The mystery of an 80-year-old film discovered in an old camera from an antique shop has been unravelled following a nationwide call for assistance.
Young shutterbug Oliver Barnes, aged 20, was stunned to find the undeveloped reel inside the vintage No 1 Pocket Kodak he snagged for £25 at a second-hand store and promptly sought expert help in Salisbury, Wiltshire. The developed film unveiled two intriguing monochrome snaps: one depicting a scenes from the late ’40s in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire, and another featuring a pair of scholars in gowns on a bridge.
Thanks to the public’s input, Oliver learned that the bustling scene was due to the biggest news story of the day in 1948 when the Good family of Westerleigh, near Chipping Sodbury, celebrated the birth of quadruplets, with the photo capturing the community’s joy upon their homecoming.
Additionally, the bridge was pinpointed as the iconic Swilcan Bridge at St Andrews golf course’s 18th hole, though the identities of the men remain a mystery. Oliver said: “We’ve had all sorts of people coming up with speculation and different ideas of what it might be. I’m so happy I’ve gone through this journey of digging out what the event was – it’s such a relieving moment.”
He also confessed his concern about potentially ruining the sensitive film, adding: “I was so worried I had exposed the film because they are very, very light sensitive. The camera is 100 years old, so I wasn’t expecting the film to come out of it.
“I’ll always get a different kind of thrill from film photos than I do from digital photos, it’s a chemical experience I can’t really explain.” Oliver stumbled upon a hidden gem in an antique shop corner – a No1 Pocket Kodak from the 1920s. After wrestling with its stiff release mechanism, he discovered a Kodak Verichrome film inside and rushed to Salisbury Photo Centre for development, reports the Express.
The owner Ian Scott was overjoyed when the developed film revealed a bustling British high street scene from the late ’40s or early ’50s and two gents on a bridge. Ian, 60, said: “Nobody had opened the camera and ruined the film in 70 years, which is incredible.
“Kodak Verichrome was first introduced in 1931 so naturally I was very excited to see what could be on it. I had to be very patient developing such old film.
“It’s fascinating to think that there are hidden treasure troves of memories in people’s lofts or cupboards, old undeveloped film in or out of cameras, that are lying waiting to be seen.”
With 44 years in the photography game, Ian had never encountered such ancient undeveloped film. “I’ve been in the photography business for 44 years and have never come across undeveloped film that old. |It was really exciting and I’m so happy for Oliver he found it. It was pure chance.”
Oliver was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the vintage snaps he discovered, saying: “They’re really good quality for how old they are, I wasn’t really expecting anything. An event’s definitely happening in the photos.
“It’s exhilarating. I’ll always get a different kind of thrill from film photos than I do from digital photos, it’s a chemical experience I can’t really explain.”
After sharing the images on social media, making an appearance on BBC Breakfast TV, and doing some digging himself, Oliver figured out that the crowd shots were snapped outside The Portcullis, a hotel in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire. The photos feature a bunch of smartly dressed people gathered at the hotel entrance, with vintage cars parked up front, and what looks like a TV camera crew across the road filming the whole affair.
Online comments among locals sparked all sorts of theories, including whispers of a celeb or even royalty dropping by, but Oliver believes the puzzle has been pieced together now. Ian added: “It’s nice to see the enthusiasm of a youngster buying this camera and getting it developed.”
While one enigma appears to have been cracked, the identity of the two gents on the bridge remains a head-scratcher. Ian is eager to clear up this second mystery, saying: “We’re keen to solve the second mystery of who the two men in the photo are and when exactly it was taken, so urge anyone who thinks they might know to get in touch.”
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