The "Big House", which was a significant presence in Irish communities down the years, is what we feature today. Labelled in the catalogue as "Big House with figures - adults and children - on lawns", we wondered however who and where they were(?)

While it looked possible that this one might elude us, [/photos/20727502@N00/ guliolopez] (somehow) managed to connect this image with other recent Manx images from the Mason collection. And suggested that this is Government House (the Governor's residence) on the Isle of Man. [/photos/91549360@N03/ O Mac] and [/photos/129555378@N07/ sharon.corbet] quickly found corroberating evidence - and in doing so established that this image must predate 1904.

Armed with this, [/photos/beachcomberaustralia/ beachcomberaustralia] contacted the IOM Lt Governor's office and established that the image dates to perhaps the 1880s, around the time that Henry Loch was governor. Making it possible that those pictured might include members of his family:

 This photograph is indeed Government House in the Isle of Man and is published in the book ‘Governors of the Isle of Man since 1765’ by Derek Winterbottom and is captioned Bemahague in the 1880s. This would mean that it is likely the photograph was taken during the term of office of Sir Henry Loch 1863- 1882 (later Lord Loch). I would suspect that the children are his – Douglas, born in 1873 and Edith and Evelyn following at two year intervals. That would seem about the right ages for the photograph. Loch married Elizabeth Villiers in 1862 and she was 21 years old so could be in the photograph. ...

Photographer: Thomas H. Mason

Collection: Mason Photographic Collection

Date: Catalogue range gives c.1890-1910. Though definitely before 1904. And likely 1880s. Per discussion.

NLI Ref: M50/17