there are more buildings showing. There are some quieter stretches though and there were lots of stations and halts at one time. It's only a few miles from where I live so I may be able to take a drive over there at the weekend. It's certainly an interesting thread and good to see it's bringing out the detective in everyone! Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 16 March , 2009 Author Share Posted 16 March , 2009 The National Railway Museum says that Spitepull means nothing to them, but they've requested the photo for a closer look. I've pointed them at my Flickr where I've hosted all these images. I've also searched on several heritage gateways and HERs using combinations of the known letters and various alternative spellings and phoneme possibilities. I think any of us who have tried to write neatly on any form of unusual surface using a specialist pen or marker would sympathise with the writer's difficulty in achieving perfect lettering. Incidentally, I thought that celluloid roll films were available from the late 1880s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 16 March , 2009 Author Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Hi Andy - I didn't know you were a member here when I contacted you in 2006! Thanks for the local information. I've edited my post. This afternoon I'm going to look at old maps. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockdoc Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 The National Railway Museum says that Spitepull means nothing to them, I'm not surprised. I don't think it's a settlement. With the reference we've had to The Devil's Spitepull at Bewdley, I wonder if we should be looking for a similar rock scar in conjunction with the DH. I've never come across the word but it looks as if it means the lump of phlegm you leave on the ground when you clear your throat and anything that looks similar. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragon Posted 16 March , 2009 Author Share Posted 16 March , 2009 ... but they want to look at the train. I asked the NRM an open ended question. I don't believe in emailing a question to an organisation and suggesting what I want them to think. For the record, I emailed them before anyone suggested a specific railway. I wasn't aware that I come across as stupid. If asking as wide a range of sources as possible is so silly an idea, I might as well close the thread now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 I wonder if that farm next to the drill hall might be Spite Hall Farm nr Guisborough. Map ref NZ 569 145 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantowi Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 I wasn't aware that I come across as stupid. If asking as wide a range of sources as possible is so silly an idea, I might as well close the thread now. Where did this come from ? Grant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Where did this come from ? Grant Suspect it stems from a misinterpretation of Rocdocs last post Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Bennitt Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 I wonder if that farm next to the drill hall might be Spite Hall Farm nr Guisborough. Map ref NZ 569 145 This was raised as a possibility in post 8. The railway line is now a country park walk, but I think the contours are wrong. The ground does rise on the other side of the railway but not so immediately as the picture indicates. And it's certainly not GWR territory cheers Martin B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 I wondered as photos of views from the area do seem to match the terrain quite well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockdoc Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 I wasn't aware that I come across as stupid. If asking as wide a range of sources as possible is so silly an idea, I might as well close the thread now. I'm sorry, Gwyn. I thought I was adding to the discussion because I'd had an idea. I certainly wasn't casting aspersions in anyone's direction. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil@basildon Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Eurika! I think I've found it! Just south of Lydford in Devon. It has both railways and the terraced houses in the right place, but there is a lot of trees (I'm looking on Google Earth) 50*37'34.03"N 4*07'16.28"W. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil@basildon Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Sorry, wrong co-ordinates 50*37'44.40N 4*06'53.43W. I have now realised that there are several possibilities following the two parallell railway lines south. Both lines are now closed (Dr. Beeching I Presume). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Phil hang slack until I get home - I have a pre Beeching rail atlas that should help us out Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Lydford Map I have circled what I think the site of the drill hall is - part of Okehampton ranges is behind the photographer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Aerial Photo Now this looks like the farm buildings - a new barn has replaced the drill hall, but you vaugely make out the marks where it stood Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPAE Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Hey, is it all over? Spite*ull the name of a mine? Lots of them in the Gorge area. Phil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Aerial Photo Now this looks like the farm buildings - a new barn has replaced the drill hall, but you vaugely make out the marks where it stood Chris It won't open when I click on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Working Ok for me - sorry Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centurion Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Now I can see it - don't think its the same farm, shape is different and the drill hall was much bigger than would be accounted for by the brown area round the barn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisharley9 Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 Point Taken - will have to check all of the locations where this railway run parallel Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phil@basildon Posted 16 March , 2009 Share Posted 16 March , 2009 It does not look like the one I found, I might have given the wrong co-ordinates. I have just checked the co-ordinates of the farmhouse they are 50*37'45.66"N 4*06'53.53"W . You will see that the site of the drill hall is covered by the farmyard and an large barn. If you look up Lydford white lady waterfall on Google Earth and track down to the southeast for about half a kilometer you should be able to find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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