Photograph of a group at 14 Southgate Street, Winchester
Taken about 1870
This croquet party appears to be a family gathering involving three generations at the home of Dr Andrew Crawford M.D. in Southgate Street. The impression given is one of sunlight and shade in pleasant surroundings on a warm summer's day.
Dr Crawford was on the committee of the old 112 bed County Hospital in Parchment Street in the mid 1860s, and doubtless had a view on the bitter debate about the drainage problems of the site which led to the construction of a new hospital on higher ground at Romsey Road in this decade. Winchester also boasted a homoeopathic dispensary at this time.
The photograph was taken by Winchester photographer William Savage (1817-87) and is found in an album entitled 'Hampshire Views of Churches, Country Houses and Public Buildings'.
